RoadVitals

2026 Subaru Crosstrek

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

NHTSA has issued a “do not drive” advisory affecting this model year.

Campaign 26V685000. Confirm whether your specific vehicle is covered using its VIN before acting on this.

Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
+2 complaints in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 19, 2026
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 75 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance538.5%
  • Electrical215.4%
  • Engine17.7%
  • Exterior lighting17.7%
  • Seat belts17.7%
  • Body & structure17.7%
  • Steering17.7%
  • Brakes17.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
26V685000NHTSA advisory: do not drive

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

Oct 19, 2026
8 units potentially affected
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek and Forester vehicles. The castle nut on the left-front lower control arm ball joint may be improperly fastened, which can lead to the ball joint separating from the lower control arm.
The risk: A ball joint that separates from the lower control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the left-front lower control arm ball joint assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 16, 2026. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRI26.
Subaru of America, Inc.Manufacturer number WRI26View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Filed Oct 26, 2026

I rented this car and what I noticed is that the highly polished LCD display reflects sunlight into the driver's eyes. This was noticed while driving North at approximately 7:30AM until 10:00AM. The reflection is actually blinding. The screen should have a matte finish to minimize this blinding reflection.

NHTSA ID
11773823
Incident
Oct 25, 2026
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 24, 2026

Multiple times the vehicle has allowed lane crossing with no warning neither actual assist or beep into oncoming traffic. A vehicle abruptly stopped approximately 75 feet ahead of me the vehicle did not respond and I did have to slam my brakes. I was able to stop with only 3 feet between me and the stopped vehicle. Automatic collision avoidance neither attempted to stop nor gave any warning. Blind spot monitor allows lane change with turn signal on and a vehicle in blind spot again with no warning. I was on the freeway and the center lane when this happened, I was merging into right lane. Starlink 11.6" media center freezes and lags. Dealership service department claims everything is working fine. Service department claims nothing wrong even this was witnessed by a dealership employee and the dealer manager took my car to the service department after the employee explained these problems were seen with her in the vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11773394
Incident
Oct 22, 2026
Body & structure
Filed Oct 12, 2026

The front door check strap / door detent mechanism (both front doors). The vehicle is in my possession and available for inspection upon request. VIN and service records available. The front doors do not hold reliably in their intermediate detent positions. The door swings closed unintentionally, with no input from the occupant, on a near-daily basis. On one occasion the driver’s door closed on my leg as I was exiting, narrowly avoiding injury. My household includes a [XXX] child and a [XXX] family member, both of whom regularly enter and exit this vehicle. A door that closes without warning presents a crush and pinch hazard to the extremities and head, and the risk is greatest for a small child or an older adult who cannot react quickly. The condition occurs on level ground and is not attributable to wind or grade. YES. Circle Subaru, [XXX]. XXX. The dealer examined the vehicle and did not dispute the door behavior. They stated the doors are designed this way, that no defect exists, and that no repair is available. Their recommendation was that I exercise additional caution when entering and exiting. No repair was performed. NO manufacturer-level inspection to date. I have directly compared this vehicle against a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek owned by a family member. The 2024 door check strap engages positively at each detent and holds the door in position; the 2026 does not. Combined with the dealer’s statement that this behavior is intended, this suggests a design change between model years rather than a fault specific to my vehicle. NO warning lamps or messages — this is a mechanical condition with no electronic indication. The symptom was present from delivery and became apparent within the first weeks of ownership. Frequency has not changed; it occurs nearly every day. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11770562
Incident
Sep 1, 2026
Driver assistanceEngineExterior lighting
Filed Aug 5, 2026

On XXX while driving my brand-new 2026 Subaru Crosstrek with approximately 63 miles on the odometer, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration. The AT Oil Temp warning flashed, followed by the Check Engine Light and multiple EyeSight and driver assistance warning lights. I immediately pulled off the road because I did not feel it was safe to continue driving. My [XXX] grandson was in the vehicle at the time. The vehicle was towed to the selling Subaru dealership. The dealer diagnosed transmission trouble codes P0700 and P0752 and determined that an internal valve body solenoid had failed. Because the solenoid is not serviceable separately, the entire valve body assembly was replaced under the manufacturer’s warranty. My concern is that a brand-new vehicle experienced a sudden loss of acceleration at only 63 miles, creating a potential safety hazard for my family and other motorists. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11755083
Incident
Aug 1, 2026
Electrical
Filed Jul 19, 2026

The 2026 Subaru crosstrek was sitting in the garage since 07/17/2026. I went out on 07/19/2026 to go to church. I tried to start it and it clicked rapidly like the battery didn't have enough juice to actually start it.

NHTSA ID
11751365
Incident
Jul 19, 2026
Filed Jul 13, 2026

The sunroof shattered for no apparent reason. The car was parked in my garage. Something caused it to explode outwardly from within Tempered glass fell going all over the front seats. Some of the glass stood in place, but would come crashing down if I was to drive it from the wind force.

NHTSA ID
11750085
Incident
Jul 11, 2026
Filed Jul 12, 2026

My vehicle requires multiple restarts after the engine is turned off to go forward or reverse. This has been happening since April 2026. I purchased the vehicle on 02/28/2026. My dealer claims they have not found any issues. However, the problem persists.

NHTSA ID
11749869
Incident
Jul 12, 2026
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Jul 12, 2026
Crash reported1 injury reported

The AED, Braking, Cameras and lane centering systems failed and caused a crash into the highway barrier suddenly due to defects in the driver assist systems defect in the electronic safety systems causing the steering wheel to turn forcefully to the barrier striking it. This happened without any warning despite driver input to stop the sudden steering inputs and braking.

NHTSA ID
11749816
Incident
Jul 11, 2026

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SubaruNet Announcement (T

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN

This is an update announcement regarding the TechShare & NorthStar Integration - CVT Diag.

WRI-26

SUSPENSION

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has initiated a safety recall for certain 2026 model year Crosstrek and Forester vehicles due to an improperly tightened left-hand front lower control arm ball joint castle nut.

18-247-26

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Service Information Bulletin announces Service Manual updates for the diagnosis of hands-free calling and voice recognition concerns.

SubaruNet Announcement (S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This announcement provides information on the connected services platform for Subaru EVs.

07-231-26R

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin announces the service procedure for battery replacement on 2025MY Impreza and Crosstrek. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

15-304-22R

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Service Information Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Subaru Crosstrek by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026Viewing111050.2
2025480043.7
20241212056.5
2023360045.6
2022320040.8
20211151048.2
2020710044.2
20192887052.2
20181955052.0
2017961042.4
20161331041.0
2015171031.0
2014161044.0
2013261045.4
2012200—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.