AI Damage2021 Subaru Crosstrek: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek filed 115 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and electrical system. The maker issued 330 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 115
- involving a crash
- 8
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 330
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 29% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 5 Forward collision avoidance 12% of all complaints
- 6 Lane departure 4% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 3% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 3% of all complaints
- Visibility: 33 complaints (29% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Electrical system: 16 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 201.
- Engine: 16 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 40.
- Powertrain: 14 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 33.
- Forward collision avoidance: 14 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
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
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2 L · plug-in hybrid · 4 cyl
- CVTnamed in 2 complaints
- manual, 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 115 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 | 33 | 0 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 16 | 1 | 201 |
| Engine | 16 | 1 | 40 |
| Powertrain | 14 | 2 | 33 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 14 | 2 | 3 |
| Lane departure | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Backover prevention | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Seats | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
None of our seatbelts locked. Only the two seats that no one was in locked. Also, my headrest completely broke off. Our car was later determined by the insurance to be totaled.
I wasn’t close enough to stop it and it rolled down a neighbor of my clients driveway and eventually rolled over landing against a tree. When I arrived at my car it was still running. I have awd and I noticed the tires in the air were not turning as they should have if it was in drive. My car was obviously totaled.
I had almost no time to react, and neither the Automatic Emergency Braking system nor the Forward Collision Warning system engaged. Both of these systems should have activated to prevent the collision and/or minimize injuries and damage. I subsequently collided (harshly) with the aforementioned sedan.
I was driving my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek slowly in a parking lot when it unexpectedly accelerated on its own without me pressing the gas pedal. I believe the Crosstrek was now going 40mph. I tried to shut off the engine and brake at the same time but neither one had any effect. I thought maybe I had two options.
The car lurched forward again, then stopped, and I was able to open the door. My leg was broken with a compound fracture and my foot was nearly ripped off. I called for help, 911 was dispatched, and I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.
I immediately turn that setting off every time I get into my car because if I pause for too long at a light/stop sign etc.the engine will stall and turn off (without being in park). I have reported this to Subaru on many occasions and they’ve told me to replace the battery, so I did, and nothing changed.
We were lucky that we found it and were able to have it addressed before the brakes failed.
- There were no warning signals prior to either engine failures. The first one being a year ago for head gasket failure that allowed oil to mix with coolant. With the most recent failure the engine ticked briefly after braking to merge for construction, the oil pressure light followed by engine light turned on 5…
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 518 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Crosstrek has 90 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 115, 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.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
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 announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application
- This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles
- "This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs
DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"
- 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.
- In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc
(SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the CP1 & Gen 3.1 Head Unit used in the listed models and model years to (8) eight years / 150,000 miles to cover certain qualifying repairs to the…
- 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 provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top…
This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top center retaining nut area of the front strut mounts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on…
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
- This Service Information Bulletin announces the release of a new diagnostic assistance application for…
This Service Information Bulletin announces the release of a new diagnostic assistance application for TR690 and TR580 CVT-equipped vehicles. 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…
NHTSA lists 330 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 115. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (19%), windows, sunroof (9%), jerking, harsh shifts (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?
NHTSA lists 330 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 2021 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 2021 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 2026-11-04.