2022 Subaru Crosstrek Problems And Complaints

Subaru Crosstrek Issues

The Subaru Crosstrek has been in the American market for 5 years now and has seen good sales in the segment. The run hasn't been smooth because the SUV has been riddled with issues since the year it launched. The early model years were riddled with ECM issues, transmission jerkiness, and engine stalling issues. The carmaker did try to resolve the issues and issued 9 recalls, which we’ll talk about later. For now, let’s see what the most common issues are:

Electrical issues:

1. Audio system issues: The 2018 and the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek owners have reported issues with the audio system in the car. The complainants state a buzzing noise emitting from the speakers. This issue exists even when the car is off. The stereo system also blares the audio at full volume whenever the car is started, causing a distraction.
2. Infotainment system issues: The infotainment in the 2018 and 2019 Subaru Crosstrek freezes during operation. This "freeze" happens on doing something as simple as changing a radio station. This system does not shift to the rearview camera when the gear is shifted to reverse. This causes distraction and affects rearward visibility.
3. ECM issues: The 2018 Crosstrek was prone to ECM issues that shut down the whole vehicle. This power cut forced the driver to move to the side and disabled the car’s ignition. It also killed all the electrical systems inside the car including the infotainment system. 

Mechanical issues:

1. High engine oil temperature: Many 2018 Crosstrek owners have reported the engine oil temperature in their cars to be very high. This high temperature causes the car to overheat and stall. This increases the risk of a rear-end collision. The dealerships suggest changing the engine oil early to avoid any lasting damage to the engine.
2. Jerky transmission: The transmission in the Subaru Crosstrek is reported to be very jerky at lower speeds. This causes a lot of inconveniences while driving. This jerkiness reduces engine power drastically while overtaking.
3. Gear slipping: Many Crosstrek owners have reported that the gears in their cars shift from park to neutral and cause the car to move. This unintentional movement has also resulted in some injuries when the occupant was exiting the vehicle. Many complainants had suffered a fender bender where their Crosstrek rolled down the slope and hit parked vehicles. 

Exterior issues:

1. Windshield cracking: The windshield on the Crosstrek’s current generation is known for cracking in colder climates. There are complaints of the windshield chipping/cracking registered on the NHTSA across the model years. Many complaints have been forwarded to the manufacturer and a reply is awaited.
2. Windshield glare: There is a glare pictured in many replacement windshields due to the sunlight being right on top. This glare affects the visibility of the driver and is often said to cause nausea while driving.
3. Wheel bearing noise: In some of the Crosstrek vehicles with more than 50,000 miles, the wheel bearings have started giving out a humming noise. This noise is audible only while the car is moving and goes away when at a standstill.
4. Sunroof explosions: The sunroof on the Subaru Crosstrek explodes without any apparent impact. The sunroof shatters and fills the cabin with glass. This glass has also injured the occupants inside.

Safety features issue:

1. Subaru EyeSight issues: If a windshield is replaced due to cracking, the EyeSight driver assistance starts to malfunction. Many people have reported the system to randomly switching itself off and disabling all the related driver-assistance features. There have been reports of malfunction of the system as well due to dust accumulating near the sensor.

Subaru Crosstrek Recalls

The Subaru Crosstrek had a very shaky start in its current generation with many issues reported. The Japanese carmaker had to recall the Crosstrek 9 times during its current generation as a result of these frequent and recurring issues. The 2019 Crosstrek was recalled 5 times while the 2020 Crosstrek tallied 4 times. The Crosstrek was never recalled again but many new issues cropped up regarding which the manufacturer is already aware.

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks
1.	November 7, 2017	17V701000	Brakes	An incorrect floor mat retention bracket may allow movement of the mat and hinder the accelerator or brake pedal operation, increasing the risk of a crash.
2.	February 16, 2019	19V065000	Steering	A short-circuit in the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may result in loss of electric power steering assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
3.	May 30, 2019	19V404000	Visibility	Improperly tempered driver's side rear-door window glass makes the affected units fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials".
4.	October 17, 2019	19V744000	Engine and Engine Cooling	The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) might break and cause separated components to enter the engine that can cause loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
5.	October 18, 2019	19V743000	Electrical System	The Engine Control Module (ECM) may not still power the ignition coil leading to a short circuit and increasing the risk of a fire.
6.	December 2, 2019	19V856000	Engine and Engine Cooling	The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) might break and cause separated components to enter the engine which can cause loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
7.	March 31, 2020	20V189000	Seatbelts	In the vehicles with a dual-mode locking mechanism in the rear seat belt assemblies, the webbing sensor locking mechanism in the seatbelt may not lock increasing the risk of injury.
8.	April 15, 2021	21V263000	Suspension	Loose rear stabilizer bracket bolts may shift and detach, increasing the risk of a crash.
9.	April 15, 2021	21V264000	Electrical System	The Engine Control Module (ECM) may not still power the ignition coil leading to a short circuit and increasing the risk of a fire.

Which model year of the Subaru Crosstrek should you avoid?

The Subaru Crosstrek’s trail hasn’t been as smooth as the Japanese car manufacturer had planned. It was wretched with issues and niggles since the beginning and had to go through 9 recalls. We would avoid the 2018 and the 2019 model years due to the excessive recall and mentioned issues the owners had to go through. 

Should you buy the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek?

The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek hasn’t seen much change since it was launched. It still carries on with the same charm and ruggedness as before but is now more streamlined to avoid recurring issues from the past. The Crosstrek makes for a gamble with the major mechanical issues. The capability on offer makes it the only one to tackle the roads less taken! If you want to go for a used Crosstrek, feel free to go for the 2020 model year and above because of the massive improvements done on the car.