How many problems does the 2021 SUBARU Crosstrek have?

The 2021 SUBARU Crosstrek currently has 97 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2021 SUBARU Crosstrek?

The most common problems reported for the 2021 SUBARU Crosstrek are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2021 SUBARU Crosstrek problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2021 SUBARU Crosstrek comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.

2021 SUBARU Crosstrek Problems

VISIBILITY/WIPER

25 complaints

Turned on defroster to clear window fog, window cracked along bottom of windshield about 3-4 inches from bottom along 2/3 the length of the windshield. No prior chips or scratches existed.

Feb 25, 2024

This is my 3rd Subaru. This one has now has 3 windshield cracks. 2 spontaneous, one by a tiny pebble. The photos are all from this one vehicle.

Jan 29, 2024

******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS REQUESTED BY THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WISH TO HAVE IT REMOVED. DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******

Aug 21, 2023

Windshield developed large crack starting on lower passenger side and moving along to lower center of windshield. No incident of a rock or other object hitting windshield. A cracked windshield is a safety concern. Car is going in to dealership to have glass replaced this week. Crack appeared June 2023.

Jun 19, 2023

The windshield was hit by a rock and within 12 hours, a 6" crack developed near the lower part of the windshield. Over the course of the next two weeks, the crack has continued across the entire lower area of the windshield. The windshield is due to be repaired within the next couple of days.

May 29, 2023

+ 20 more complaints for this component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

11 complaints

P26A5 code came on after driving a little over 200 miles. It went off at one point but came back on and has not gone off.

Jul 21, 2025

This is not specific to the Crosstrek. Subaru's remote connect app "mysubaru" has a dangerous flaw. When buying a vehicle pre-owned, the previous owner may still have access to the car. Subaru's call center says it takes at least 5 business days for a "transfer of ownership" process to occur. More often, customers never gain access to their pre-owned Subaru. The main cause of concern is that the previous owner may still have access to remote start the vehicle! Imagine you park your Subaru in your garage overnight, just for someone to start it remotely. Carbon Monoxide is borderless and colorless! This problem will eventually KILL someone!

Feb 26, 2024

When I make a forward sharp right or left turn, the tires "shudder". It feels like they are skipping or I'm hitting little bumps in the road. Crown Subaru in Chattanooga, TN, told me the center differential was bad, so I would need to replace the transmission for $11,000. I took it to a mechanic for a second opinion who specializes in Subaru repair. They scoped it, fully checked the transmission, bearings...anything they thought it could be and could not find anything wrong with the transmission or bearings. Nothing that could be causing the shuddering. After visiting a few discussion sites, many Subaru owners have this problem and they are told many different things from their dealerships; all ranging from "it's normal on these models" to an exorbitant repair like a new transmission. Note: when Subaru told me I needed to change out the transmission, they did not say for sure that would fix the issue.

Jul 08, 2023

The sunroof exploded while driving causing glass to fall into the cabin onto the driver and passenger seats (while driving at highway speeds) and glass shards flew off the back of the car. The car has not been repaired as of yet. The Subaru dealership told me this has happened 4 times this year in my small town alone. I am currently working with insurance to get the glass replaced. The Subaru dealership put plastic over part of the sunroof to keep it from leaking water when it snows and rains. There were no warning lights, symptoms or messages prior to the incident.

May 03, 2023

We were driving on a major highway today and the sunroof of my Subaru Crosstrek randomly exploded with a loud bang. Glass shattered everywhere in the car, covering us passengers with shards. Thankfully no one was hurt and we were able to pull off safely and remove the shards from our clothing and seats, but I could easily see this situation causing significant harm if it were to happen again. I have photos and my vehicle is available for inspection. A simple google search reveals that there are tons of people with Subarus who have had the same experience with a randomly exploding sun roof. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the dealer or manufacturer but I am bringing it in ASAP. The car is 1 year old and there were no symptoms of the problem prior to failure.

Feb 20, 2023

+ 6 more complaints for this component

ENGINE

8 complaints

While driving down the freeway, all the warning lights came on and the engine sputtered and cut out. As we were in the left lane on a busy freeway, it put us at considerable risk. We were able to get to the left shoulder and get towed off the highway. This was caused, I later learned, by a faulty electronic thermostat which caused the system to fail.

May 15, 2024

The contact owned a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while parking and the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly and collided with a wall. The collision was at the front of the vehicle. The air bags deployed. The driver sustained arm, leg, thumb, back, and nose injuries. Medical attention was needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,300.

Sep 19, 2023

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

Was driving on highway at approximately 65 mph. Check engine light came on. Engine started to stop responding to gas being given to car. Pulled off to exit highway approximately 1 minute after check engine light came on. At bottom of exit, car completely lost power. Attempted to put vehicle into park and wouldn't shift. Started to see smoke coming from engine and then shortly after started to see flames coming from engine. Immediately exited vehicle and called 911. No one was injured. Subaru indicated fire started as result of external influences. Insurance company's 3rd party auditors were not able to determine cause of fire.

Sep 03, 2023

Fire: 1

The issue is the Engine Coolant Bypass Valve. This causes the Engine to not take in as much coolant resulting in the engine getting much hotter than it should, thus putting those in the car’s safety at risk. This could ultimately lead to a fire and/or cause the car to suddenly lose power. My car already refuses to go above 3000 rpm’s and is very laggy when driving. The car itself shows a code that the bypass valve needs replaced & the check engine has come on. However, Subaru has failed to acknowledge that this is an issue amongst most of their vehicles since 2020. This issue also disables the Subaru Eyesight which is in control of adaptive cruise control, pre collision breaking, and sway warning. With those features now disabled, the car has lost the Safety Package that Subaru boasts. I have read on many online forums that this has been an ongoing issue now for many customers, a bulk of which experienced total engine failure. This lack of responsibly is putting many lives at risk on the road every day. I hope this helps shed light to this issue to Subaru & that this part is recalled so that Subaru must pay for the repairs instead of the car owners. Also, the repair part is around $500 & maintenance must be done by Subaru which is another $400-500 for labor. My opinion is they are using this defect as a way to make easy money on many customers since 2021. Here’s a link to the Service Bulletin that has been created about this issue: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2022/MC-10208664-0001.pdf?fbclid=IwAR355WNLzftp3Qhmj7GnfmPFL9VODbDEbiT9X5Admr7n90YI4rTa4J5HSIk_aem_Aex4JIYKdhZ3n6Xh90f9w4zKu4TxFSO6LxpMIwO79FtzP1E3Y5TygVIAq_Ih4KxM6nc

Aug 27, 2023

The engine part that seems to be the issue is the starter. The car has an auto cut off when stopped at lights and other times you stop the car. The car's engine is supposed to restart as soon as you take your foot off the brake. As the car's engine heats up, the car's engine does not start immediately after removing your foot from the brake. The issue becomes greater the longer the engine has been running. On longer drive times, the engine hesitates enough that it seems like it might not start. The dealer has replaced the original starter due to the same issue. The new starter is less than 3 months old and the problem is again happening. No warning lights or indications that the engine will not start immediately upon removing your foot from the brake. The greater amount of time for the engine to restart has made pulling out into traffic when there is a clearing to pull out has become a safety concern as the pause is enough at times to now make the gap no longer large enough to pull out safely.

Mar 22, 2023

+ 3 more complaints for this component

POWER TRAIN

7 complaints

I just recently had my car come out of park while running at the top of a steep hill. I had stepped out of my car to deliver paperwork to my client. I walked to and from my car approximately 75-80 ft. As I was approaching my car I heard a clicking or a release sound then it began to roll. I wasn’t close enough to stop it and it rolled down a neighbor of my clients driveway and eventually rolled over landing against a tree. When I arrived at my car it was still running. I have awd and I noticed the tires in the air were not turning as they should have if it was in drive. My car was obviously totaled. How do I have someone check my car to see if there was defect that caused it to come out of park? I must say I forgot to set my handbrake. But I feel the car should not have come out of park regardless. Could it have been the front axle shaft or anything else?

Feb 24, 2025

Crash: 1

I was experiencing a weird binding or lurching in my drive train which made my Subaru feel unstable. I am a mechanic so I investigated these symptoms online and found that a large number of Subaru owners with manual transmissions were experiencing the same issue......a failing viscous coupler was the issue. There were no warning lights or indications prior to failure A failing viscous coupler will not properly engage the front wheels when needed, causing reduced traction in slippery situations, increasing the risk of sliding or spinning out. Uneven power distribution: When a viscous coupler fails, it can lead to uneven power distribution between the front and rear wheels, potentially causing the vehicle to pull or jerk, especially during turns. Sudden engagement: In some cases, a failing viscous coupler might engage too aggressively, causing a sudden jolt or shudder, potentially leading to loss of control. I purchased and replaced this component at my own expense not knowing the magnitude of the issue. This is a definite safety issue that could lead to serious injury or even death. I have the old part in my possession, it failed around 85,000 miles. One of the mechanics in the Subaru forum said he had submitted a report to NHTSA but I didn't see anything on your sight. Thank you for your help. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Feb 09, 2025

When slowing down the vehicle almost down shifts causing it to lurch forward. Notified Subaru and took to 2 dealers which were all no help. Subaru of America did NOTHING to assist

Jun 08, 2023

Check engine light. Code showing P2682 and P26a3. There is an issue with the Thermo Control Valve for the MY21 Crosstrek. This is also affecting the Forester and Outback. See this thread: https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2019-thermo-control-valve-assembly-and-warranty-merged-thread.823510/ Subaru should replace and install the new part regardless if the vehicle is no longer under warranty if a customer TCV has issues. There are customers who have had to pay anywhere between $1500-$2000+ to have this fixed/replace by the Subaru dealer.

May 15, 2023

DRIVE TRAIN, TRANSMISSION ISSUE. CAR WAS RUNNING, IN PARK. I GOT OUT TO PICK UP A FLYER FROM YARD. CAR ACCELERATED AND DROVE THROUGH GARAGE DOOR, AND CRASHED INTO THE BACK WALL OF GARAGE. NO ONE HAS INSPECTED THE CAR, AS IT HAPPENED LATE YESTERDAY. WILL CONTACT DEALERSHIP TODAY. NO SYMPTOMS PRIOR.

Apr 15, 2022

Crash: 1

+ 2 more complaints for this component

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

5 complaints

Traveling at speed of 30MPH. A tocoma truck in front of me suddenly stopped in road lane. Driver said that his vehicle made an auto assist stop were the brakes lock. My 2021 Crosstrek eyesight/braking system failed. I saw the truck stop but the system failed and I went into the back of a large truck. There is a witness who is happy to talk with you. He saw the truck's sudden stop and my crosstrek failure to stop. My car is totaled. I have the police report and have reported this to my insurance company.

Nov 06, 2025

Crash: 1

Subaru Eyesight system engaged randomly with no forward obstacles. Dashboard lit up, signaled alarm, and brakes engaged causing the car's nose to bottom-out. This has happened twice, thankfully at low speeds and thankfully without another car rear ending me. I'm worried this will happen on the highway. Eyesight system is generally unreliable. Random lane departure warnings and obstacles detected where there are none.

Mar 18, 2024

While driving on the highway in the slow lane (furthest to the right), traveling at approximately 50 mph, I came to be behind a tractor trailer. Before I had a chance to pass the tractor trailer, it switched lanes abruptly. My vision past/beyond (in front of) the tractor trailer was heavily obstructed by the massive vehicle itself, so I could not see that in front of the 18-wheeler there was a mid-size sedan traveling at approximately 5-10 mph in the same active highway lane I was in. I had almost no time to react, and neither the Automatic Emergency Braking system nor the Forward Collision Warning system engaged. Both of these systems should have activated to prevent the collision and/or minimize injuries and damage. I subsequently collided (harshly) with the aforementioned sedan.

Aug 16, 2023

Crash: 1

Injuries: 2

Subaru Pre-collision braking activates when no danger present. It detects exhaust steam or smoke as an obstacle. Approximately February 25th of 2021: While acceleration from a stop light in winter, Eyesight falsely detected the exhaust of the car in front of me as a danger and slammed on the brakes to a full stop causing the car behind me to bump into me. Thankfully this driver was paying attention and no damage was caused. This function overrode my foot being on the accelerator. Late Spring of 2021: While using cruise control on the highway, 70+mph, a diesel truck accelerated to merge. The eyesight again detected the exhaust as a hazard and slammed on the brakes causing the drivers behind me to take evasive actions and put them at risk for no reason. During both incidents, the collision warning lights fully activated. I spoke to the dealership about these incidents and was told to turn off the pre-collision system on cold days and watch out for diesel exhaust.

May 03, 2022

The automatic braking system engaged at highway speed while changing lanes with no other vehicle or object in front of the vehicle. I was accelerating to change lanes when the sensor started beeping and the car slammed on the brakes causing a sliding skid. I was able to maintain control and fortunately there was no one behind me. I believe the eyesight control malfunctioned. I do not believe this is a safe feature as it not only puts my safety at risk but also the safety of anyone on the road around me.

Apr 17, 2022

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 complaints

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shut off unintendedly and failed to restart. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000.

Nov 19, 2024

In early November 2023, NHTSA Recall Number23V755000 was issued for my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. I was not notified by NHTSA or Subaru even though none of my contact info has changed since buying this new vehicle. I believe that this creates a potential safety issue if owners are not made aware. I found out through Carfax in early January 2024.

Jan 06, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that the battery was drained quickly, causing the battery to need frequent recharging. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the replacement was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was 1,300.

Aug 25, 2022

The main battery drained completely while parked, once when left overnight, and once while on an errand for 30 minutes only. AAA jump-started car first time and Subaru Roadside Assistance the second. First incident was mid January 2022 when the new car had been in my possession for only 5 weeks (Dec 3 2021). Second incident happened one month later on February 5 2022. Subaru had no explanations other than I might have left doors open. In the second occurrence that was most definitely NOT true as I am now extra careful to turn everything electrical off and check all doors are fully closed. Being stranded alone on the roadside is not something I am in any way comfortable with.

Feb 07, 2022

The battery dies completely, seemingly under colder conditions. In the first case it was after 6 days of not turning the car on, however the next time it happened after only a day and a half of not turning on the vehicle. The vehicle is only a few months old so the battery or other cause of the dead battery (eg alternator) are only a few months in use.

Jan 24, 2022

VISIBILITY

3 complaints

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 70 MPH, the sunroof exploded without impact. The contact stated that the majority of the shattered glass blew up and out of the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

Jun 07, 2022

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated upon entering the vehicle, he noticed that the windshield had cracked on the passenger side. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to have it diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,700.

Jun 22, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 SUBARU CROSSTREK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS APPROXIMATELY EIGHT INCHES LONG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,050.

Apr 28, 2021

SUSPENSION

2 complaints

Both front lower control arms have damaged bushing discovered at 48,840 miles by my mechanic. Took to local dealership on 8/16/25 and they claimed per TSB from Subaru for cracks that although it had cracks, it was not necessary to be replaced due to it not being cracked enough. Brought back to my mechanic on 9/26/25 and cracking is worse, odometer is at 56,763 miles now. This part is supposed to last around 100,000 miles. Premature cracking puts me at risk of losing control of my car should the parts fail.

Oct 19, 2025

ON 11/30/2020 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SUBARU CROSSTREK FROM SHEEHY SUBARU IN SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA. IT HAD 15 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ON 12/01/2020 IT WAS DELIVERED TO ME AT MY RESIDENCE IN WASHINGTON, DC. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR WHENEVER I TOOK A TURN OR WENT OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, INCLUDING SPEED BUMPS. WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF TAKING POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO NOTIFY THEM THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NOISE. THEY DISMISSED THE NOISE AS A REGULAR PART OF THE "NEW VEHICLE BREAK-IN PROCESS" AND CLAIMED THAT IT WOULD GO AWAY QUICKLY. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MORE MILES TO SEE IF THE NOISE DISAPPEARED, I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY BECAUSE THE NOISE ONLY APPEARED TO BE INCREASING, SO I STOPPED USING THE VEHICLE. ON 12/05/20, THE FIRST DAY POSSIBLE, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT QUICKLY CONFIRMED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION OF THE CAR, BUT THEY WERE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT. THEY INDICATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. IT IS NOW 12/08/20 AND THE CAR IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. SO, IN SHORT, A NEW CAR WITH 15 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN I PURCHASED IT HAS NOW SPENT AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF TIME IN MY POSSESSION AS IT HAS SPENT IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS TO THE SUSPENSION. I WORRY THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT LIMITED TO MY VEHICLE ALONE AS IT IS AN ADMITTED MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT APPARENTLY CANNOT BE REPAIRED QUICKLY.

Dec 08, 2020

SERVICE BRAKES

2 complaints

Rear rotors delaminating at 33000 miles

Jun 30, 2025

In the winter of 2021-22, while parallel parking, backing up, then pressing the brake, my Crosstrek spontaneously accelerated in reverse and rammed into the truck already parked behind me. The Crosstrek paused, then rammed again, as I pressed harder on the brake. I put the car into “park” and turned off the engine. I was baffled and had no explanation for what happened. Thank goodness a person wasn’t between my Crosstrek and the truck. More recently, on October 4, 2022, I was at the post office mailbox drop-off. My Crosstrek was stopped with my foot on the brake. Some mail had fallen out of the overstuffed mailbox, I opened my door, set my foot outside, leaned over to pick up the mail, and my Crosstrek spontaneously accelerated forward. My car door hit the cement pylon and closed on my leg. The car lurched forward again, then stopped, and I was able to open the door. My leg was broken with a compound fracture and my foot was nearly ripped off. I called for help, 911 was dispatched, and I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.

Nov 06, 2022

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

STRUCTURE

2 complaints

While the vehicle is moving. There is a loud pop noise from under the car. Subaru of America said it is a weld that is cracked. This pop noise is also felt in the steering wheel.

Mar 19, 2024

In the first 200 miles of ownership, the paint began chipping off of the hood, fenders and front bumper. After 2000 highway miles, there are more chips down to bare metal/plastic than I can count.

Sep 07, 2021

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER

2 complaints

I bought this car January 2021. In June 2021, the smallest pebble cracked my windshield while I was driving on the freeway. Yesterday, 3/28/22, I was driving home from work like usual and my sunroof spontaneously exploded and completely shattered. Yep, you read that right. Don’t believe me? Search up: Subaru exploded sunroof on Google. Thank god I had the sunroof shade closed or else the glass would’ve fallen all over me. I suffer from trauma caused by a past car accident where I was in the passenger and do not take broken glass lightly which is why I chose Subaru to be my first car that I bought. I came home shaking and found out that other subaru owners experienced the same phenomenon after doing some research. However, Subaru does not want to take responsibility for this. You’re telling me that I don’t have to be in an actual accident in order to be harmed by my car that I was promised was not just one but THE TOP reliable and safest car in the industry?

Mar 29, 2022

Bought the car brand new 6 months ago and the windshield crack all of a sudden

Jun 12, 2021

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under an unidentified recall; however, the recall repair failed to prevent a failure. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the vehicle occasionally experienced an abnormal battery energy consumption, although the battery was previously recharged. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Oct 17, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power in the middle of the roadway. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the battery. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with head gasket failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Jul 21, 2025

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS

1 complaint

We were rear ended on the interstate. Cars in front of us stopped and we also came to a complete stop and a few moments later we were hit. During the collision, none of the airbags were deployed. Both our front seats fully reclined backwards. None of our seatbelts locked. Only the two seats that no one was in locked. Also, my headrest completely broke off. Our car was later determined by the insurance to be totaled.

Jul 15, 2025

Crash: 1

Injuries: 2

SEATS

1 complaint

Driver seat began rocking. The dealer indicated it’s a problem they saw with other cars as well. The attachment to the rail you move your seat forward and backwards with, brakes. The dealer wants to sell you new brackets to make your car safe again.

Feb 20, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The USB A outlets under the head unit that allow connection to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Yes it is available for inspection upon request How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The connection when hooked up to a phone is intermittent. This results in driver distraction whenever it disconnects due to trying to get it to reconnect. Especially when using gps apps this means the driver may be "lost" until it can be reconnected, which means they will try to get it reconnected while driving which is dangerous. Sometimes it goes in and out every 60-90 seconds. Sometimes it won't connect at all until the vehicle is power cycled or the head unit is reset but neither of these guarantees a stable connection. The issue is not fixed by replacing the USB cable or the phone with a brand new phone. The cables and phone do not have this issue with any other USB port that they have been used on (in other vehicles). Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not on my vehicle but there are hundreds of reports online for years with multiple Subaru models where it has been. I could get it reproduced easily, just haven't had the time. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No This happens every day, at any speed, and has been happening since I got the vehicle at 20000 miles and there are 35000 miles on it now (approximately).

Nov 20, 2024

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

Check engine light came on while idling. "Eyesight" tech turned off along with certain associated safety features. Next day, vehicle struggled to ignite. Came to a complete stop at an intersection, released brake, stepped on gas, and the car rolled forward as if in neutral and bucked up and down like a rodeo bull.

Oct 14, 2024

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

While driving in the left lane on a three lane highway (about 70mph) the car's automatic braking system engaged. The car would not accelerate creating a very dangerous situation on a congested highway at night. Luckily, we are able to navigate to a brake down lane without a collision. The check engine light, Eyesight light and RAB light turned on. The car would not function normally and was towed to a Subaru dealer (Patrick Subaru, Shrewsbury MA). Diagnosis was a failure of the Engine Coolant Bypass Valve P26A6. Other failure codes were: P0087, P2004, P2005, B2806, B2C22. I was told this is a known problem in Subarus of certain years, but, instead of recalling, the company has extended the warranty on the malfunctioning part. This incident happened without any previous warning and caused a life threatening situation for us and those around us.

Aug 21, 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

On two incidents randomly and without warning the car failed to accelerate while driving in traffic on an open road and I had to coast to safety and put in park, then drive, then travel less than five miles home. Both times I immediately scheduled service with suburu with appointments about a week out. The car drove without incident while awaiting service. Service failed to replicate the problem, diagnose or remedy it after having the car a week and I was told“vehicle is operating properly at that time”. The second occurrence at the end of June was far more dangerous as I was traveling at a higher speed in heavy traffic on a multi lane road when it occurred Car is unsafe for me, passengers and other drivers. I risk being stranded. I have no sense of reliability or safety and the car is just now at 30k

Jul 19, 2024

AIR BAGS,SEATS

1 complaint

Airbag shows OFF even when passenger is seated.

Jul 16, 2024

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

Suddenly warning light "Check Engine" came on along with Eye Sight malfunction warning. "i RAB off" "Check Engine" Automatic Emergency Braking not working. Yes, available for inspection. Not confirmed yet by dealer. It is the weekend. There were no unusual symptoms prior to ADAS malfunction.

Mar 24, 2024

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

The windshield cowl is greatly separating at the bottom where it meets the wipers. The windshield and cowl are factory and no replacement or alterations done during the life of the car. I am the only owner

Feb 13, 2024

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

Check engine light came on while driving. All Advanced Driver Assistance Systems were disabled. Code is P26A3: Thermo Control Valve is faulty. This is a known problem and Subaru has addressed it by redesigning the Thermo Control Valve in 2021. Unfortunately there is no recall on the models fitted with the prior design that have a high rate of failure.

Sep 19, 2023

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

There are occasional times (perhaps once or twice a month) where the vehicle does not respond with the expected acceleration of a depression of the accelerator pedal. Specifically, the vehicle "lags" when I depress the accelerator pedal. While I have not experienced a dire situation or collision because of it, I believe it might cause other drivers to experience a safety incident: a driver might want to perform a fast maneuver with elevated risk but not receive the expected acceleration. For example, I was once making a U-Turn with traffic oncoming about 2,000 feet away. I needed to make the maneuver swiftly but my vehicle lagged. I would like to report this issue in case other owners of the Subaru Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid are also experiencing.

Sep 11, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

I was driving my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek slowly in a parking lot when it unexpectedly accelerated on its own without me pressing the gas pedal. I believe the Crosstrek was now going 40mph. I tried to shut off the engine and brake at the same time but neither one had any effect. I thought maybe I had two options. Either hit another vehicle or pedestrian or turn my car into the curb. I decided to turn into the curb which resulted in the breaking of both axels, flattening all the tires, and sustaining damage to the front fender and headlight. The car was then towed to a garage we’re it was declared totaled. I checked the internet to see if this had occurred to any other Crosstrek. It turns out their is a class action suit pending for the same reason. Police records will show I was not drunk, sleeping, and the car mat was off gas pedal.12

Jan 29, 2023

Crash: 1

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

My brand new Subaru ignited in the engine compartment, burst into flames and exploded while I was driving it.

Nov 07, 2022

Fire: 1

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY

1 complaint

Sunroof exploded outward, the majority of the glass was blown away. The sunshade was open. The temperature was 56 degrees. I was traveling north on I 15 in Davis Couty, Utah. I was not injured, there were no other occupants. I drove to Subaru dealer, they said they have seen this before, only one case. It was inspected by service dealer and deemed safe to drive with sunshade closed. There were no warnings, the sunroof is used infrequently. There were no other objects on the roof.

Oct 14, 2022

I suspect the car seat is counterfeit

1 complaint

Walmart sent me email that CYBEX Sirona M with SensorSafe 2.0 Infant Car Seat - Pepper Black UPC 72892545336 was recalled

Apr 26, 2022

STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

I just leased a new '21 Crosstrek Limited. With only 90 miles on the car, while driving on the highway using the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, the vehicle started aggressively jerking over towards semi trucks (while going 70mph)- I had to give significant input to not be pulled into a semi truck. I turned off the feature then turned back on. Again, it was hard jerking only towards semi trucks. Drove back to the dealership. Their mechanic took for a drive and said the exact same thing, that it was "sketchy" and jerking towards semi trucks. It was suggested I bring back if the "condition persists" which would mean risking a fatal collision with a semi. I contacted the GM of the dealership and explained what was happening and he said to being back again and they'd get a field tech from Subaru to test. Their service manager test drove and noted the same thing, as did the field tech. "Severely pulls to the right as trucks pass. Test drive vehicle and found that when using lane centering, vehicle is quite jerky and pushes towards centerline, especially when larger vehicles like a semi trailer is present. Recommended calibrating eyesight camera and test driving again". They calibrated the Eyesight and I picked back up. Drove back on the highway and turned on LKA, this time the steering was completely taken over and jerking all over the lane and flashing telling me to keep hands on the wheel when both hands were very tight on the wheel. It's continued to jerk all over while using lane keep assist and when I try to override the steering to avoid a collision the wheel feels like it's fighting me. It's extremely dangerous. The car now has 300 miles and I'm terrified it's going to kill me and it's putting everyone on the road at risk. I had the same tech in my '19 Impreza Limited and didn't have a single issue. I fear there is a serious defect with the Eyesight and LKA. No codes are present. They said vehicle is operating as designed, it's now more more erratic

Feb 08, 2022

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint

Problem 1)Had my '21 Sport for 7 days. Started stalling few times when shifting from P to R while on a slight incline (dash lights up like in Acc mode) after driving it for about 30 min before and then turning it off to go inside of the store, etc. after about 2-5 minutes of idling, the car engine stopped like I was in auto stop, but didn’t kick back on when I shift gears to reverse or when I applied gas. But then I hit the on/off button and engine turns over just fine. Problem 2) But today it started making a whirring sound with difficulty accelerating & quick decelerating/speed drop off upon release of gas, even when going down a big hill. It felt like resistance and pulling feeling almost? Like how a car feels when It doesn’t want to shift. Also felt a little jittery the longer I drove & loud clunk shifting gears. Got louder when I would press on the gas more. It continued even after starting the car again when leaving my location. It wasn’t doing it before yesterday, and then while positioning the car for the tow truck. But the back up cam started going crazy at me like I was about to hit something??? But nothing was there. Then eyesight was “disabled, check manual” a couple times today upon starting it. But no codes thrown thrown outside of the eyesight thing. I’ve seen a transmission issues and stalling and ECU issues with the 2018 & 2019 but quite a few people on Facebook and Reddit similar issues in '21. Dealer found no codes and couldn't recreate it so they told me to come get it.

Nov 30, 2021

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

I have been experiencing shuddering/jerking/hesitation in my vehicle since July. The dealership has had it in their service department several times and cannot diagnose the issue. Subaru of America was contacted and gave no resolution to repairing the vehicle. They did not inspect the vehicle, rather gathered the "data" from the dealership. The shuddering/jerking/hesitation happens from a start to stop position and is incredibly dangerous when pulling out into traffic or crossing over lanes in a left hand turn. This malfunction can cause a collision and is a huge safety concern of mine. I do not feel comfortable putting my life at risk driving this vehicle. The dealership has only tested the CVT transmission and ran "data" and cannot seem to tell me what is wrong with the vehicle, though there is clearly an issue, whether it is the CVT transmission or another component of the vehicle. I see several similar complaints on the NHTSA website for the Crosstrek dating back to 2015. I am confused as to why the manufacturer is not being held responsible for a defect that is so dangerous. Is it going to take someone getting seriously injured or a death before this is investigated? I encourage other Crosstrek owners to come forward and report similar issues you are having to NHTSA.

Oct 01, 2021

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

I was crossing two lanes of a very busy ocean front street when the engine “bogged down” . I let off on the gas pedal and then depressed it again, which then caused the engine to go off. I the quickly restarted the engine and was able to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. This was the only time the engine failed, but on about three or four previous times, the engine “bogged down” when I depressed the gas pedal, but recovered after I quickly depressed the pedal again.

Aug 31, 2021

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

1 complaint

SHUDDERING - CVT belt or pulley not working properly? JERKING, HESITATION - Crosstrek will not go when the gas pedal is pressed or hesitates or pauses for a moment after the gas pedal is engaged

Jul 15, 2021

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 complaint

DRIVING HOME IN DAYLIGHT AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF 2021 SUBARU CROSSTREK PREMIUM ON 1/29/21, I RAISED DIMMER SWITCH TO HIGHEST POSITION TO ILLUMINATE DASHBOARD BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE SPEEDOMETER/INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND THERE WAS NO ILLUMINATION! THIS IS MY 3RD CROSSTREK PREMIUM SO I KNEW HOW THE DIMMER & LIGHTING CONTROLS WORK. I CONTACTED DEALER & SERVICE MGR IMMEDIATELY, WAS TOLD "IT IS WHAT IT IS, NOTHING CAN BE DONE, SENSORS CANNOT BE ADJUSTED!. AFTER NUMEROUS COMMUNICATIONS W/SUBARU THROUGH LAST MONTH, THEY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE, NO LESS ADDRESS, THIS DESIGN FLAW THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SUBARU OWNERS FORUMS CONTAIN THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS MODELS AS WELL. I'VE ATTACHED FIRST SET OF EMAILS TO SUBARU STARTING IN FEBRUARY 2021 AND A SET OF EMAILS ENDING LAST MONTH. I ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT UNDER LEMON LAW TO NYS ATTORNEY GENERAL KNOWING I DIDN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS BUT FILED IT TO GET IT ON RECORD; BECAUSE IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A DESIGN FLAW & NOT REPAIRABLE, COMPLAINT WAS REJECTED. HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME AS SUBARU WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CANCELLATION OF MY LEASE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE CAR WAS SOLD AND WERE ADVISED BY ME OF THE PROBLEM WITHIN 1 DAY OF TAKING DELIVERY. THANK YOU.

May 14, 2021

VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH EYESIGHT, WHICH IS A SUBARU TECHNOLOGY THAT INCLUDES ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISON WARNING/BREAKING, LANE DEPARTURE WARNING, REAR AUTOMATIC BRAKING, ETC. SUBARU CLAIMS THAT WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS MUST USE SUBARU GLASS DUE THE OPTICAL CLARITY OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THAT THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM MUST BE RECALIBRATED. THIS IS A $1339 COST (VIA SAFELIGHT) TO REPLACE THE WINDSHEILD. I HAVE 8400 MILES ON MY VEHICLE, AND I AM GETTING READY TO HAVE THE SECOND WINDSHIELD PUT ON THE CAR. THE GLASS SIMPLY BREAKS TO EASILY. FIRST INCIDENT, A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND IT CRACKED ABOUT INCHES WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH ALBUQUERQUE, NM ON I-25. SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED TODAY ON I-25 WITH A BARELY PERCEPTIBLE SOUND, AND THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK ABOUT 6.6 INCHES LONG. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS WITH SUBARU WINDSHIELDS, BUT LOOKING IN OWNER FORUMS, IT'S A PRETTY COMMON OCCURRENCE. THE FACT THAT I AM AVERAGING A NEW WINDSHIELD EVERY 4200 MILES IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 35+ YEARS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD LESS THAN THREE TIMES. WITH THE SUBARU, I AM DOING IT ALMOST EVERY 4-5 MONTHS (SO FAR).

May 04, 2021

STEERING,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

THE LANE KEEPING FEATURE WILL RANDOMLY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO VEER TOWARDS THE CENTER LINE AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS AND UNDER A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS, REQUIRING IMMEDIATE DRIVER CORRECTION TO AVOID CROSSING THE CENTER LINE. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED BUT THE SYSTEM IS NOW DEACTIVATED. IN ADDITION, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM DOES NOT RELIABLY ACQUIRE A VEHICLE AHEAD IF THAT VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND THE SPEED DIFFERENTIAL IS >30-40 MPH. WITHOUT DRIVER MANUAL BRAKING, A CRASH WOULD OCCUR.

May 01, 2021

2021 SUBARU Crosstrek Problems & Complaints

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