Subaru Crosstrek 2nd gen (GT) Problems, Recalls & Lemon Law

brake pedal problem; reduced braking; unexpected braking; brake warning light

NHTSA Recall 17V701000 covers 2018 Crosstreks with an incorrect floor mat retention bracket that can allow the floor mat to migrate and interfere with the brake or accelerator pedal — a safety-critical defect. Under Song-Beverly, a recall repair is the manufacturer's acknowledgment of a covered warranty defect; if the dealer fails to complete the remedy or the condition recurs after repair, the owner's repair-attempt count begins. Crosstrek owners who noticed pedal interference before receiving the recall notice should preserve any prior service records documenting the complaint.

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 customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTR-77.

sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall

NHTSA Recall 19V065000 covers the electric power steering connector on 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles — a loose connector can cause sudden loss of power steering assist, requiring significantly increased steering effort. Loss of steering assist at highway speed is a safety defect under Song-Beverly. The recall repair is one attempt; if steering issues persist or the connector fails again, the owner has grounds for additional warranty claims on this defect.

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, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUC

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

NHTSA Recall 19V404000 covers the driver-side rear door window on 2019 Crosstreks, where the glass may separate from its channel and shatter. While glass failure is primarily a functional and visibility concern rather than a catastrophic safety defect, a window that shatters unexpectedly impairs use and value under Song-Beverly. If the remedy fails to permanently address the glass retention — for example, if a second window shatters — the owner should document both dealer visits as a recurrence.

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 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUG-92.

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

NHTSA Recall 19V743000 addresses the ECM continuing to power the ignition coil after the engine stalls, creating an overheating and potential engine-fire risk on 2018-2019 Crosstrek and Impreza models. This is a fire-risk defect — however, because no direct fire is caused by the defect (the coil overheats; a fire is a downstream risk), Severity is Safety rather than Catastrophic. Under Song-Beverly, ECM software recalls have the unique property of being recalled twice for the same root cause (19V743 and 21V264 — see iss-09); owners who experienced ignition coil failures after the first recall was 'completed' may have a recurring repair pattern claim.

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 damage and a certain stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC), Subaru will replace the front exhaust pipe, fr

engine knocking; engine stalls; sudden loss of power; check engine light; engine failure recall

NHTSA Recall 19V744000 covers the aluminum PCV valve on 2018 Crosstrek (FB20D engine) and 2017-2018 Impreza. The PCV valve can separate, depositing debris on the catalytic converter and creating a fire risk — but because the fire is initiated by catalytic converter contact rather than direct combustion failure, Severity is Safety. Owners whose 2018 Crosstrek experienced ignition coil failure, stalling, or engine damage in the period before or after the PCV recall repair should document the timeline: a vehicle that required both PCV and ECM coil repairs within the warranty period has a documented multi-defect history relevant to a Song-Beverly claim.

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 replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service

engine knocking; engine stalls; sudden loss of power; check engine light; engine failure recall

NHTSA Recall 19V856000 covers the aluminum PCV valve on 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent (FB25D engine). The same PCV separation failure mode affects a different engine displacement and model year from iss-05. A 2019 Crosstrek owner who experienced both the PCV recall (19V856) and the ECM ignition coil recall (19V743 or 21V264) has two separate safety recalls requiring dealer service — each counts as a warranty repair attempt. If the PCV valve leaked oil or caused engine damage before the recall was completed, that pre-repair damage may also be a warranted repair.

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 replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at

driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured

NHTSA Recall 20V189000 addresses the rear seat belt assemblies on 2019 Crosstrek. A dual-lock retractor failure can allow the seat belt to release without restraining the occupant in a collision — a clear safety defect. Under Song-Beverly, a seat belt failure to restrain is among the most serious safety classifications. Owners should confirm their VIN is within the recall scope and that the remedy was completed by the dealer; partial or mis-documented remedies are a common point of dispute in lemon-law proceedings.

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 number for this recall is WRC-20.

front suspension noise; stabilizer bar loose; vehicle pulls or clunks

NHTSA Recall 21V263000 covers the rear stabilizer bracket bolts on 2018-2019 Crosstreks. Loose or missing bracket bolts can degrade rear suspension stability, increasing the risk of loss of vehicle control. This is a suspension-integrity safety defect. Under California law, if a Crosstrek owner noticed unusual rear-end handling behavior before the recall was announced and visited the dealer without a remedy, those pre-recall visits may count toward the repair-attempt total for this defect category.

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 at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21.

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

NHTSA Recall 21V264000 is the superseding ECM recall covering 2018-2019 Crosstreks, issued approximately 18 months after the original ECM recall (19V743000 — see iss-04). The expanded remedy adds ignition coil and fuel injector replacement to the software update. An owner who had their 2018-2019 Crosstrek serviced under the first recall and then returned with continued ignition coil failure or stalling before the second recall was announced has a documented recurrence of the same defect — a strong repair-attempt pattern under Song-Beverly. Each recall service at the dealer counts as one repair attempt.

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 beginning June 1, 2021. Owners can contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for

transmission shifts unexpectedly; hesitation; harsh shift; transmission warning

NHTSA Recall 23V755000 covers 2021 Crosstreks with an inhibitor switch weld defect that allows water ingress, potentially causing the engine to start in gear or preventing the vehicle from starting. An engine that can start in gear is a no-warning runaway risk — this is a powertrain control safety defect. Under Song-Beverly, owners of affected 2021 Crosstreks who experienced failure-to-start or unexpected in-gear start symptoms before receiving the recall notice — and who had dealer visits that resulted in 'cannot duplicate' findings — have grounds to argue those pre-recall visits as warranted repair attempts.

Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.

transmission shudder at low speed; CVT shudder when accelerating from stop; jerking or hesitation when pressing gas pedal; loss of motive power at highway speed; transmission slipping sensation; CVT whining or moaning noise; car won't move when gas pressed

A transmission that shudders, hesitates, or loses motive power substantially impairs the vehicle's use and value under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §1793.2). If a Crosstrek owner returns to the dealer two or more times for CVT shudder within the warranty period without lasting resolution, or the vehicle is out of service for an aggregate of 30 or more days for this defect, eligibility for a buyback or replacement may arise.

CVT fluid flush and refill with Subaru-specified CVTF-II fluid (often temporary relief); valve-body replacement; in severe cases, transmission replacement. Some owners report reoccurrence after fluid service alone.

EyeSight brakes for no reason; car stops suddenly on highway; phantom brake activation; automatic emergency braking activates with no obstacle; EyeSight warning light on; EyeSight disables itself with check engine light; car emergency brakes in traffic; adaptive cruise control unexpectedly decelerates; Pre-Collision Braking triggers on exhaust plume or shadow

Phantom emergency braking at highway speeds is a safety defect impairing the vehicle's use and creating collision risk. Under Song-Beverly, safety-related defects that recur across dealer visits trigger the two-attempts presumption for recall-backed issues, and a broader 'reasonable number of attempts' standard for non-recalled defects. Crosstrek owners who have returned for EyeSight phantom braking more than twice without a lasting fix should document each visit carefully; the 'cannot duplicate' defense is common but contestable with dashcam footage and NHTSA complaint corroboration.

EyeSight camera cleaning and recalibration; software updates to adjust detection thresholds (Subaru has issued calibration updates); engine fault repairs to restore EyeSight functionality. No recall has been issued specifically for phantom braking; Subaru has communicated adjustments via internal service guidance.

windshield cracked with no impact; windshield crack from bottom near EyeSight camera; windshield cracks overnight while parked; new windshield cracks again; crack starts at passenger side bottom corner; crack spans full width of windshield; windshield chips turn into full cracks instantly; dealer refuses to cover under warranty

While a single cracked windshield may be characterized as road-hazard damage, an owner whose Crosstrek has required two or more windshield replacements within the warranty period — especially with crack patterns originating at the EyeSight bracket — has a factual basis to argue an inherent design defect under Song-Beverly. Each dealer visit for this issue should be documented with repair orders describing the crack origin; each EyeSight recalibration adds to the dealer-visit count.

Windshield replacement (owner-cost ~$600-$1,200 with EyeSight recalibration required); Subaru warranty coverage contested — typically denied as 'road-hazard damage.' Replacement windshields often crack again within months under the same conditions.

battery dead overnight; car won't start after sitting for 2-3 days; battery replaced but dies again; parasitic battery drain; dead battery repeatedly; DCM draining battery; Starlink causing battery to die; stranded in parking lot; battery light on; had to jump-start multiple times; car dead at airport

A vehicle that repeatedly fails to start due to a dead battery attributable to a known electrical defect substantially impairs the owner's use under Song-Beverly. Crosstrek owners who have returned to the dealer for battery drain two or more times — with the dealer replacing the battery but not addressing the DCM root cause — have a viable repair-attempt pattern for a lemon-law claim. Document each visit with repair orders showing the battery drain complaint and the dealer's remedy attempted.

DCM software update (available at dealer, addresses 3G network search loop); battery replacement (often needed after repeated deep discharges); in unresolved cases, DCM module replacement. Owners report needing multiple return visits for persistent drain after software fix.

infotainment screen frozen; touchscreen unresponsive; Starlink system crashes; Bluetooth disconnects during phone call; music cuts out; navigation app freezes; radio reboots on its own; can't answer calls through car; screen goes black; Apple CarPlay/Android Auto drops connection; Starlink alerts interrupt navigation

Infotainment defects are covered by Subaru's 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. An owner whose Crosstrek head unit has frozen, rebooted, or disconnected Bluetooth across two or more dealer visits within the warranty period without lasting resolution has documented the repair-attempt pattern that supports a Song-Beverly claim. While infotainment alone rarely anchors a lemon-law case, it can be a contributing defect alongside CVT or EyeSight issues.

Subaru Starlink head unit software update (check with dealer for latest version applicable to your model year and trim); factory reset of infotainment system; in persistent cases, head unit module replacement. Some owners report improvement after update; others report reoccurrence.

oil light comes on between oil changes; engine using oil faster than expected; need to add a quart of oil every 1000-2000 miles; oil low warning with no visible leak; blue smoke from exhaust on startup; burning oil smell; engine oil level drops rapidly; oil consumption test required by dealer; spark plug fouling

An engine that consumes oil at a rate requiring the owner to add oil between scheduled oil changes is a drivability and reliability defect under Song-Beverly. Subaru's required oil-consumption test process — which forces owners to return for a monitoring appointment and then a measurement appointment — counts as two dealer visits for the same defect. If the engine is then replaced and oil consumption returns, each recurrence adds to the repair-attempt count. Crosstrek owners should document every dealer visit where oil consumption is noted, including oil addition records and any dealer notation of 'within specification' findings (which can be challenged).

Dealer-administered 1,200-mile oil consumption test required before warranty coverage; short-block or long-block replacement if consumption exceeds specification during test (coverage depends on mileage and warranty status). Some owners report dealers deny claims by citing owner-abuse or incorrect oil-change intervals. Engine replacement under powertrain warranty is the definitive remedy for confirmed cases.