The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 38 of 136 complaints (28%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 96 in 2015 to 136 in 2016.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 136
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,000–$2,400
- Combined MPG
- 26–31
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,100–2,500 | 2,000–2,400 | 2,000–2,400 | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 25–30 | 26–31 | 26–31 | 26–29 | 25–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 23–29 / 29–32 | 23–29 / 30–33 | 23–29 / 30–33 | 23–26 / 30–33 | 23–27 / 29–33 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 293–349 | 286–348 | 286–348 | 311–348 | 301–353 | |
| Complaints filed | 97 | 96 | 136 | 98 | 195 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 10 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 10 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek?
Electrical: 38 of 136 NHTSA complaints (28%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek get?
EPA rates it 26–31 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek?
EPA estimates $2,000–$2,400 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 23 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 348 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 26 mpg | 33 mpg (high) | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 311 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 29 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | $2,000 (low) | 286 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- 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.