7.1
pretty bad- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 8,354 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I noticed that my 2018 Subaru Crosstrek battery keeps draining when the car sits for several days (something that typically has not happened in the past until my son recently went off to college). I called AAA and they checked out the battery and indicated that the battery was good still, but was borderline. Would likely need to be replaced soon. Since it was the original battery and it would need to be replaced soon - I had them replace it. Even after the battery replacement - the battery drains when the car sits for a few days. I took the car in to my local Subaru dealer and they indicated parasitic drain from DCM is depleting the battery. They tried performing a factory reset on the DCM, but it was unsuccessful. The dealer quoted me $1200 to replace the DCM and had to order it. I also noticed several class-action lawsuits for other Subaru models (which sound like the same issue). I called Subaru Customer Advocacy to inform them of the situation and currently awaiting a response.
- Shrewsbury, MA, USA
Purchased NEW car 2018 and ALWAYS serviced at dealership. No problems until January 2022, radio issues. Dealer replaced radio - ever since then, the battery of the car keeps dying. The radio was replaced at least 3 times. Approximately Jan 21, 2023, I had to pay to replace the battery because service department said it needed to be replaced. Jan 23rd, the car was dead in my garage - they replaced the battery. On Jan 27th, car was dead again in the garage. Dealer had car towed and they kept until Jan 31st, when they had a -??specialist-?? from Tampa look at the problem - another battery. Oct 3 again dead in the garage. Even the TEO KEYFOBS has to be replaced as they were drained of power. There obviously is an ELECTRICAL PROBLEM somewhere in the engine and we are afraid that the car might stop running WHILE I AM DRIVING IT, or AIR BAGS DEPLOY or maybe an ENGINE FIRE. THERE IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. I reported it to Subaru Corporation and their executive said to -??just keep bringing it in when the battery has died-??! How does that resolve the electrical POTENTIALLY UNSAFE ISSUE? As of today, 11/12, in the evening you can see on the radio screen a type of -??glow-?? or -??backlight-?? coming from the screen WITH THE RADIO TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. We are seniors who are not afraid to drive this car because of potential safety issues or being -??stranded-?? somewhere if it is not operational. I contacted Subaru Corporation and all they will do is issue a -??goodwill-?? credit of $1,500 toward a new car. We are retired and on a fixed income and thought this would be our forever car and even purchased the extended warranty to avoid any future expenses that we could not afford. It would be an unbudgeted expense to pay for another vehicle.
- Oldsmar , FL, USA
Was told I needed a new ecm due to corrupt learning. My vehicles check engine light, traction control light, and cruise control all turned on/ stopped working. My vehicle has received all necessary maintenance in a timely manner, no missed oil changes and no accidents. The dealership stated it was due to damage but this can-??t be possible since the only place service has been completed was at the dealership, if it was damaged it would have been caused by the dealership. I have seen multiple threads online stating the same issue with their vehicle same model and similar years and the cost to replace is not cheap.
- Columbus, OH, USA
Premature starter failure as noted in TSB 07-198-21 due to failed clutch in starter motor. Only had 35, 750 miles. Defective starter. Issue known to Subaru. Could leave drivers stranded and at risk. This known/ common starter motor failure problem should be a recall.
- Cohoes, NY, USA
the horn quit working, everything else on my steering wheel and steering column work just not the horn, no way to warn approaching traffic, safety issue, puts myself and family in harms way.
- Steamboat Springs, CO, USA
-driving at moderate pace between 30 and 40 mph when vehicle engine shut off without warning. loss of power, no steering and all warning lights illuminated. difficulty getting vehicle over to side of road so not in way of traffic. braking was difficult once on side of road.
- Frisco, TX, USA
Battery drain when car isn-??t in use for 2 days went through 3 high CCA AGM batteries since I purchased new. also the manufacturer OEM battery. I only have 16,400 miles on the car and went through 4 total batteries. I had to pay for all the batteries and now I need another one.
- Catasauqua, PA, USA
Battery issues
- New Port Richey, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that after a heavy rain and starting the vehicle several warning messages appeared on the instrument panel such as the assist braking and eyesight driver assist needed servicing. The contact also stated that the steering wheel was hard to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that a sensor in the wheel caused the failure. The sensor was replaced however, the failure reoccurred after heavy rains a month a later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who stated that the failure reoccurred due to the computer sensor in the rear driver-??s side wheel that was replaced was not reset. The contact stated that in December water was noticed on the driver-??s side floor and condensation after a heavy rain. The vehicle was taken to the dealer again where the failure was diagnosed as clogged sunroof draining ports. The contact stated that the sunroof port needed to be replaced and unclogged. The manufacturer was notified, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.
- Millbrae, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not properly accelerate. The failure occurred while operating the vehicle in warmer humid weather. The contact indicated that the failure occurred after the vehicle was serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V264000 (Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling) which included replacing the and updating the EMC software. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000. Consumer stated vehicle is still at the dealer.
- Kentwood, MI, USA
The battery in my Crosstrek inexplicably drains and sometimes won't hold a charge. I've had to buy a charger/booster after replacing the battery twice. 7/20/2020 and 9/18/2020
- Paul, ID, USA
Eyesight switches on and off too often for no obvious reason when the vehicle is in motion regardless of a city street or on the highway
- Boynton Beach, FL, USA
We can drive hundreds of miles, make a few stops and during one of those stops, the battery is dead. This has occurred three separate times over the last 4 weeks. We've had the vehicle at john kennedy Subaru in norristown where they attempted to diagnose the problem. What they did was perform an update on radio and the battery, starter and alternator all checked out ok. The car died again today and we're scheduled to bring it in again on Monday.
- Collegeville, PA, USA
In Nov 2017, at 700 miles, I had a remote start installed at the dealership. In May 2018, my remote start would not start the car & when it would the car would stall. Even without the remote start my car wouldn't start or it would start and shut off. I couldn't get it to function for 3 days. In addition, I was having issues with my radio. The radio would freeze up or it would not turn off, there were times the radio would keep running for close to 15 minutes even though the car was shut off. I took my car to dealership in May 2018 at 4136 miles & they stated my terminal connections were loose, they completed a radio update & that when the remote start was installed they didn't believe it was fully connected to the battery. Shortly after, my gps would lose connection a lot, my eye sight technology shuts off when I'm driving if it's foggy or rainy, my reverse auto brake has stopped my car even though there was nothing behind me, my car auto braked on the highway twice even though I was not near anyone & almost caused accidents, & my radio has frozen up, so I could not do anything but view a blue screen with white stars. I kept getting charged for starlink but it never worked, the icons wouldn't even light up on my screen for it. I brought my car in for numerous recalls in Feb 2020, my car had 13,790 miles. On May 20, 2020, my car would not start; my key fobs & remote start wouldn't work. A jumper box couldn't start my car; I had to have someone jump the car. The car ran rough & the odometer shut off & the screen changed while driving. Today, the car is dead again. I can only get into my car with emergency key, the car & electronics will not turn on & lights were blinking on the dashboard. My car has 17,132 miles & this is the 2nd time I am completely without a car for days. There is something seriously wrong with the battery & electrical components of this car.
- Bordentown, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact received two recall notifications for NHTSA campaign numbers: 19V744000 (engine & engine cooling) and 19V743000 (electrical system). The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle. Northtown Subaru (3930 sheridan dr, hamherst, NY) confirmed that parts were not available to perform the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
- Buffalo, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact received two recall notifications in the mail for NHTSA campaign numbers: 19V744000 (engine and engine cooling) and 19V743000(electrical system). Prior to the notifications, the contact informed cma's colonial Subaru (2122 ruffin mill rd, South chesterfield, va 23834, 888-929-4456) that she heard a banging noise coming from the engine when parking the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact was informed that the noise was related to the engine cooling off and that an oil change was needed. The manufacturer had not been notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 33. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- North Chesterfield, VA, USA
1) vehicle was delivered new with rear power windows not working. 2) led brake light stopped working at 15000 miles, noticed when I was backing up in front of glass doors. I was told by dealer wire was shorting out and entire light assembly needed to be replaced. Dealer did not stock part so I was sent off with non working brake light under warranty until they could get part.
- Watertown, NY, USA
When phone is connected via usb to phone it doesn't always pull up apple play. Also if phone is left plugged in and turn car off go into store come back it says error connecting and wont connect back to apple play for hours.
- Peoria, AZ, USA
The starlink entertainment and navigation system (8" screen) periodically freezes while driving. When frozen, the touchscreen will not work and the system is useless. Sometimes these is no sound and at other times it is maximum volume. After shutting off the vehicle for at least four hours, the system will unfreeze.
- San Francisco, CA, USA
- Los Angeles, CA, USA