The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 76 of 195 complaints (39%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more crash reports (5) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 98 in 2017 to 195 in 2018.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 195
- Recall campaigns
- 5
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,150–$2,500
- Combined MPG
- 25–29
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,000–2,400 | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,500 | 1,800–2,500 | 1,800–2,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–31 | 26–29 | 25–29 | 25–35 | 25–35 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 23–29 / 30–33 | 23–26 / 30–33 | 23–27 / 29–33 | 23–36 / 29–35 | 22–36 / 29–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 286–348 | 311–348 | 301–353 | 301–353 | 298–355 | |
| Complaints filed | 136 | 98 | 195 | 286 | 71 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 4 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 6 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
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 2018 Subaru Crosstrek have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns 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 2018 Subaru Crosstrek?
Visibility & Lighting: 76 of 195 NHTSA complaints (39%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek get?
EPA rates it 25–29 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek?
EPA estimates $2,150–$2,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 23 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $2,500 (high) | 353 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 27 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $2,150 (low) | 301 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 41 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 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 (5)
SUSPENSION:REAR
- Defect
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.
- Consequence
- Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will retorque and replace any missing bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM):SOFTWARE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.
- Consequence
- A short circuit in the ignition coils may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software, replace the ignition coils and, if necessary, the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 1, 2021. Owners can contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-21. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously repaired under Recall 19V743.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, which could result in a short circuit and blown fuse.
- Consequence
- If a short circuit occurs while driving, the vehicle may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software and inspect and replace the ignition coil, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, on vehicles with confirmed ignition coil damage and a certain stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC), Subaru will replace the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUQ-02.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
- Defect
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.
- Consequence
- An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUP-01.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL; SERVICE BRAKES
- Defect
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Crosstrek vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect floor mat retention bracket, allowing the floor mat to move out of position and interfere with the accelerator or brake pedal operation.
- Consequence
- If the floor mat moves out of position and interferes with the accelerator or brake pedal operation, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the floor mat retention bracket and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTR-77.