Subaru Crosstrek Years to Avoid

Why 2019 made the avoid list

2019 Subaru Crosstrek

AvoidTop issue: visibility · 49% of complaints · median 12,000 miles

Owners describe sudden stalling or loss of power while driving, often tied to battery drain, ignition coil or ECM problems that some say recurred after repeated battery replacements and repairs. Many also report windshields cracking or spreading rapidly, sometimes without any noticeable impact.

Full 2019 report ›

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints on NHTSA's site and checked against them; the counts and mileages come from our data.

Best Subaru Crosstrek years to buy

2020 Subaru Crosstrek

Best betTop issue: visibility · 60% of complaints · median 5,000 miles

Owners filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Crosstrek in its first five years, about 45 for every 100,000 sold: 0.6× the rate of a typical Crosstrek year. 60% of them involve visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors), at a median of 5,000 miles.

Full 2020 report ›

2022 Subaru Crosstrek

Best betTop issue: engine · 10% of complaints

Owners filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Crosstrek in its first five years, about 21 for every 100,000 sold: 0.3× the rate of a typical Crosstrek year. 10% of them involve the engine.

Full 2022 report ›

A best bet drew 0.6× the complaint rate of a typical Crosstrek year or less in its first five years on the road. How we rate

1. Visibility32% of complaints · 337 complaints · median 1,000–26,000 miles by year · worst years: 2018, 2019 and 2020
2. Electrical15% of complaints · 157 complaints · median 7,000–43,000 miles by year · worst years: 2016, 2018 and 2019
3. Engine11% of complaints · 113 complaints · median 5,000–65,000 miles by year · worst years: 2018, 2019 and 2021
4. Powertrain9% of complaints · 94 complaints · median 6,000–44,000 miles by year · worst years: 2015, 2016 and 2019
5. Driver assistance6% of complaints · 65 complaints · worst years: 2019, 2021 and 2022

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA in each model year's first five years on the road, all years combined. A complaint can name more than one area. Worst years are the rated years with the most complaints about that area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

Questions owners ask

Which Subaru Crosstrek years should you avoid?

Counting complaints owners filed with NHTSA in each year's first five years on the road, per vehicle sold, the 2019 Crosstrek drew the most: each more than twice the rate of a typical Crosstrek year, spread across more than one problem area.

What is the best year for a used Subaru Crosstrek?

The best bets are the 2020 and 2022 Crosstrek, which drew far fewer complaints per vehicle sold than a typical Crosstrek year. The 2022 drew the fewest for its time on the road (0.3× the rate of a typical Crosstrek year). Years from 2023 on haven't had five years on the road, so they aren't rated yet.

What is the most common problem with the Subaru Crosstrek?

Across every year, the problem area owners report most is visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (32% of complaints), followed by the electrical system (15%) and the engine (11%). A complaint can name more than one area.

Has the Subaru Crosstrek been recalled?

Yes. NHTSA lists 20 recall campaigns covering Crosstrek model years 2013 to 2026, the most recent in October 2026. Enter a vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether its repairs were done.