MODELYEARINDEX

Which Subaru Crosstrek years to avoid

Across 9 scored model years, the 2019 and 2018 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Subaru Crosstrek Full report
F
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.

Year Complaint volume 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 owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2018 D 191 reports · median 18,000 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 73

    Crack appeared in lower driver's side portion of windshield. Car was parked when crack appeared. No known significant damage to windshield. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 24

    My safety concern with the 2018 subaru crosstrek results from a huge amount of engine rev hang ( rev hang - a high (or 'hanging') engine RPM after depressing the clutch pedal. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 19

    Purchased new 2018 crosstrek with harman kardon premium audio system. After one week there was a constant static buzz coming from the door speaker on the passenger-side, even when the audio system was turned off. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

7 crash

2019 F 298 reports · median 10,250 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 123

    Bought a brand new 2019 subaru crosstrek, a crack at the bottom of the windshield just appeared one morning after warming it up in 20 degree weather, in michigan. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 37

    Car has repeatedly turned itself off while driving. Twice, when pressing the brakes while exiting the highway, all dashboard lights (eyesight alarms, check engine, etc.) will turn on. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 25

    While driving down interstate highway, lots of warning lights suddenly appeared on dashboard. Car would only brake, not accelerate. After safely pulling off to side of road, car engine would not start. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

8 crash · 2 fire · 7 injuries

The best year for the Crosstrek

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2013 is the best-scoring Crosstrek model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 90.5 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2013 0.28× 31 A
2020 0.76× 64 B
2014 0.75× 45 B

Recalls

13 campaigns on record.

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
19V065000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 2019 10,417
20V189000 SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER 2019 4,862
23V754000 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT 2024 4,701
17V701000 SERVICE BRAKES 2018 2,367

+ 1 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2019 were reported at a median of 10,250 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Subaru Crosstrek years should you avoid?
2019, 2018 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Subaru Crosstrek model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Subaru Crosstrek?
2013 is the best-scoring Subaru Crosstrek model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 90.5 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Subaru Crosstrek have?
13 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Subaru Crosstrek model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

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