2021 Subaru Crosstrek Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 2 NHTSA recalls and 116 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

56/100

Elevated Reported Activity — 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek shows elevated recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Make sure any recall campaigns are resolved before purchase and have the vehicle inspected thoroughly.

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NHTSA Recalls

2 recalls on record

116

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

2 fire reports

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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Subaru Crosstrek (2)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch

An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #23V755000

🔧 Electrical System: 12v/24v/48v Battery

A 12-Volt battery that is unable to recharge can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the converter terminal mounting bracket. If corrosion is found on the terminals, the 12-Volt output harness and terminals will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free…

NHTSA #23V080000

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Most Common Problems — 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

Based on 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Visibility/wiper

Unknown Or Other

Power Train

Electrical System

Engine

Forward Collision Avoidance

Service Brakes

Suspension

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Subaru Crosstrek — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2022, 2023, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has 2 recall campaigns and 116 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek have?

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has 2 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek are: Visibility/wiper, Unknown Or Other, Power Train, Electrical System. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek safe to buy?

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 2 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Subaru Crosstrek should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Crosstrek are: 2022, 2023, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.