2014 Subaru Xv Crosstrek Electrical Problems

Brake light switch failure. Triggering traction control warning light, hill assist warning light, and abs warning light, and disables cruise control. There was previously a recall (NUMBER: WUE-90 NHTSA ID: 19V-149) for the brake light switch for Subaru models with my production date included, but because Hybrid Crosstrek models were not included, it will not be replaced under recall. I am still experiencing the same issues and cause, but it is not covered.

NHTSA ID

11747006

Incident

May 14, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek on May 22, 2026. The sale was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was recorded at 77,441. The contact later purchased a CARFAX report which was reported at 214,767 in February 2026. The contact reported the information to the local authorities.

NHTSA ID

11740610

Incident

May 22, 2026

Mileage

77,441 mi

When attempting to put the car in park, the key will not release and is stuck. Incident happens often in recent past days. Key will not release from ignition.

NHTSA ID

11658836

Incident

May 4, 2025

The electrical system and engine flickers on and off or sometimes dies entirely. The trigger is unknown and the underlying cause is unknown. It is unsafe because this has occurred while the vehicle is moving. The problem was confirmed and reproduced by a Subaru service center. They were unable to diagnose the issue. There is no warning when it will happen.

NHTSA ID

11589215

Incident

Mar 16, 2024

Ignition key keeps intermittently locking into ignition when trying to retrieve key. Putting vehicle in park, key will turn engine off, but then will not turn all the way to release the key. Key has a key fob, vehicle is placed on parking gear. Sometimes restarting vehicle can help, sometimes shifting gears and driving vehicle again can help. Sometimes turning steering wheel helps. Sometimes all you can do is wait a few to five minutes to be able to turn off vehicle and retrieve car. No warning lights. After my warranty expired was when I noticed the problem. Bought vehicle used less than a year ago. It can be a safety risk if I cannot retrieve my key and then anyone could jump in and steal it as their is no other way to lock the vehicle unless I automatically locky myself out.

NHTSA ID

11580548

Incident

Dec 6, 2023

Battery drains excessively and frequently. Will not hold a charge. Frequently replacing battery only to have it fail. The personal safety issue here is being stranded with a dead battery in an unsafe environment with no way to escape, or needing the vehicle for an immediate personal health emergency and having the vehicle not start. I don't know if there is a safety related issue with operating the car with this electrical system issue. There are scores of web searches that depict this issue of parasitic draining of the battery by the vehicle's controller area network. Several class action lawsuits are referenced. I don't find any information that the lawsuits have resolved in a recall of any sort. Thank you for your interest in it this issue.

NHTSA ID

11465215

Incident

May 18, 2022

Break lights are on, but do not light up when breaking. Changed break lights with many different bulbs, but same problem occurs. Not lighting up when breaking.

NHTSA ID

11421255

Incident

Jun 16, 2021

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I TURNED ON THE BLOWER FAN AND AC. THE AC WAS NOT COOLING DOWN THE CABIN (OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 71-74 DEGREES). AFTER 40 MINUTES THE BLOWER FAN SHUT DOWN AND STOPPED WORKING. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS WHAT THEY FOUND: INSTRUMENT WIRE HARNESS, COMPONENT(S) AND SWITCH HAD MELTED, CAUSING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. IT REMAINS A HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SUBARU DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE DEFECTIVE/FAILED/UNSAFE COMPONENTS AND WILL NOT COVER EXPENSE. REASON: VEHICLE GROSSLY OVER WARRANTY PERIOD (BY 10,000 MILES).

NHTSA ID

11405603

Incident

Mar 23, 2021

Mileage

109,500 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON DASH COME ON. CONSTANT JERKING/BUCKING OF THE CAR WITHOUT INCREASING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDDLE. METER RPMS INDICATOR NEEDLE IS ERRATIC MOVING BACK AND FORTH WHILE THE ENGINE REVS. THE MPG NEEDLE GOES FROM PLUS TO MINUS ERRATICALLY ALSO. AT THIS TIME THE CAR IS NOT DEPENDABLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO GRANITE SUBARU 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT. THEY SAY THEY HAVE USED THE DIAGNOSTIC METER TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL REMAINS, NOW EVEN WORSE. I HAVE DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH A ENGINEER AND 2 AUTO MECHANICS WHO FEEL THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE COMPUTER. I MENTIONED THIS TO GRANITE SUBARU AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. MY PLAN AT THIS TIME IS TO BRING MY CAR TO AUTOZONE AND HAVE THEM EVALUATE MY CAR. I AM HOPING TO GET A LIST OF ERROR CODES TO BRING TO SUBARU WITH THE HOPE THAT THE 5TH TIME WILL BE MY LAST. I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED SO FAR BUT DO NOT HAVE A WAY TO UPLOAD THEM AND SEND WITH THIS REPORT. PLEASE SEND ADDRESS AND I WILL MAKE COPIES AND SEND. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11340262

Incident

Feb 11, 2020

Mileage

59,600 mi

THE HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. DOES NOT MATTER WHAT POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN OR IF I AM DRIVING OR STATIONARY. I AM AT 72,000 MILES. I HAD THE ISSUE CHECKED BY A MECHANIC - FUSES WERE CHANGED AND CHECKED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH WHICH REVEALED OTHER DRIVERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I SAW A RECALL IN AUSTRALIA WHICH: VIBRATION OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD COULD RESULT IN A METAL PLATE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN WEARING AWAY THE WIRING INSULATION. THE SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DISABLE CONTROL OF THE WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, HORN, DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND FEATURES ACTUATED THROUGH THE MULTI-FUNCTION STEERING WHEEL, SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, AUDIO SYSTEM AND MOBILE PHONE CONNECTIVITY. THE ISSUE COULD ALSO SHORT OUT THE FUSE FOR THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM'S ECU SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11245986

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

BATTERY DOES NOT HOLD A CHARGE. MY BATTERY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME SINCE 2014. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ONLY 2 OR SO YEARS OLD (DEALER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY). I'VE HAD THIS SECOND BATTERY FOR ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME (2 OR SO YEARS). EACH BATTERY JUST SLOWLY LOSES THE ABILITY TO HOLD A CHARGE UNTIL IT DIES. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU DRIVE IT... YOU CAN HEAR THE BATTERY GET WEAKER OVER A PERIOD EACH TIME YOU START IT.

NHTSA ID

11208292

Incident

May 17, 2019

Mileage

12,000 mi

HORN DOES NOT WORK. MANY TIMES I'VE HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC ABOUT TO HIT ME BECAUSE MY HORN DOESN'T WORK. A FEW TIMES I HAVE ALMOST RUN INTO OTHERS TRYING TO AVOID A COLLISION THAT WOULD ARGUABLY BE MUCH WORSE THAN LETTING SOMEONE HIT ME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND WHAT OTHERS HAVE FOUND IS THAT IT'S THE CLOCK SPRING OR WIRING THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/REPAIRED. I'M ASSUMING THE HORN STOPPED WORKING WHEN I TURNED MY WHEEL. OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE TOO, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'VE FILED ANYTHING FORMALLY.

NHTSA ID

11155965

Incident

Aug 12, 2018

Mileage

93,000 mi

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO WORK AT NIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH IS ON. THE CAR HAS RUNNING LIGHTS THAT FUNCTION AT ALL TIMES. ON THE ONE HAND, THE COMBINATION ALLOWS OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE US. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT MAKES IT BARELY POSSIBLE FOR US TO SEE LANE MARKS AND PEDESTRIANS.

NHTSA ID

11145287

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

10 mi

POWER STEERING ISSUES. LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD AND POWER STEERING PROBLEMS OCCUR. IT'S ONLY 4 YEARS OLD (NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD) TAKEN WELL CARE OF, AND THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONICAL PART OF THE POWER STEERING SAYING THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WHEN DRIVING IT LOCKS UP MAKING TURNS REALLY HARD WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. THEN OUR CAR SHUT OFF LIKE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD FOR HALF A DAY AND WE TRIED ONE LAST TIME TO START IT BEFORE JUMPING AND IT STARTED UP AND WORKED. SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS WIRED WRONG.

NHTSA ID

11101135

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE HEATING SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,001.

NHTSA ID

11063084

Incident

Jan 13, 2018

Mileage

80,001 mi

THE CAR CANNOT MOVE DUE TO IT IS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE BRAKE LIGHT DOESNT COME ON --BELIEVE IT IS THE BRAKE SWITCH SOMETIME DOESN'T WORK DEALER WONT ADMIT PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11057238

Incident

Dec 15, 2017

Mileage

32,000 mi

FIRST NOTICED MY HORN WAS NOT WORKING, THEN MY IPHONE WAS NO LONGER SINQUED TO THE CAR. WHEN I USED THE SWITCHES ON THE STEERING WHEEL WITBTBE RADIO, THEN THE NAVIGSTION SCREEN STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFFF, THEN WWNT NLAVK. BUR NEXT DAY THE NAVIGATION SCREEN CAME BACK ON BUT STILL NO HORN AND NOT ANLE TO SINQUE IPHONE. I MADE APPOINTMENT WITH MCCURLEY SUBARU IN PASVO, WA AND AFTER CHECKING IT OUT THE DESLER TOLD ME THE WIRING CONNECTOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, BEHIND THE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD COST MORR THAN $400 TO REPLACE. THE DEALER LET ME DRIVE MY DUBARU BACK TO PENDLETON A D I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE NEW WIRING CONNECTOR INSTALLED MONDAY, 4/10/17. OVER THE WEEKEND I FOUND REPORTS ON CAR ADVICE SITE STATING THE 2012-2014 XV CROSSTREK MODELS LIKE MINE WERE RECALLEDTO FIX THIS WIRING CONNECTOR PROBLEM. APOARENTLY THERE IS A METAL PLATE NEAR THE WIRING CONNECTOR THAT GETS HOT AND MELTD SOME OF THE WIRING. THE SYMPTOMS LISTED ARE EXACTLY LIKE MINE. HOWEVER, SUBARU NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL, NOR DID MCCURLEY SUBARU DEALER WHEN THEY QUOTED ME A $400 PLUS TO FIX OR REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WIRING CONNECTOR. ON ANOTHER ISSUE, MY SUBARU HAS BEEN BURNING MORE THAN A QUART OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. WHEN I HAD MCCURLEY DI COMSUMPTION REQUEST THEY SAID IN 1,000 MILES IT WAS USING A FOURTH OF A QUART, NOT ENOUGH TO REPLACE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK, AFTER THEY DID CONSUMPTION TEST IT IS USING LESS OIL, SO ZI WONDER IF THEY PUT STP OR SIMILAR PRODUCT IN MY OUT SO MY CAR BURNS LESD OOL UNTIL IT PASSES 100,000 MILES. FRUSTRATING TO HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY FIRST SUBARU.

NHTSA ID

10971472

Incident

Apr 3, 2017

Mileage

79,000 mi

THREE TIMES I HAVE SAFELY STOPPED MY CAR TO TAKE A PHONE CALL. I PUT THE GEAR IN PARK AND LEFT THE KEY IN ACC/ACCESSORY POSITION. EACH TIME THE ACC/ACCESSORY POSITION HAS TOTALLY DRAINED THE BATTERY IN 5-10 MINUTES. SUBARU DEALER SERVICE HAS INFORMED ME THAT ALL MODELS FROM 2014 HAVE A "WEAK" UNDERPERFORMING BATTERY AND THEY REPLACE THE DAMAGED BY DEPLETION BATTERY WITH THE SAME BATTERY. SUBARU HAS NEVER WARNED ANYONE OR ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL IT IS DISHONEST AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE THIS IN THE MANUAL "THE SECOND POSITION IS THE ACC/ACCESSORY POSITION, WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO USE YOUR RADIO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND OTHER ACCESSORIES WHILE THE ENGINE IS OFF." WHEN IN FACT YOU CAN NEVER SAFELY USE THE ACC POSITION. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY -- I WAS ON CITY STREETS. WHAT ABOUT SOMEONE ON THE HIGHWAY STOPPING TO USE THEIR PHONE. OR EVEN TO REST? ANOTHER FACT: SUBARU NEVER REVEALED WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME. THE THIRD AAA DRIVER TO COME TO JUMP MY CAR TOLD ME WHAT WAS GOING ON. I THEN CONFRONTED SUBARU DEALER SERVICE AND THEY ADMITTED THIS WAS THE TRUTH. SUBARU NEEDS TO INFORM / WARN ALL THE 2014 OWNERS THAT THERE IS NO WORKING ACC POSITION IN ALL THESE CARS.

NHTSA ID

10958557

Incident

Feb 28, 2017

Mileage

22,000 mi

RODENTS DESTROYED A WIRE ASSOCIATED WITH MY POWER STEERING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY PROVIDED A RENTAL. THE NEXT NIGHT THE SAME WIRE WAS AGAIN DESTROYED BY RODENTS. AGAIN THE POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED. AT THAT POINT I SENSED SOMETHING WAS AMISS, SO I FILED A REPORT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE DEALER AND DOING SOME RESEARCH IT BECAME APPARENT THAT 100% OF THE WIRES IN MY VEHICLE ARE INSULATED WITH A SOY BASED MATERIAL. THIS INCLUDES WIRING RELATED TO VITAL SAFETY SYSTEMS LIKE AIRBAGS. INSULATING AUTOMOBILE WIRES WITH SOY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WIRES RELATED TO SAFETY EQUIPMENT, IS AN ENGINEERING DISGRACE. RODENTS HAVE ALWAYS HAD A TENDENCY TO CHEW ON WIRING. THEREFORE, USING THE SAME PRODUCT FOUND IN COMMERCIAL RODENT FOOD TO INSULATE VITAL AUTOMOBILE WIRING IS OUTRAGEOUS. I NOW HAVE A BRAND NEW CAR THAT I CAN'T TRUST TO START IN THE MORNING, FUNCTION CORRECTLY, OR PROTECT ME IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10726718

Incident

Jun 12, 2015

Mileage

3,000 mi

THE REVERSE CAMERA INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT WORK WHEN IT SHOULD. THE SUBARU SERVICE CENTER REPLACED THE AUDIO UNIT 6 MONTHS AGO WHEN THIS CONCERN FIRST STARTED TO HAPPEN BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT WORK SINCE IT STILL HAPPENS. THE DEALER & SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT WERE NOT ABLE TO COME TO A RESOLUTION THE 2ND TIME AROUND FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ELECTED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER FOR THEM TO TRY AND VERIFY & DIAGNOSE BUT THEY REFUSE TO KEEP IT LONGER THAN ONE WEEK. IT IS GETTING FRUSTRATING AS WHEN THE CAMERA IS MOST NEEDED, IT DOES NOT WORK. THANKFULLY THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES OR COLLISIONS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM & I AM 100 PERCENT AWARE THAT THIS SYSTEM IS JUST AN "AID" & NOT TO BE RELIED ON 100 PERCENT WHEN BACKING THE VEHICLE UP.

NHTSA ID

10716362

Incident

May 4, 2015

Mileage

10,000 mi