Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 118 safety complaints
about the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek with the US government. Of those, 10 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the power train and the electrical system.
The most complained-about system is the exterior lighting,
named in 13 complaints, 11% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 10,100 miles,
the median across the 13
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers September 2023 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
118 complaints on file
118
Complaints
10
Describe a crash
2
Mention fire
3
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 33 · 28%
33 28%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 13 · 11%
13 11%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 12 · 10%
12 10%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 12 · 10%
12 10%
STEERING 10 · 8%
10 8%
VISIBILITY 10 · 8%
10 8%
SERVICE BRAKES 9 · 8%
9 8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8 · 7%
8 7%
TIRES 7 · 6%
7 6%
ENGINE 6 · 5%
6 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 · 4%
5 4%
AIR BAGS 4 · 3%
4 3%
01531
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 118.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2025 at 48.
52 39 26 13
232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2023 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2024 Subaru CROSSTREK, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
SW AWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
16.4%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
The risk
A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.
Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 4,701 vehicles across all model years covered
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek and Impreza vehicles. Due to insufficient clearance, the instrument panel harness may contact the steering beam bracket, damaging the wire insulation and causing a short circuit.
The risk
A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the harness and install an additional clamp on the steering beam bracket. If damage is found, dealers will add protective tape or replace the instrument panel harness, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 3, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-23.
Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 35,357 vehicles across all model years covered
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
1 injured · crash · towed
I was driving with my wife when we were making a left turn. The adaptive cruse control came on. It took control of my acceleration, and steering. I got the car under control, but it was too late. I went across the empty parking lot, and almost crashed into the abandoned building.
NHTSA complaint 11683942. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
1 injured · crash · towed
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek brakes engaged TWICE without the driver pushing on the brakes, slowing the car down significantly. The initial vehicle speed was around 65 mph on the highway, and slowed to around 45 mph after the second automatic braking incident occurred. Adaptive cruise control was NOT on. The car in front of the Crosstrek was 8-10 car lengths away. Then while the Crosstrek was still moving, a truck hit the back right bumper of the Crosstrek and pushed it into the next lane to the left. (I), the driver of the Crosstrek, was able to steer back into the original lane of travel to the right. After the Crosstrek was steered back to the original lane of travel, it came to a stop due …
NHTSA complaint 11707689, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 26,656 miles
The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle while having the right of way. The contact stated that the other vehicle was making a left turn when the crash occurred. The contact's vehicle T-Boned the other vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy, and the front driver's side seat belt did not tighten as intended. In addition, the contact stated that none of the vehicle safety features were activated such as calling 911. The vehicle sustained damage to the front driver's side and the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. A Police report was filed. The …
NHTSA complaint 11726977, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
Carry Handle, Shell, Base
fire · crash · towed
Test only, please ignore.
NHTSA complaint 11673822. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
crash · 21,353 miles
The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to slow down during a turn, the brakes failed to function properly and caused a delay while braking. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the technicians were unable to duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that on another occasion while slowing down, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle, causing the contact to crash into the rear of another car. The vehicle was taken to a collision center to be repaired. The failure mileage was 21,353.
NHTSA complaint 11766168. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
crash · towed
I was backing out of my driveway at 630 am this morning, September 21, 2026 when I heard what sounded like a loud crash. However, if anything had been in my car’s line of vision a beep would go off to alert me and that didn’t happen. I pulled back into my driveway to check if anything had somehow been behind me and then discovered I had no brakes! My driveway goes down a steep incline and I kept trying to apply my brakes to no avail and I crashed into some trees at the bottom of the driveway. I was not hurt and ran back up the driveway to make sure my car had not hit anyone or anything and there was nothing at all at the top of the driveway. I went back down and saw all the damage on my …
NHTSA complaint 11765860, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driver side mirror vibrates/shakes (not the housing just the mirror) I am still under warranty and Subaru service techs said they could see the issue but looked for a cause and said nothing was found and therefore couldn’t be a faulty part. There are plenty of like situation posts online. They really need to issue a recall to replace affected mirrors. It is hard to see at highway speeds(50+) with the vibrations occurring
NHTSA complaint 11765598. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving on the [XXX] my car lost power while in drive. I coasted onto the should. I could not get the car out of gear or put the car in park. I chocked the rear tire. I opened the hood. The positive cable had popped off the battery post. I got a piece of paper and created a temporary shim. The car drove home to where i found out on line i needed a battery shim. I purchased the shim at autozone for $6.00 and addressed the problem. I'm glad I did not end up like [XXX] on the LIE. FYI, I replaced my factory battery with a new AGM battery yesterday. When I tightened the negative terminal tight the clamp was still loose. It is weird designed clamp that when tightened slides on a tapered …
NHTSA complaint 11761863, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
TIRES
Falken 225/55R18 tires had to be replaced for $243.80 per tire due to poor tread design that has caused hydroplaining. 09.03.2026
NHTSA complaint 11761868. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
AT 26,453 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINS LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T RUN. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE VALVES HAD EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD-UP ON THEM. THE ISSUE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO ADVISE THEM OF THIS SITUATION, STATING THAT THE ISSUE WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE NOTHING WAS DONE TO PREVENT THIS FROM RECURRING. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE MY WIFE WAS ON THE FREEWAY, OR WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN, ANY NUMBER OF DISASTERS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, NO QUESTION. THIS VEHICLE IS NOW UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE TO DRIVE. (THIS DID HAPPEN AGAIN. I WILL SUBMIT ANOTHER REPORT)
NHTSA complaint 11761293. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed November 9, 2023.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst