2019 Subaru Crosstrek Problems, Recalls & Reliability
362 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Visibility & wipers leads the reports, typically around 12,750 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2022.
Avoid
Where 2019 sits among all Crosstrek years
What owners report
“Unknown crack on windshield from what seems to be nothing. The vehicle was parked overnight outside on my driveway.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Crosstrek
“Original battery failed 5 times in 6 months and was finally replaced by dealer. Second battery failed after a month and has now been replaced again by dealer. Vehicle had been driven for 20 minutes or more at least twice a week before the 2nd battery failure.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Crosstrek
“Windshield cracked on drivers side. Sitting at a gas station. Pulled in car was fine, filled tank, got back in, crack was there.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Crosstrek
“Car was at a stop light, went to accelerate and car would not accelerate- all the lights came on. I had to put it in park and turn it off and back on, then it accelerated and there were no other issues.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Crosstrek
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 200 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 11,849 miles. Half of those reports fall between 7,000 and 20,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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 2019 Crosstrek vehicles with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. The began April 15, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power…
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be…
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 2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The driver's side rear-door window glass may be improperly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)…
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side rear-door window glass, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles. A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.
Fix: None of the affected vehicles have been sold yet. Subaru has notified dealers and they will inspect the steering gearbox, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7,…
Technical service bulletins
520 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2019 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 2019 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek drew 362 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2019 Subaru Crosstrek problems?
The top reported problems for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek are visibility & wipers (124 complaints), electrical (56), and other (52).
At what mileage do 2019 Subaru Crosstrek problems show up?
Owners most often report 2019 Subaru Crosstrek problems around 11,849 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 7,000 and 20,000 miles.
Does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2019 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.