Subaru Crosstrek

1,319 complaints across 9 scored model years and 13 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Subaru Crosstrek Full report

Grade 2013–2021

2019 vs model median 3.0×

Model median3× median

Lights & Visibility 123

Electrical 37

Engine 25

Avoid

2018 · 2019

Best

2013 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Severity-weighted complaint volume and grade by model year for the Subaru Crosstrek
Year	vs median	Reports	Grade
2013	0.28×	31	A
2014	0.75×	45	B
2015	0.85×	67	B
2016	1.00×	90	B
2017	1.37×	110	C
2018	1.87×	191	D
2019	2.96×	298	F
2020	0.76×	64	B
2021	1.51×	130	C
2022 P	0.54×	42	A
2023 P	0.69×	51	B
2024 P	1.49×	137	C
2025 P	0.68×	63	B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

EPA fuel economy and drivetrain
Combined MPG	29
City / Highway	27 / 33.5
Engine	2.25L, 4 cyl
Drive	All-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost	$2,100

Recalls

13 campaigns on record.

Recall campaigns, largest first
Campaign	Component	Model years	Units affected
19V149000	EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH	2013–2017	1,303,530
21V264000	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE	2018, 2019	466,205
19V743000	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE	2018, 2019	466,205
21V263000	SUSPENSION:REAR	2018, 2019	408,271
19V744000	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)	2018	205,000
23V755000	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH	2021	95,830
19V856000	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)	2019	51,613
23V551000	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL	2024	35,357

+ 5 further campaigns

Others in Subcompact SUVs

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Other models in the same segment
Model	Years to avoid	Grade
Alfa Romeo Stelvio	2018	C
Audi E-Tron	none flagged	C
Audi Q3	20202021	C
BMW X1	2014	C
Buick Encore	2015	C
Buick Encore GX	none flagged	B
Cadillac XT4	none flagged	B
Chevrolet Captiva	none flagged	B

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2019 Crosstrek

Complaints in window: 298
Severity-weighted: 373.5
Model median (weighted): 126
vs model median: 2.96×
Recall campaigns (weighted): 7
Open investigations: 0

Score 10.9 F