Second generation
2021 Subaru Crosstrek
The most reported problem on the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is windshield, with 30 complaints.
- 115owner complaints
- 1recalls
- 8involved a crash
- 20,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 5, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Crosstrek doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2021 model year.
Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has 115 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 216 for 2021 SUVs on this site. Of the 12 Crosstrek model years since 2014, it has the 5th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2020 and 2022
- The 2021 stands out from the model years on either side. It draws 19 complaints for each year on the road, while the 2020 draws 10 and the 2022 6.
- Top problem
- Windshield leads with 30 of the 115 complaints (26%), ahead of stalling at 10. Too few of the windshield reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 10 of the 115 complaints (9%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little above the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 8 reports mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 6 people were hurt.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as windshield. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2022 at 25 and have dropped every year since, to 10 in 2025. So far in 2026, 18 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: windshield cracks or distorts, 30 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
115 complaints is 1.7 times fewer than the median 2021 model on this site and 1.9 times fewer than the median 2021 SUV. Among the 5 Crosstrek model years here it ranks 5th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek
Subaru filed 326 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. 21 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Windshield cracks or distorts 1 bulletin · 30 complaints
This bulletin announces a design change made to the windshield side cowl panels to address isolated concerns of a buzzing / rattle-type sound heard while driving.
Battery dies or the car will not start 1 bulletin · 9 complaints
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised ...
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 5 bulletins · 6 complaints
This Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
3 more on this problem
This Service Information Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
Diagnostic Information for Alleged Chain Slip Condition on TR580 / TR690 Transmissions.
This Service Information Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions.
Check engine light or misfire 8 bulletins · 6 complaints
This bulletin announces the design change made to the high-pressure fuel pump developed to prevent DTC P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure – Too Low Bank 1). (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
This bulletin provides new diagnostic steps for DTC P0851 and P0852 to be used in conjunction with the applicable Service Manual.
6 more on this problem
This Bulletin announces a correction to the diagnostic procedures for certain CVT related DTCs, including P0730, P0746, P0747, P0841, P0846, P0867, P1867, P1894, and P2723.
This bulletin announces the availability of new oxygen sensors developed to address the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) detected by the Engine Control Module: • P0137: O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage Bank 1 Sensor 2 • P0138: O2 Sensor Circuit High ...
This bulletin announces availability of new reprograming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) developed to remedy the following DTCs: • P0016: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 1 Sensor A • P0017: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft ...
This bulletin announces the availability of new oxygen sensors developed to address the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs);
This Service Information Bulletin announces diagnostic service procedures to be followed when DTC P0420 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1) is detected by the Engine Control Module (ECM).
This bulletin announces design changes made to the fuel injector assembly in response to misfire DTC P030x, engine knocking, and/or DTCs P219C-D-E-F.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 6 bulletins · 5 complaints
This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
This bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for Harman Infotainment Systems when DTC B2255 is detected. This update should prevent unnecessary replacement of the head unit or USB cable.
4 more on this problem
This Service Bulletin is to inform you of the diagnosis procedure of the Harman Infotainment System when DTC B2255 is detected.
This Service Information Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.
This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment).
This bulletin provides helpful information about operating conditions observed in the field for Technicians to use when diagnosing customer concerns which may arise while operating Harman Gen 3 Navigation and Display Audio systems.
Complaints filed by year
25 complaints came in 2021, 12.5 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: 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.
The recall on the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?
Windshield, with 30 of the 115 complaints.
At what mileage do 2021 Subaru Crosstrek problems start?
Of the 22 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 2,000 miles and half by about 20,000.
Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek better or worse than the 2020 and 2022?
Counted per year on the road, the 2021 has more complaints than both the 2020 and the 2022: 19 a year against 10 and 6.
How many 2021 Subaru Crosstrek complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
10 of them (9%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for windshield on the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?
No recall on file for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is on the same system as windshield. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.