UsedScore

2021 Subaru Crosstrek: Solid

Owners filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek in its first five years on the road, about 75 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 visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (34% of complaints, median 4,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.1×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Crosstrek year
Rank
7th of 9
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
94
first five years; 75 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
2
campaigns
2nd generation, 2018–2023 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Subaru Crosstrek Premium

Photo: 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Premium · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Visibility34% · 32 complaints · median 4,000 miles
  2. Engine13% · 12 complaints
  3. Driver assistance14% · 13 complaints
  4. Powertrain12% · 11 complaints
  5. Electrical11% · 10 complaints
  6. Seats and belts4% · 4 complaints
  7. Fuel and propulsion4% · 4 complaints
  8. Air bags2% · 2 complaints
  9. Brakes2% · 2 complaints
  10. Speed control3% · 3 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

Driver assistance

Owners describe the Crosstrek's driver-assistance system braking or steering unexpectedly, sometimes mistaking exhaust or shadows for obstacles, and occasionally shutting off with warning lights. Some report near-misses or collisions, while dealers have recalibrated cameras or replaced related parts with mixed results.

Warning signs:
Owners report dashboard warnings like Check Engine, EyeSight or RAB alerts, sudden lane-centering jerks toward adjacent vehicles, or automatic braking with no obstacle present.
What shops did:
Dealers recalibrated the EyeSight camera, replaced or diagnosed coolant/thermo valve components, checked wiring and cameras, and in some cases could not reproduce or confirm the issue.

“Subaru Eyesight system engaged randomly with no forward obstacles. Dashboard lit up, signaled alarm, and brakes engaged causing the car's nose to bottom-out.”

“The auto braking system alerted and immediately slammed on the brakes in the middle of heavy traffic. There was no time for me to respond.”

Engine

Owners of this Crosstrek describe the engine losing power, stalling, or shutting off unexpectedly, sometimes with warning lights or shaking beforehand. Dealers have pointed to parts like the thermo control valve, starter, or head gasket, though some cars kept having the same problem after repairs.

Warning signs:
Many report warning lights (check engine, battery) illuminating, shuddering, hesitation, bogging down, or lurching before the engine lost power or stalled.
What shops did:
Dealers diagnosed issues such as failed thermo control valves, corroded connectors, faulty starters, or head gasket failures; some vehicles were not repaired or the problem recurred after repair.

“suddenly and without warning dropped into reduced-power limp mode and began lurching and shaking while the engine kept running”

“all the warning lights came on and the engine sputtered and cut out”

Visibility

Many owners of this Crosstrek report windshields that crack easily, sometimes with no apparent cause, along with a few reports of sunroofs shattering or a rear window failing. Repairs are often costly, especially due to windshield-camera recalibration, and some owners say dealers found no clear cause.

Warning signs:
Some owners heard a pop, thud, or faint sound before noticing a crack; others found cracks or shattered glass with no warning at all.
What shops did:
Some owners had the windshield replaced or chip-repaired at a dealer or glass shop, often at high cost due to required camera recalibration; one window regulator issue was inspected but not repaired.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 10,000 miles, among 6 complaints that give it

“I recall hearing a small thud on the windshield with no immediate cause for concern. After driving another 10 miles, the crack has grown an additional 2 inches.”

“The crack formed in front of the passenger seat, starting at the bottom edge of the windshield and running up about 6 inches.”

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

Recalls (2)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 23V755000November 202395,830 vehicles

    Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch

    Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

    Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V080000February 20238,413 vehicles

    Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles. The harness terminal that supplies low-voltage power from the converter to the 12-Volt battery may corrode and break, preventing the 12-Volt battery from charging.

    Risk: A 12-Volt battery that is unable to recharge can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the converter terminal mounting bracket.

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 344 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2021 Crosstrek. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 02-193-24R · June 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g.
  • 09-74-21R · June 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g.
  • 18-230-26 · May 2026This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs B1571(REFERENCE CODE INCOMPATIBILITY IMMOBILIZER CM TO ECM) and B1572(IMM CIRCUIT EXCEPT ANTENNA CIRCUIT) are detected by…
  • 15-300-22R · January 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
  • 09-123-24 · January 2026This bulletin announces the design change made to the high-pressure fuel pump developed to prevent DTC P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure – Too Low Bank 1).
  • 18-228-25R · December 2025This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs P2096 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1) and P2097 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO RICH BANK 1) are detected…
  • 18-226-25R · December 2025This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
  • 18-228-25 · November 2025This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs P2096 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1) and P2097 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO RICH BANK 1) are detected…

All 2021 Crosstrek bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
Owners filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek in its first five years on the road, about 75 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 2021 Crosstrek problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (34%), the engine (13%) and driver-assistance features and cameras (14%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, the most recent in November 2023 (power train). 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 2021 Subaru Crosstrek on NHTSA.gov · How we rate