Crosstrek (GP)
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
Engine Reliability Ratings
2.0L NA HEV
2.0L 4-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
Subaru Crosstrek Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
2.0L Naturally Aapirated
2.0LView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Hybrid (HEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek
That's near the typical rate for hybrids in this dataset (median 7.0 per year). Within the normal range for the category.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 23 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Sample complaint excerpts
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2016] On Jan 7th, during rush-hour traffic on the highway, without any warning all of my vehicle lights began to dim. The power steering and brakes went out. I was able to steer to the side of the road. Then, all of the lights went out and the car shut off. I was unable to shift the vehicle into park, and as I was going up a hill at the time, I was forced to roll backwards slowly and engage the emergenc
- [2016] HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, MAJORITY OF IT HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, AND I EXITED OFF THE HIGHWAY. I WAITED AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN TURNED ONTO A SECONDARY ROAD. THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN GAVE ALL WARNING LIGHTS WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND I LOST ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLE. IT MADE IT VERY HARD TO STEER, AND WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS IT BARELY HAD ANY POWER TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. FELT
- [2016] On Jan 7th, during rush-hour traffic on the highway, without any warning all of my vehicle lights began to dim. The power steering and brakes went out. I was able to steer to the side of the road. Then, all of the lights went out and the car shut off. I was unable to shift the vehicle into park, and as I was going up a hill at the time, I was forced to roll backwards slowly and engage the emergenc
Electric Propulsion
- [2014] LOSS OF POWER/VEHICLE DIES WHILE IN DRIVING. DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. HILL START ASSIST LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE HAS NO POWER.
- [2014] THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 45 DAYS CAR HAS BEEN FOR SERVICE. CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HYBRID BATTERY. CAR IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING, OR DE ACCELERATES. THE CAR HAS A LOSS OF POWER. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE (GIVE IT GAS), THE OPPOSITE OCCURS, IT LOSES POWER TO THE POINT OF SHUTTING DOWN. MY CAR IS GOING TO KILL M
- [2015] While driving at normal operating speed, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power with no prior warning. There were no dashboard alerts, warning lights, or check engine indicators before the failure occurred. The vehicle became immediately unsafe to operate and had to be pulled over in a main highway center lane divide. After inspection by a licensed mechanic, it was det
High-Voltage Battery
- [2014] The contact owns a 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Check Hybrid System" message was displayed on the instrument panel before the hybrid system shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with high voltage battery failure due to the battery being filled with water. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer.
- [2015] BATTERY FAILURE AT 4000 MILES
- [2014] The contact owns a 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Check Hybrid System" message was displayed on the instrument panel before the hybrid system shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with high voltage battery failure due to the battery being filled with water. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer.
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Vehicle-Level Issues
These issues affect the Subaru Crosstrek regardless of engine variant.
Recalls (4)
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year 2013 XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory. Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs. If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek problems?
The 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek has accumulated 551 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Electrical System, Engine, Transmission. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.
Which Subaru Crosstrek engine is most reliable?
The 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek was offered with 3 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2.0L 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.
Is the 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek a good used car?
The 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 551 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek have?
The 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek has 551 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.
What recalls affect the 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek?
There are 4 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.
What should I check before buying a used Subaru Crosstrek?
Before buying a used Subaru Crosstrek, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Electrical System, Engine, Transmission, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Crosstrek?
The 2017 Subaru Crosstrek received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (15.1% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Optional. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 551 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.