AI Damage2017 Subaru Crosstrek: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek filed 94 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and electrical system. The maker issued 238 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 94
- involving a crash
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 238
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 27% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 11% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 5% of all complaints
- 7 Wheels 4% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 3% of all complaints
- Visibility: 25 complaints (27% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Electrical system: 17 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 122.
- Powertrain: 13 complaints (14% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 25.
- Engine: 10 complaints (11% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 20.
- Service brakes: 6 complaints (6% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- CVTnamed in 1 complaints
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 94 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 25 | 0 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 17 | 1 | 122 |
| Powertrain | 13 | 2 | 25 |
| Engine | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Wheels | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| Air bags | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 74 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 5 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
A few months after the accident, there was a recall for this vehicle make and model for sudden loss of power but my vin is not included in the recall.
I was driving very slow into my garage from townhouse street. I heard this strange noise and my car accelerated fast. I tried to brake but could not stop the car. I hit the back of my garage causing damage to garage wall and inside of my townhome. I have lived here since 1987 and this has never happened before.
During the incident the collision avoidance feature( 'eyesight') malfunctioned and did not stop the vehicle. The front end was severely damaged but the air bag did not deploy. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was driven away. No injuries were reported.
I was driving out of a parking lot and entering the street going very slowly, suddenly the car lurched forward very fast, and I had to slam on my brakes to stop it. I drove it home. I notified a friend who knew a mechanic that he said was familiar with this type of issue.
Wheel bearing go out after 40K plus miles. After doing research on my own wheels bearings it appears that this is a very common issue for this vehicle. This is not a lot of miles to have on a car before wheel bearings (rear) go bad.
Greetings: As outlined in Service Bulletin 05-70-19, Rear Wheel Backing Plate Design change, I am having an almost overwhelming âwhining or hummingâ sound coming from the rear portion of my vehicle.
I discovered the issue after hearing a grinding noise from the wheel well while driving. No warning lights were present and other symptoms were not immediately noticeable.
- cam carrier leak, resulting in oil leaking from engine. oil is leaking onto catalytic converter sensor causing it to malfunction. - oil leaking from cars poses a safety and environmental hazard.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,714 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Crosstrek has 80 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 94, above average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines
- This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles
- This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and…
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a…
This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during…
This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body
The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw…
This 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 no-start conditions or…
- This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during…
This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
- Techtips newsletter locator index
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a…
This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin
- This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from…
This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.
- This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced…
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
NHTSA lists 238 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
- Crosstrek 201326 sources
- Crosstrek 201416 sources
- Crosstrek 201517 sources
- Crosstrek 2016376 sources
- Crosstrek 2018568 sources
- Crosstrek 2019726 sources
- Crosstrek 2020455 sources
- Crosstrek 2021445 sources
- Crosstrek 2022284 sources
- Crosstrek 2023239 sources
- Crosstrek 2024343 sources
- Crosstrek 2025164 sources
- Crosstrek 202672 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 94. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (12%), windows, sunroof (6%), battery drain (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek?
NHTSA lists 238 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.