Subaru Crosstrek: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
1,202 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Crosstrek, model years 2012 to 2026. No model year stands out for the engine or transmission against the others. Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2013, 2017. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 0 | |
| 2013 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 26 | quiet: 1 of 5 | 1 | |
| 2014 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 16 | — | 1 | |
| 2015 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 17 | — | 1 | |
| 2016 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 133 | — | 1 | |
| 2017 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 95 | quiet: 2 of 5 | 1 | |
| 2018 Crosstrek | 195 | — | 5 | |
| 2019 Crosstrek | 286 | — | 7 | |
| 2020 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 71 | — | 0 | |
| 2021 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 115 | — | 1 | |
| 2022 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 31 | — | 0 | |
| 2023 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 36 | — | 0 | |
| 2024 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 121 | — | 2 | |
| 2025 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 47 | — | 0 | |
| 2026 CrosstrekFEW REPORTS | 11 | — | 1 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Subaru models
Subaru Ascent · Subaru Forester · Subaru Impreza · Subaru Legacy · Subaru Outback · Subaru WRX · Subaru XV Crosstrek. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 20182019