2018 Subaru Crosstrek Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Crosstrek years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 195 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. That ranks 2nd out of 15 Crosstrek model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility/wiper (64 complaints, 33%), typically at around 20,000 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 195owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper problems | 64 | 33% | 20,000 | “windshield cracked” (28%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 41 | 21% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 32 | 16% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 32 | 16% | 5,700 | — | — |
| Power Train | 14 | 7% | 6,050 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 7% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 10 | 5% | 19,850 | — | — |
| Visibility | 9 | 5% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 3% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 3% | 40,600 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 3% | 31,575 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 2% | 12,501 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 2% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 2% | 20,462 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 13,250 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 1% | 3,800 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1% | 58,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Subaru Crosstrek recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:rear
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.
Risk: Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will retorque and replace any missing bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21.
Electrical system:software; engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ecm):software; electrical system:ignition; engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.
Risk: A short circuit in the ignition coils may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software, replace the ignition coils and, if necessary, the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 1, 2021. Owners can contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-21. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously repaired under Recall 19V743.
Electrical system:software; electrical system:ignition
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, which could result in a short circuit and blown fuse.
Risk: If a short circuit occurs while driving, the vehicle may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software and inspect and replace the ignition coil, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, on vehicles with confirmed ignition coil damage and a certain stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC), Subaru will replace the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUQ-02.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUP-01.
Service brakes; vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Crosstrek vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect floor mat retention bracket, allowing the floor mat to move out of position and interfere with the accelerator or brake pedal operation.
Risk: If the floor mat moves out of position and interferes with the accelerator or brake pedal operation, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the floor mat retention bracket and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTR-77.
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.
Wheel studs, continually Shearer off because of mismatched threads between bolt and nuts common problem among a lot of of Subaru
On 06/26/26, while traveling at highway speeds, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power in active traffic due to a blown out/melted Cylinder 4 ignition coil. This unexpected engine failure forced raw fuel into the exhaust system, causing an immediate internal thermal…
2018 Subaru Crosstrek rapidly accelerated unexpectedly while pulling into a parking space with the foot on the brake. Hit a concrete pole and sustained vehicle damage and injuries.
3/3!2026 while driving heat stop working. Called Milea Saburu spoke to Christian made an appointment for 3/5/2026 they had nothing sooner. Told her what happened. Brought in they gave me loaner 12 days later on 3/18/2026 pick up car. Paid bill they told me everything done no problems. I would get…
Dangerous stall in traffic due to ignition coil failure. Ignition coils and spark plugs were replaced during the WRE21 recall campaign only 13k miles ago back in 2021. Stopped at red light awaiting to turn left when the vehicle started shaking violently. No check engine light came on though. When…
Other Subaru Crosstrek years
← 2017 Crosstrek · 2019 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 | 195 | 5 |
| 2017 Crosstrek | 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 2018 Subaru Crosstrek?
Owners most often report visibility/wiper, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, visibility/wiper, accounts for 64 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 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 2018 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.