2018 Subaru Crosstrek Problems, Recalls & Reliability
255 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 71/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Visibility & wipers leads the reports, typically around 23,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2018 sits among all Crosstrek years
What owners report
“A crack appeared across the bottom center of the windshield 2 weeks ago while it was parked.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Crosstrek
“The windshield chipped for no reason. Then it spread a crack across the passenger to the driver side. It was parked in a safe place and i did not drive it at all since i worked from home.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Crosstrek
“1) vehicle was delivered new with rear power windows not working. 2) led brake light stopped working at 15000 miles , noticed when i was backing up in front of glass doors. I was told by dealer wire was shorting out and entire light assembly needed to be replaced. Dealer did not stock part so i was…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Crosstrek
“When crossing across traffic to get in the lane from right or left turns. There is slow and sluggish as it wants to stall or stay out in cross traffic to cause a collision!! It has happened since i purchased it from a non subaru dealer beginning of 2021.there should be a recall as this sluggish…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Crosstrek
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 139 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 19,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 8,000 and 36,500 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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,…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
Technical service bulletins
506 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2018 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 2018 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek drew 255 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 71/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2018 Subaru Crosstrek problems?
The top reported problems for the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek are visibility & wipers (73 complaints), other (44), and electrical (37).
At what mileage do 2018 Subaru Crosstrek problems show up?
Owners most often report 2018 Subaru Crosstrek problems around 19,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 8,000 and 36,500 miles.
Does the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 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.