2017 Subaru Crosstrek Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Crosstrek years
- Far more complaints than other years 6th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek. That ranks 6th out of 15 Crosstrek model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is unknown or other (33 complaints, 35%), typically at around 23,000 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 2 fires, 5 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
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- 94owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2017 Subaru Crosstrek problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown or Other | 33 | 35% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 22 | 23% | 26,243 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 17 | 18% | 37,241 | — | — |
| Power Train | 13 | 14% | 40,650 | — | — |
| Engine | 10 | 11% | 13,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 5% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 5% | 39,529 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 4% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 3% | 52,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 3% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 3% | 54,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 3% | 26,000 | — | — |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1% | 26,322 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 396 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | 396 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | 13,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 Subaru Crosstrek recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Premature shift fork failure in 2017 Subaru Crosstrek manual transmission at 62,521 miles requiring complete transmission replacement ($10,000 repair, vehicle worth $11,000). EVIDENCE OF DESIGN DEFECT: - Subaru issued TSB 03-83-20R acknowledging shift fork design flaws in 2018-2020 Crosstreks with…
In August of 2024, I got into my car in a parking lot and turned the key in the ignition. The car started revving really high. I waited for it to slow down, and then I put it into reverse. The car shot back and would have hit the building if I hadn't slammed on the brakes. Fortunately, there wasn't…
The harness on my child's Nuna RAVA loosened during a 30 minute drive home (highway and downtown driving) in May of 2025. I learned later that month that there is a recall on Nuna Ravas for that exact reason. It is available for inspection. My child was not properly secured, and I did not know it…
On January 19, 2024 I was slowly pulling in to a parking spot at my doctors office. I did not pull up far enough, as there was a concrete retaining wall at the head of the spot and no tire block for safety. I was maybe 5 feet from the wall when I lightly tapped the gas pedal to inch up (as the back…
There is a battery draining problem. I have had to replace the battery 3 times in a two-year period.
Other Subaru Crosstrek years
← 2016 Crosstrek · 2018 Crosstrek →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Crosstrek | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 Crosstrek | 44 | 0 |
| 2024 Crosstrek | 120 | 2 |
| 2023 Crosstrek | 34 | 0 |
| 2022 Crosstrek | 31 | 0 |
| 2021 Crosstrek | 115 | 1 |
| 2020 Crosstrek | 69 | 0 |
| 2019 Crosstrek | 285 | 7 |
| 2018 Crosstrek | 195 | 5 |
| 2017 | 94 | 1 |
| 2016 Crosstrek | 132 | 1 |
| 2015 Crosstrek | 17 | 1 |
| 2014 Crosstrek | 16 | 1 |
| 2013 Crosstrek | 26 | 1 |
| 2012 Crosstrek | 2 | 0 |
See all Subaru Crosstrek problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.
Similar Subaru models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek?
Owners most often report unknown or other, visibility/wiper, electrical system problems. The top one, unknown or other, accounts for 33 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Crosstrek model years, the 2017 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.