Verdict
2016 Subaru Crosstrek: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for SUV.
Owners filed 134 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 56% of 2016 SUVs. Electrical System leads the reports (25%). 1 safety recall campaign on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2016 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
134
Reports to NHTSA, 2016
Safety recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
No data
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 56% of 2016 SUVs
The bar is this car's percentile among 2016 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (25% of 134 reports), followed by unknown or other (21%).
+ 11 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 134 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11601238, ODI 11348904, ODI 11054283, ODI 11517135, ODI 11697638.
Recalls(1)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
Exterior Lighting · 19V149000Details +Close −
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 light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: 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 number for this recall is WUE-90.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2016 Subaru Crosstrek SUV AWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
No EPA fuel-economy record is available for this model year. Some trims and older vehicles were not tested or are not in the current EPA feed.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2016 Subaru Crosstrek: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek?
Owners filed 134 NHTSA complaints about the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek — more complaints than 56% of comparable 2016 SUVs, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek?
The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (25% of complaints) and unknown or other (21%).
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek have?
1 recall has been issued that affect the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek, covering components such as exterior lighting. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek get?
EPA fuel-economy figures for the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek aren't available yet.