UsedScore

2014 Subaru Crosstrek: Solid

Owners filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek in its first five years on the road, about 48 for every 100,000 sold: 1.0× the rate of a typical Crosstrek year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is speed control (13% of complaints).

Complaint index
1.0×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Crosstrek year
Rank
5th of 9
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
32
first five years; 48 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
1
campaign
1st generation, 2013–2017 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek

Photo: 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Speed control13% · 4 complaints
  2. Electrical25% · 8 complaints · median 43,000 miles
  3. Steering13% · 4 complaints
  4. Brakes13% · 4 complaints
  5. Air bags3% · 1 complaints
  6. Visibility16% · 5 complaints · median 1,000 miles
  7. Body and structure9% · 3 complaints
  8. Engine6% · 2 complaints
  9. Powertrain13% · 4 complaints
  10. Lights3% · 1 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Owners describe a range of electrical problems, from horns and headlights failing to batteries draining and wiring melting near the steering column or heater unit. Several say dealers struggled to diagnose or permanently fix these issues, and some mention a related recall that didn't cover their specific model.

Warning signs:
Owners report warning lights illuminating, horn or headlights cutting out, batteries weakening or draining quickly, engine stalling or flickering, and keys sticking in the ignition.
What shops did:
Dealers sometimes replaced batteries, audio units, or wiring connectors, but several owners say technicians could not find or fully resolve the issue.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 80,000 miles, among 15 complaints that give it

“I've done some research and what others have found is that it's the clock spring or wiring that needs to be replaced/repaired”

“The electrical system and engine flickers on and off or sometimes dies entirely. The trigger is unknown and the underlying cause is unknown.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (1)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 19V149000February 20191,303,530 vehicles

    Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

    Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Subaru sent NHTSA 419 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2014 Crosstrek. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 15-308-23R · August 2026This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to…
  • 15-304-22R · August 2026This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.
  • Article Locator · August 2026Techtips newsletter locator index.
  • 15-333-25R · August 2026This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.
  • 16-156-25R · June 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
  • 05-97-26 · April 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is…
  • 10-105-25R · March 2026This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
  • 15-219-18R · March 2026This bulletin contains information to help when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing…

All 2014 Crosstrek bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
Owners filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek in its first five years on the road, about 48 for every 100,000 sold: 1.0× the rate of a typical Crosstrek year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Crosstrek years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2014 Crosstrek problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve speed control (13%), the electrical system (25%) and the steering (13%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek, the most recent in February 2019 (exterior lighting). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. The 2014 Subaru Crosstrek on NHTSA.gov · How we rate