The Subaru Crosstrek has been a positive vehicle for the Japanese carmaker. It has All-Wheel Drive as standard and provides a “boxer” layout for its four-cylinder engine. The crossover ranks #2 in the compact SUV segment, preceded by the Porsche Macan. The sales figures are pretty solid with nearly 88,000 units sold in the previous year. The story has been a smooth-sailing boat on paper, but the real-world scenario gets a bit challenging. The challenges are brought by way of one recall and 100 complaints registered on the NHTSA. The most common issues faced by Crosstrek owners include the blower motor malfunctioning and affecting the cooling inside the cabin. To add to the list, the CVT has a huge contribution and requires a replacement at low mileage. Along the lines of the blower motor malfunction comes the backup camera which is reported to give random issues. Will it be a good offering against the Honda HR-V and the Jeep Compass? Let’s find out.
2016 Subaru Crosstrek Problems
Electrical issues:
- Faulty fuel gauge: The Crosstrek fuel gauge is reported to give out false readings due to a malfunction in the fuel sensor. The gauge shows more fuel than what is actually available in the tank. This causes a lot of issues for the drivers and, in many cases, has left people stranded in the middle of nowhere because the vehicle ran out of fuel.
- Backup camera issues: Many people have complained that the Crosstrek backup camera issues take a toll on the practicality of driving the crossover. The camera shows distorted images of what’s behind the SUV and makes it very difficult to maneuver. In some cases the backup camera shuts off while the SUV is reversing, causing a lot of issues and increasing the chances of collisions with objects in the rear.
- Malfunctioning blower motor: The Crosstrek blower motor is another part prone to failure at low mileage. Many people have reported their blower motor to fail at just 30,000 miles and blow out hot air even when the AC is on. The issue is more prominent in the earlier batches of the 2016 model year. A handful of complaints claim that the blower motor fuse melted behind the dashboard and caused an electrical short which lighted up the dashboard.
Mechanical issues:
- Power steering delay: Many people report that the Crosstrek power steering issue mostly consists of a small delay when first starting the vehicle. The complainants say that the steering has no power assistance for 10-15 seconds after starting up the car. The respective warning light illuminates and makes the driver aware of the issue.
- CVT issues: The Crosstrek CVT issues affect driveability a lot and ruin in-city maneuverability at slow speeds. The majority of the people report the transmission slipping and revving the motor without increasing the speed. Some people have reported incidents where the transmission slipped to neutral from the drive and caused issues in accelerating. The worst issue is the transmission failing at a mileage of just 30,000 miles. The issues have been reported to the manufacturer and a solution is awaited.
Exterior issues:
- Weak hood latch: Some people complain that the Crosstrek hood isn’t latched strongly. These complainants have felt that the hood is not closed fully and causes disturbance while driving. A handful of customers have experienced the hood opening and falling back to the windshield of the SUV, damaging both the parts.
Safety issues:
- Vehicle Speed Control (VSC) issues: The Crosstrek VSC is pretty sensitive and kicks in at the earliest. Though the system might be doing its job well, in most cases it makes it very dangerous to drive the SUV on the highway. In a handful of cases, the car jerked forward when the accelerator was pressed slightly which jerked the car forward.
Miscellaneous issues:
- Key stuck in the lock: The most commonly reported issue with the Crosstrek is the key getting stuck in the ignition when the car is turned off. The key doesn’t come out and causes the SUV to not turn off. This also keeps the respective functions active and does not let the occupant exit the vehicle safely.
2016 Subaru Crosstrek Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
February 28, 2019 |
19V149000 |
Exterior Lighting |
A malfunction in the brake light switch due to contamination prevents keyless ignition from starting. The lack of a third brake light doesn’t beware the traffic behind, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Subaru will notify the owners and initiate a recall on April 15, 2019. The dealerships will replace the brake light switch without any charge. Subaru’s internal code for the recall was WUE-90. |
Should you buy the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek?
The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek is a pretty well-rounded package that should be more sharpened for a foolproof offering. The most common issue includes the key getting stuck in the ignition chamber and not letting the car switch off. To add to the issues, the fuel gauge and the blower motor are risky ones as well. The solution to these issues, however, are easily available with the dealerships and one could go and get them solved easily. That said, the crossover makes a pretty good bet in both the new and pre-owned markets with easy maintenance and cheap repairs available immediately.
