What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2017 Subaru Crosstrek

Typical pattern

3% of complaints about the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2017 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is other (33 complaints), typically at 3.3 yr or about 20,000 miles.

Complaints
132
Median age at failure
3.4 yr
Median mileage
26,000 n=86
Crash / fire / tow
12.9% of reports
Safety recalls
1

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Other
33 reports · 20,000 mi
3.3 yr
9.1%
Visibility / wipers
22 reports · 27,800 mi
3.3 yr
0%
Electrical system
17 reports · 38,182 mi
3.2 yr
5.9%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V149000 2019-02-28
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.

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

In owners’ own words

Other 4,500 mi 1.3 yr in service
DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY AND THEN A SUDDEN BOOM! SOUNDED LIKE A BRICK HIT THE ROOF OF THE CAR. FRIGHTEN A BIT BUT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND THE NOTICED THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. DROVE SOME SLOWLY AND LOOKED AT IT MORE WHEN I GOT HOME. I NOTICED THAT THE GLASS LOOKS LIKE IT BLEW UP LIKE A VOLCANO. IT BLEW OUTWARD. SO I STARTED SEARCHING IF THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS WITH MANY MANUFACTURERS.
Other mileage not reported 2.3 yr in service
SNOW AND RAIN GETTING ONTO ENGINE WITH HOOD COMPLETELY SHUT. WE HAD THE ENGINE COMPLETELY COVERED WITH SNOW EVERY TIME WE DRIVE IT. NEVER HAD A VEHICLE LET THE WEATHER GET INTO THE ENGINE WITH THE HOOD SEALED.
Other 39,000 mi 2.3 yr in service
CAR KEY CONTINUALLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS BEGAN A MONTH AGO. MY CAR IS IN PARK, AND THE KEY JUST WILL NOT COME OUT, PRETTY OFTEN NOW. YOU EITHER AFTER TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND MOVE IT A LITTLE OR JIGGLE THE HANDLE IN PARK UNTIL THE KEY COMES OUT.
Visibility / wipers 200 mi 1.9 yr in service
WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREET WITH FAIRLY HIGH TRAFFIC. VERY HEAVY RAIN AND HUMIDITY. I TURNED ON DEFOGGER AND THE WINDSHIELD GOT INCREASINGLY MORE FOGGED UP. THE DEFOGGER DID NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO DRIVE AT 20 MPG TO AVOID A COLLISION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE DEFOGGER. THE CAR IS TWO WEEKS OLD.

Other Crosstrek model years

2024202120202019201820172016

How to read this