AI Damage2023 Subaru Crosstrek: common problems
Owners of the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek filed 35 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and electrical system. The maker issued 203 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 35
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 203
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 20% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 4 Forward collision avoidance 14% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 6 Lane departure 9% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 3% of all complaints
- Visibility: 7 complaints (20% of all).
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (17% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 132.
- Engine: 5 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 34.
- Forward collision avoidance: 5 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
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 1 complaints
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 35 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 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 2 | 132 |
| Engine | 5 | 1 | 34 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Lane departure | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Airbags did not deploy, and during initial head on collision with barrier, driver seatbelt came unlatched from locking mechanism. No inspections at this time. No warning lights prior to crash. Potential for significant harm.
The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a local autobody center. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. The contact seated in the driver's seat was injured.
I proceeded to place the car in drive and all of sudden the car experienced a unintended acceleration straight forward with a sudden burst that i never experienced before.
Oil temperature warning light illuminated on October 5, 2026; dealer diagnosed CVT torque converter failure requiring replacement ($2,954 repair). This is the second CVT failure in two months: the same dealer replaced the CVT valve body in August 2026 (~$3,400) for the same warning light.
Often the brakes are squishy. They require me to push almost all the way down on the brake pedal to engage. This has happened several times of the last year.
the rear brakes keep engaging while the car is driving. we purchased the car in November 2022. this happened in December 2024 & at the time a dealership in [XXX] area (where my son attended college), said it was an issue and replaced parts in the brake system.
Passenger side valve cover gasket and spark plug seal failure.
I was driving today January 30th 2026 on the road going 35 mph into the sunlight and all of the sudden my vehicle acted like I slammed on my brakes and I jerked forward almost hitting my chin in the steering wheel. Luckily no one was close behind me or I could have easily been hit.
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 1,018 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 48% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Crosstrek has 90 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 35, below 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.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
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 203 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 2023 Subaru Crosstrek?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 35. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (11%), airbags did not deploy (6%), seat belts (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek?
NHTSA lists 203 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 2023 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 2023 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.