2021 Subaru Crosstrek Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Crosstrek years
- Far more complaints than other years 5th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 115 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. That ranks 5th out of 15 Crosstrek model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility/wiper (29 complaints, 25%), typically at around 2,460 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
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- 115owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 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 | 29 | 25% | 2,460 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 25 | 22% | 6,600 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 16 | 14% | 43,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 16 | 14% | 1,300 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 14 | 12% | 5,129 | — | — |
| Power Train | 14 | 12% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 5 | 4% | 1,950 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 3% | 5,700 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 3% | 30,975 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 3% | 42,508 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 106 | — | — |
| I Suspect the Car Seat Is Counterfeit | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Subaru Crosstrek recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
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.
Drivers side door, interior automatic door lock switch spins and makes a clicking sound when you just start go forward.
There have been multiple instances where my car has failed to ârestartâ if the auto-start-stop feature is on. 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…
We brought the vehicle in for routine maintenance. They reported that all brake hoses were bulging and at risk of failing at any time. They said that there was a related recall for a similar issue on other CrossTrek's but that ours was not included in the VIN list, so was not a part of the recall…
Was driving on highway when all of the lights on my dash illuminated. Eventually I got a warning for oil at temp alarm. Was giving code P2757 and P0700. Looks like this a common issue in Subarus but doesnât look like it covers anything after 2020.
- Rod #4 failure of unknown cause, although there is speculation that current failure may be related to a major repair in oil system a year ago. - My safety along with my unborn childâs, husbandâs and brother in lawâs were all at risk. Another driver had to take evasive action to avoid…
Other Subaru Crosstrek years
← 2020 Crosstrek · 2022 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 | 115 | 1 |
| 2020 Crosstrek | 69 | 0 |
| 2019 Crosstrek | 285 | 7 |
| 2018 Crosstrek | 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 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?
Owners most often report visibility/wiper, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, visibility/wiper, accounts for 29 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 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 2021 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.