2021 Subaru Crosstrek
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility/wiper is the leading concern among 115 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 14 Crosstrek model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 8 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 6 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, automatic transmission, park/neutral start interlock switchNov 9, 2023
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 is WRQ-23.
Campaign 23V755000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: visibility/wiper
29 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Feb 26, 2026
On Friday evening, [XXX], while closing the rear driver-side window, I heard a loud mechanical snap, after which the window failed to operate. The window regulator has binding issues (as documented in Subaru TSB 07-189-21R). This mechanical binding disables the anti-entrapment (anti-pinch) safety feature. The sensor is bypassed by the binding/mechanical failure, the window will not reverse when it hits an obstruction. This creates a direct entrapment and crush risk for passengers, specifically young children. A Subaru Customer Advocacy Manager (Jennifer) admitted on a recorded line that “the part should not break” (Case #[XXX]). Despite this admission and the documented safety risk, Subaru of America refused to authorize a safety repair. The failure was inspected and confirmed by an authorized Subaru Service Center (Walser St Paul). No warning lights appeared prior to the failure as it is a pure mechanical defect. I have the recordings, but I’m not able to upload them at the moment. Please let me know if needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2024
Turned on defroster to clear window fog, window cracked along bottom of windshield about 3-4 inches from bottom along 2/3 the length of the windshield. No prior chips or scratches existed.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 29, 2024
This is my 3rd Subaru. This one has now has 3 windshield cracks. 2 spontaneous, one by a tiny pebble. The photos are all from this one vehicle.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 21, 2023
******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS REQUESTED BY THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WISH TO HAVE IT REMOVED. DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******
Visibility/wiper, Jun 19, 2023
Windshield developed large crack starting on lower passenger side and moving along to lower center of windshield. No incident of a rock or other object hitting windshield. A cracked windshield is a safety concern. Car is going in to dealership to have glass replaced this week. Crack appeared June 2023.
Visibility/wiper, May 29, 2023
The windshield was hit by a rock and within 12 hours, a 6" crack developed near the lower part of the windshield. Over the course of the next two weeks, the crack has continued across the entire lower area of the windshield. The windshield is due to be repaired within the next couple of days.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 26, 2023
Stone chip 2 within a week! 1st repaired next day.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 17, 2023
The windshield cracked while the car was parked overnight in my attached, residential garage. The crack formed in front of the passenger seat, starting at the bottom edge of the windshield and running up about 6 inches. There were no chips or recent (as in several weeks) impacts to the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 29, 2023
bought the car last week and I got a crack on the windshield from a small rock. I did an insurance claim that I have an appt for next Wednesday and while driving to work another pebble hit the windshield. So the first crack has not even been fix and I got another one. In my years of driving I have never had this issue.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 18, 2022
Spontaneous windshield crack. No impact or apparent cause. Available for inspection. Based on online research and your database, this is a common occurrence. Reporting to Subaru dealer has been initiated.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 23, 2022
The windshield broke there are no signs of breaking by a rock or any external element, there is a crack coming from the de-icer region, it was a small crack but now it covers all the side from the passenger side.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 4, 2022
Windshield is very fragile. (I think it cracks when a flower petal falls on it...) But seriously, I have about 20 chips in my windshield and have not had any significant boulders or trucks with rocks that have hit my windshield. It appears to be from every day urban commute, which is unusual. I have never had a car that I have had to replace the windshield in due to fragility. Also, the windshield seal has come completely off at the base near the hood.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 15, 2022
The front window was hit by chips seal pebbles from the car in front of us and chipped the window, twice. It was repaired with standard window chip repair.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 24, 2022
Windshield seems pretty fragile after being hit by a little gravel pebble due to construction work at the highway the crack extended in less than 24 hours to 12 inches. This is very concerning since it’s pretty weird to a chip to develop as bad as this one.
Visibility/wiper, May 4, 2022
Windshield cracked on driver side window for no reason - heard pop and looked at windshield and crack appeared. Contacted Eckbond who is subarus third party warranty for repairs, and they stated they can only reimburse me up to $500. Attempted to contact third party windshield repairs and they states it should be taken to subaru since there is no cause for crack. Contacted subaru and explained occurence and it will cost me $1800 for replacement even though, there was no reason for crack.
Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2022
Windshield chips easily. I have owned this car from new (approximately 18 months). The windshield has picked up 7 chips in that time: more than the total of chips I've had in my 29 years of driving. Only one of the chips had a notable sound that accompanied it's creation, and that was from the impact of a large insect while driving on I-77. This windshield seems to be easily damaged, if not fragile, and gives me concern about the potential for injury if it was faced with any substantial impact. I'm also concerned about the high replacement costs for the windshield and required Eyesight re-calibration. If I had known the windshields where so susceptible to damage, I would not have picked a Subaru.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Mar 29, 2022
I bought this car January 2021. In June 2021, the smallest pebble cracked my windshield while I was driving on the freeway. Yesterday, 3/28/22, I was driving home from work like usual and my sunroof spontaneously exploded and completely shattered. Yep, you read that right. Don’t believe me? Search up: Subaru exploded sunroof on Google. Thank god I had the sunroof shade closed or else the glass would’ve fallen all over me. I suffer from trauma caused by a past car accident where I was in the passenger and do not take broken glass lightly which is why I chose Subaru to be my first car that I bought. I came home shaking and found out that other subaru owners experienced the same phenomenon after doing some research. However, Subaru does not want to take responsibility for this. You’re telling me that I don’t have to be in an actual accident in order to be harmed by my car that I was promised was not just one but THE TOP reliable and safest car in the industry?
Visibility/wiper, Jan 4, 2022
The windshield has cracked on the passenger side. It has not put anyone at risk however, this seems to be an issue with many Subaru owners yet Subaru has not done anything about this issue. The vehicle has yet to be inspected.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 12, 2021
When I bought the car last year I had it for less than 2 months before my windshield cracked from a rock while we were on the highway. I get this happens so I didn’t think anything of it until I saw how many other people have also had their windshield crack shortly after buying the car. Since I’ve gotten it replaced almost a year ago I haven’t had any issues.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 17, 2021
Windshield is cracked from a very small pebble. We were driving down the highway and all of the sudden there was a small crack appear, you couldnt even hear the impact. The glass seems very fragile on these cars.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 7, 2021
Among a few other headaches, the windshield cracked on the highway with only 2300 miles on the odometer. This 7 inch crack appeared after a 300 mile road trip. I recall hearing a small thud on the windshield with no immediate cause for concern. After driving another 10 miles, the crack has grown an additional 2 inches.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 13, 2021
The windshield cracked while going over railroad tracks. Spiderweb cracks that are small to see unless driving into the sun and then they are visible all over the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 4, 2021
Upon entering the vehicle (parked in the garage) I looked at the rear view mirror which I always do as I reverse. I noticed a crack on the windshield behind the mirror. The crack was not there when I entered the garage because I had to use the garage remote on the mirror to open the garage door. I would have noticed it (crack). The crack appeared suddenly. I am reporting this problem because I read that another owner, of similar vehicle, has complained about the same issue and almost with same mileage on his car. Same year vehicle too. Given the windshield/Glass history Subaru has with the Outback model, I wonder if this problem is transferred to the Subaru Crosstrek. The two vehicles do share the same type of glass!!!
Visibility/wiper, Jun 26, 2021
Crack about seven inches long appeared in bottom center of front windshield. Nothing hit the windshield as far as I know. Crack runs from bottom of windshield in an upwards direction.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jun 12, 2021
Bought the car brand new 6 months ago and the windshield crack all of a sudden