The best Crosstrek years to buy are 2020 and 2022. Avoid the 2013 and 2019: an engine recall and CVT faults on the first year, and windshields that crack on their own plus dead batteries on the 2019, give them the most complaints.
Best years: 20202022 Years to avoid: 20132019
Every Crosstrek year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 121 | - | 2 | Other | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 36 | - | 0 | Other | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 31 | 20 | 0 | Other | Good buy |
| 2021 | 116 | 91 | 2 | Visibility and wipers | Good year |
| 2020 | 71 | 59 | 0 | Visibility and wipers | Good buy |
| 2019 | 286 | 218 | 7 | Visibility and wipers | Skip this year |
| 2018 | 195 | 135 | 5 | Visibility and wipers | Average |
| 2017 | 98 | 89 | 1 | Other | Good year |
| 2016 | 136 | 142 | 1 | Electrical | Average |
| 2015 | 100 | 112 | 1 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2014 | 107 | 151 | 0 | Electrical | Average |
| 2013 | 124 | 231 | 3 | Engine | Skip this year |
About the Crosstrek
The Crosstrek is Subaru's raised Impreza hatchback, sold as the XV Crosstrek at launch in 2013. Its complaint rate is low overall. The 2013 drew engine recall and CVT complaints, and the 2019 drew many reports of windshields cracking without an impact and batteries draining overnight. The 2020-2023 cars are among the cleanest small SUVs we track.
- 2013-2017: First generation, 2.0-liter with manual or CVT; hybrid 2014-2016.
- 2018-2023: Second generation. Windshield cracks and battery drain on 2018-2019.
- 2024 on: Third generation.
Crosstrek warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Subaru files with NHTSA. 1,410 Crosstrek bulletins are on file in total.
As part of Subaru's dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc.
This bulletin announces the extended warranty coverage for the Thermo Control valve (TCV) used the the models listed.
Denso low pressure fuel pump warranty extension.
In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc.
Owner notification schedule: WUR-03 Impreza & Crosstrek Brake Hose Swelling Customer Satisfaction Program.
This letter provides information regarding the warranty extension for the Telematics Data Communications Module (DCM).
T16 Warranty Extension (15-317-24R) Frequently Asked Questions.
2013-14MY Legacy and Outback Models with 2.5L FB Engines - 2011-14MY Forester Models with 2.5L FB Engines - 2015 MY Forester (Manual Transmissions Only) with 2.5L FB Engines - 2012-13 MY Impreza and XV Crosstrek Models with 2.0...
Refer to bulletin for engine/transmission type.
2.0L engines.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Crosstrek
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2019–2022 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Crosstrek vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Subaru Crosstrek?
2020 and 2022. The best Crosstrek years to buy are 2020 and 2022. Avoid the 2013 and 2019: an engine recall and CVT faults on the first year, and windshields that crack on their own plus dead batteries on the 2019, give them the most complaints.
Which Subaru Crosstrek years should I avoid?
2013, 2019. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Subaru Crosstrek average.
Why do Subaru Crosstrek windshields crack?
Many 2018-2020 Crosstrek owners report cracks that start at the edge with no impact. It matches the pattern on the Forester and Outback of the same years. A replacement typically costs $400 to $1,000 with the camera recalibration.
Based on 1,421 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2013 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.