2016 Subaru Crosstrek Problems, Recalls & Reliability
170 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 48/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 40,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2016 sits among all Crosstrek years
What owners report
“The ket gets stuck in the ignition when the vehicle is put in park. The vehicle is stationary.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Crosstrek
“Key gets stuck in ignition when in park and hard to get out. Have to start the vehicle, shift and try again for it to come out.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Crosstrek
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 91 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 39,208 miles. Half of those reports fall between 26,000 and 65,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
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…
Fix: 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…
Technical service bulletins
356 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2016 Crosstrek TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek drew 170 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 48/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2016 Subaru Crosstrek problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek are electrical (39 complaints), other (37), and transmission & drivetrain (19).
At what mileage do 2016 Subaru Crosstrek problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Subaru Crosstrek problems around 39,208 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 26,000 and 65,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.