Compact SUVs · 2 model years, 2021 to 2024
Ford Bronco Sport vs Subaru Crosstrek: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Crosstrek looks better on 4 and the Bronco Sport on 2, with 1 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2021 to 2024 | Bronco Sport | Crosstrek |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.9% | 7.7% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 3.0% | 1.7% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.1% | 3.0% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 37,000 | 10,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 9.0 | 1.5 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 1 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 2 | 0 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Bronco Sport owners complain about most is electrical; for the Crosstrek it is windshield and wipers. Complaints citing electrical make up 30% of all Bronco Sport complaints, against 10% on the Crosstrek. The Crosstrek leans the other way on windshield and wipers: 18% of its complaints, against 1.8% for the Bronco Sport.
Ford Bronco SportSubaru Crosstrek
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Bronco Sport is stalling (17% of its complaints). On the Crosstrek it is windshield problems (19% of its complaints), against 3.6% on the Bronco Sport.
| Problem | Bronco Sport | Crosstrek |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 3.6% 2913k mi | 19% 44most in 2021 · 6k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 17% 135most in 2021 · 40k mi | 4.3% 10 |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 17% 133most in 2021 · 11k mi | 4.3% 10 |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 9.0% 72most in 2021 · 42k mi | 12% 27 |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 14% 114most in 2021 · 43k mi | 3.9% 9 |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 4.9% 39most in 2021 · 75k mi | 2.6% 6 |
| Check engine light or misfire | 4.3% 34most in 2021 · 55k mi | 2.6% 6 |
| Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves | 0.8% 6 | 5.6% 13 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Crosstrek owners report problems earlier. Half the Crosstrek complaints that give a mileage come before 10,000 miles; for the Bronco Sport the halfway point is 37,000. 62% of Bronco Sport reports and 88% of Crosstrek reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Ford Bronco SportSubaru Crosstrek
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 274 for the Bronco Sport and 48 for the Crosstrek.
Worst and best years
The 2021 Bronco Sport draws 2.1 times the complaints of a typical Bronco Sport year for its age. The 2024 Crosstrek draws 4.0 times the complaints of a typical Crosstrek year for its age.
Ford Bronco SportSubaru Crosstrek
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Bronco Sport draws more recalls: 9.0 campaigns per model year against 1.5 for the Crosstrek. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Ford Bronco Sport
18 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (4), suspension (3) and transmission and drivetrain (3).
- Do not drive 26V-340 (suspension), model years 2021 and 2024
- 24V-267 (electrical) covers 2 model years
- 25V-158 (transmission and drivetrain) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- RQ24014: Loss of motive power (closed, led to a recall)
- PE24002: Loss of motive power (closed, led to a recall)
Subaru Crosstrek
3 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (2) and electrical (1).
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Crosstrek complaints report a crash: 7.7%, against 2.9% for the Bronco Sport. Fire reports: 24 for the Bronco Sport and 4 for the Crosstrek.
Ford Bronco SportSubaru Crosstrek
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Ford Bronco Sport or the Subaru Crosstrek more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Crosstrek looks better on 4 and the Bronco Sport on 2, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Bronco Sport has 799 complaints and the Crosstrek 233 for the 2 model years from 2021 to 2024 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Bronco Sport or the Crosstrek?
The Bronco Sport has 18 recall campaigns and the Crosstrek 3 across the 2 model years from 2021 to 2024 that both have on file. The Bronco Sport draws more recalls: 9.0 campaigns per model year against 1.5 for the Crosstrek.
What are the most common problems on the Bronco Sport and the Crosstrek?
The most reported problem on the Bronco Sport is stalling (17% of its complaints). On the Crosstrek it is windshield problems (19% of its complaints), against 3.6% on the Bronco Sport.
More comparisons
- Subaru Forester vs Subaru Crosstrek2016 to 2021
- Subaru Outback vs Subaru Crosstrek2016 to 2024
- Subaru Crosstrek vs Honda HR-V2016 to 2024
- Hyundai Kona vs Subaru Crosstrek2019 to 2021
- Ford Escape vs Ford Bronco Sport2021 to 2024
- Ford Bronco Sport vs Subaru Forester2021 to 2023