Subaru Crosstrek Reliability by Year
1,454 NHTSA complaints (2012–2026). Complaint rate: 17.2 per 1,000 vehicles.
Subaru Crosstrek reliability varies significantly by model year. Based on 1,454 NHTSA complaints (2012–2026), the most problematic years are 2019, 2018, with high complaint volumes linked to windshield wiper issues. Better choices include 2012, 2014, 2015, which show significantly fewer reported problems.
Why these years are worse
The most common issues driving the complaint spikes:
- windshield wiper issues — 291 complaints (0.0% involved a crash)
- unknown or other — 252 complaints (3.6% involved a crash)
- electrical faults — 172 complaints (4.1% involved a crash)
- engine problems — 133 complaints (7.5% involved a crash)
- transmission issues — 101 complaints (10.9% involved a crash)
Subaru Crosstrek Generations
Manufacturer redesigns the car every few years (a “generation”). Each generation has different engineering and common issues. Click a generation to see year-by-year breakdown.
| Generation | Years | Complaints | Crashes | Volume | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 | 2013–2017 | 380 | 25 | Show years | |||
| Gen 2 | 2018–2023 | 901 | 60 | Hide years | |||
| 2018 | 252 | 16 | View 2018View→ | ||||
| 2019 | 349 | 8 | View 2019View→ | ||||
| 2020 | 76 | 8 | View 2020View→ | ||||
| 2021 | 138 | 14 | View 2021View→ | ||||
| 2022 | 41 | 7 | View 2022View→ | ||||
| 2023 | 45 | 7 | View 2023View→ | ||||
| Gen 3 | 2024–present | 170 | 15 | Show years |
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2016–2019 Subaru Crosstrek. The 2022–2023 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: VISIBILITY/WIPER.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
Too New
Need 3+ years on the road for reliable complaint data.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Subaru Crosstrek Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 291 | 0.0% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 252 | 3.6% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 172 | 4.1% |
| ENGINE | 133 | 7.5% |
| POWER TRAIN | 101 | 10.9% |
| STEERING | 55 | 0.0% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 44 | 31.8% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 43 | 30.2% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 34 | 8.8% |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 33 | 9.1% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012GOOD | — | 3 | 0 | — | View → |
| 2013GOOD | Gen 1 | 35 | 2 | 4 | View → |
| 2014GOOD | Gen 1 | 22 | 5 | 2 | View → |
| 2015GOOD | Gen 1 | 27 | 0 | — | View → |
| 2016AVOID | Gen 1 | 164 | 6 | 5 | View → |
| 2017AVOID | Gen 1 | 132 | 12 | 4 | View → |
| 2018AVOID | Gen 2 | 252 | 16 | 1 | View → |
| 2019AVOID | Gen 2 | 349 | 8 | 5 | View → |
| 2020 | Gen 2 | 76 | 8 | — | View → |
| 2021AVOID | Gen 2 | 138 | 14 | 4 | View → |
| 2022GOOD | Gen 2 | 41 | 7 | — | View → |
| 2023GOOD | Gen 2 | 45 | 7 | — | View → |
| 2024TOO NEW | Gen 3 | 127 | 13 | 2 | View → |
| 2025TOO NEW | Gen 3 | 41 | 2 | — | View → |
| 2026TOO NEW | Gen 3 | 2 | 0 | — | View → |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
Tap any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
See also: Subaru Crosstrekaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Subaru Crosstrek?
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