UsedScore

2016 Subaru Crosstrek: Solid

Owners filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek in its first five years on the road, about 85 for every 100,000 sold: 1.1× the rate of a typical Crosstrek year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the electrical system (26% of complaints, median 39,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.1×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Crosstrek year
Rank
6th of 9
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
80
first five years; 85 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. Electrical26% · 21 complaints · median 39,000 miles
  2. Powertrain20% · 16 complaints · median 40,000 miles
  3. Steering11% · 9 complaints
  4. Brakes8% · 6 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  5. Engine6% · 5 complaints · median 65,000 miles
  6. Speed control6% · 5 complaints
  7. Fuel and propulsion4% · 3 complaints
  8. Visibility5% · 4 complaints
  9. Suspension3% · 2 complaints
  10. Seats and belts3% · 2 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

Many owners describe the ignition key sticking and refusing to release once the car is in park, often needing several shifts to free it. Others report battery drain, backup-camera glitches, horn failures, or in rare cases burned wiring and fires.

Warning signs:
Many say the key simply won't turn fully to off or release, sometimes requiring repeated shifts in and out of park; a few noticed dimming lights, warning lamps, or intermittent blower/fan behavior beforehand.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced a park-range switch, shifter plate, or micro switch, some replaced batteries or wiring harnesses, and in a few cases could not duplicate or resolve the issue.
Mileage:
most between 30,000 and 55,000 miles, among 22 complaints that give it

“Unable to remove key from the ignition when vehicle is in park.”

“Car caught fire from what seemed to be an electrical issue. Car became engulfed in flames within a few seconds.”

Powertrain

Owners describe the car losing power or stalling unexpectedly on the highway, along with keys that stick in the ignition and rough shifts between reverse and drive. Repairs sometimes fix the issue, but several owners say dealers could not find a cause or the problem returned.

Warning signs:
Owners report warning lights on the dash, engine revving without acceleration, hesitation or lurching when shifting, and difficulty removing the key from the ignition after parking.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced parts such as a relief valve, electric oil pump, CVT valve body, wheel bearings, and a transmission plate guide, though some could not find a diagnostic code or a cause.
Mileage:
most between 25,000 and 45,000 miles, among 14 complaints that give it

“The car suddenly lost acceleration and power, as if to be in neutral”

“it shuts off and completely loses power. All of the warning lights on the dash light up and the only thing to do is to coast to the shoulder”

Steering

Owners describe brief or total loss of power steering that comes and goes, sometimes with warning lights or clicking noises, and separately report keys getting stuck in the ignition. Repairs have included replacing steering parts, axles, and control modules, with mixed success.

Warning signs:
Owners report clicking or grinding noises while turning, dashboard warning lights, and the steering wheel feeling stiff, loose, or briefly locked.
What shops did:
Dealers have replaced steering racks, electronic control modules, fuses, valve bodies, and axles, though some owners say the problem was not fully resolved or could not be reproduced.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 35,000 miles, among 6 complaints that give it

“Power steering fails when first starting vehicle.has happened on many occasions.loss iof power steering lasts from a few seconds to 10 to 15 seconds,resolves by itself”

“Total power steering failure at 40,076 miles. Deal read code c2532. Dealer replaced full steering system; rack, connectors.”

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 366 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2016 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…
  • 16-156-25R · August 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body.
  • 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.
  • 19-02-26 · June 2026This bulletin provides information on how to identify which high voltage battery repairs can be performed at the retailer level.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (R · May 2026This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
  • 03-97-26 · April 2026This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.

All 2016 Crosstrek bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
Owners filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek in its first five years on the road, about 85 for every 100,000 sold: 1.1× 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 2016 Crosstrek problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the electrical system (26%), the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (20%) and the steering (11%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2016 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 2016 Subaru Crosstrek on NHTSA.gov · How we rate