Vehicle Data Hub

2021 Subaru Crosstrek problems

NHTSA has received 162 complaints about the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, and 20% of them involve wipers, windshield & visibility. Next are forward collision avoidance (13%) and electrical system (10%).

At a glance

Complaints
162 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Wipers, windshield & visibility 20% of complaints
Crashes and fires
14 and 4
Injuries and deaths
12 and 0
Typical mileage
6,000 miles 23 complaints with mileage

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

When problems show up

Complaints by mileage, 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 6,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 16 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 1 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 0 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 3 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 1 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 2 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 6,000 miles
Based on 23 complaints that include mileage. 74% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles16
20k to 40k miles1
40k to 60k miles0
60k to 80k miles3
80k to 100k miles1
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles2
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 23 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 6,000 miles.

Safety-related details: 14 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 12 injuries reported.

Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2021 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Subaru Crosstrek with enough data (162 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

While driving on the highway in the slow lane (furthest to the right), traveling at approximately 50 mph, I came to be behind a tractor trailer. Before I had a chance to pass the tractor trailer, it switched lanes abruptly. My vision past/beyond (in front of) the tractor trailer was heavily obstructed by the massive vehicle itself, so I could not see that in front of the 18-wheeler there was a mid-size sedan traveling at approximately 5-10 mph in the same active highway lane I was in.

July 2023 CrashInjury

We were rear ended on the interstate. Cars in front of us stopped and we also came to a complete stop and a few moments later we were hit. During the collision, none of the airbags were deployed. Both our front seats fully reclined backwards. None of our seatbelts locked. Only the two seats that no one was in locked. Also, my headrest completely broke off. Our car was later determined by the insurance to be totaled.

June 2025 CrashInjury

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power in the middle of the roadway. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the battery. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with head gasket failure. The vehicle was not repaired.

Reported at 120,000 miles, July 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under an unidentified recall; however, the recall repair failed to prevent a failure.

Reported at 60,000 miles, October 2025

Other model years of the Crosstrek

Best and worst years for the Subaru Crosstrek