2016 Subaru Crosstrek
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 131 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 14 Crosstrek model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 4 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 28, 2019
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.
Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Campaign 19V149000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
34 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Aug 12, 2019
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AFTER VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CAN NOT BE REMOVED UNTIL TRYING TO SHIFT GEAR. SEEMS LIKE IT IS NOT GOING INTO PARK. STARTED AUGUST 8, 2019 AND EVERY DAY SINCE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2019
MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON THE ACC POSITION, SO I CAN NOT LEAVE MY CAR WITH THE KEY IN IT BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS STILL ON. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN PARK. I TURN THE KEY COUNTER CLOCKWISE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY, THE KEY WILL NOT GO FURTHER THAN THE ACC POSITION, AND NO, IT IS NOT THAT I'M NOT PUSHING IT IN ENOUGH OR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. I AM ESSENTIALLY STUCK IN MY CAR OR AT RISK OF IT BEING STOLEN. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY (AT LEAST ONCE A DAY) BUT NOT EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. IT HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE, AND FOR FEAR OF DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION OR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FURTHER I TRY NOT TO DRIVE IT. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ACROSS FIVE OTHER SUBARU MODELS OVER FIVE YEARS (2013-2018; LEGACY, OUTBACK, IMPREZA, CROSSTREK, FORESTER, WRX - UNTIL RECENTLY THEIR ENTIRE LINEUP!) AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN LAST YEAR (ATTACHED). IT IS AFFECTING SO MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS, YET THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. THE SERVICE BULLETIN ANNOUNCED A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE CVT SELECT LEVER DUE TO PARK-RANGE SWITCH INTERNAL COMPONENTS. THEY CLAIM IT IS "ISOLATED" BUT A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET PROVES THIS IS NOT THE CASE.
Other or unspecified, Jun 27, 2019
WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE KEY IS ALWAYS STUCK EVEN IF THE SHIFTER IS ON PARK MODE, HAD TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND PUSH THE SHIFTER WITH FORCE TO RELEASE THE KEY.
Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2019
THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AFTER PLACING THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN PARK SO IT WON'T RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH RECALL AND IT STARTED HAPPENING THE NEXT WEEK.
Other or unspecified, Dec 18, 2018, fire
I MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CAR NOT STARTING, TOO MUCH OIL CONSUMPTION ETC...THEN ON NOVEMBER 11, 2018, AT 3.42PM I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 87 WHEN CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY, SMOKE CAME OUT AND FLAMES. IT BURNED DOWN IN 15 MINUTES. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO TURN THE FIRE DOWN. THE CAR IS TOTAL LOSS. I COULD HAVE DIED
Other or unspecified, Oct 29, 2018
THE RADIO WITH SIRIUSXM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. APPARENTLY, SIRIUS UPDATED IS SOFTWARE, HOWEVER; THE SUBARU RADIOS ARE NOW NOT IN SYNC WITH SIRIUS. MY SITUATION IS NOT AN ISOLATED SITUATION. SPECIFICALLY, THE "LIST" DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO MANUALLY CHANGE CHANNELS WITH THE KNOB, AS THERE ARE OVER 300 CHANNELS
Other or unspecified, Aug 25, 2016
TWICE NOW MY CAR HAS GONE LIMP ON THE FREEWAY. IT DOESN'T SHUT DOWN BUT THE ACCELERATOR STOPS WORKING AND I HAVE TO COAST OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART IT. WHEN I DO RESTART IT IT'S FINE. BOTH TIMES THE ENGINE DOESN'T EVEN REV WHEN I PRESS THE GAS; IT'S JUST UNRESPONSIVE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING EITHER. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN WHEN I WAS GOING AROUND 70 MPH AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN HOT; PROBABLY 88-90 DEGREES.
Other or unspecified, Jul 18, 2016
TOXIC SMELL IN THE CAR. I NOTICED IT WHEN THE SALESMAN WAS GOING OVER HOW TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AND HE SAID HE NOTICED IT, ALSO. I FIGURED IT WAS BRAND NEW AND IT WOULD GET BETTER, BUT IT DID NOT AND I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THEY HAVE TRIED MANY THINGS TO GET RID OF THE SMELL. NOTHING WORKS. NOW THEY SAY NOTHING IS MECHANICALLY WRONG, SO I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT MAKES ME SICK. THIS IS NOT NEW CAR SMELL, I WISH IT WERE. I HAVE BEEN IN AT LEAST 6 OTHER NEW SUBARU'S, AND NONE OF THEM SMELL LIKE THIS ONE DOES. THE SMELL IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER OR FADING. IT MAKES ME LIGHTHEADED, GIVES ME HEADACHES, SORE THROATS, BLURRY VISION, POST NASAL DRIP, AND IF IN IT LONG ENOUGH, NAUSEA. MY HUSBAND ALSO HAS THESE ISSUES AND WILL NOT RIDE IN THE CAR.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, May 13, 2016
THE DURATION OF TIME THAT IT TAKES TO GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS. EVERY MORNING I DRIVE MY CHILD TO DAYCARE AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE I FEARED THAT WE WOULD GET REAR-ENDED (WHICH WOULD INJURE MY CHILD) DUE TO THE SLOW RESPONSE TIME GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. EVERY MORNING I HAVE TO BE 100% SURE TO TIME MY REVERSAL WHEN BACKING OUT AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO CARS ANYWHERE NEAR ME SO I DON'T GET CRASHED INTO. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE THERE ARE ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES FROM THIS. ALSO, THIS IS A MINOR INCONVENIENCE BUT THE MOONROOF/SUNROOF DOESN'T OPEN 100% ALL THE WAY WHEN I CLICK THE AUTO OPEN BUTTON/FEATURE...IT OPENS AND THEN STOPS ABOUT 1 INCH BEFORE BEING FULLY OPEN. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU PRESS THE AUTO OPEN BUTTON TO OPEN THE MOONROOF, IT WILL STOP AT 90-95% OPEN THEN YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY PRESS IT AGAIN TO GET IT FULLY OPEN ANOTHER INCH TO 100%. WHEN I TOOK MY CROSSTREK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM REPROGRAM MY TELEMATICS FOR THE TELEMATICS/COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING RECALL I HAD THEM TAKE A LOOK AT THE MOONROOF AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS "WORKING AS DESIGNED". WHY WOULD A MOONROOF NOT FULLY OPEN 100% BY DESIGN? IT CAN'T BE A SAFETY ISSUE, SO THIS JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AND LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS BEING COMPLACENT AND LAZY AND DIDN'T FEEL LIKE HAVING TO ADJUST IT OR SIMPLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW.