There are 8 stored owner reports matching the engine leading-label group for the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 8 of 8 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)Within 24 hours of purchase, the exhaust pipe became detached underneath the vehicle and exhaust fumes and odor were entering the cabin while driving. This created a potential carbon monoxide exposure risk to me and passengers. Subaru inspected the vehicle and confirmed the exhaust issue existed before I purchased the car. The selling dealership did not disclose this safety defect and refused to unwind the sale when notified.
My friend and I drove from Minneapolis to Duluth for a two-day short trip (Oct 20 - 21, 2022). On our way back, my car suddenly slowed down (from 70 m/h to 40 m/h and was non-responsive), and shut down completely at the intersection between Highway I-35 W and Lino Lake, MN 55038, about 30 miles away from TC around 8:30 pm, Friday night. And then I cannot start my car at all. Originally I thought it was the gas issue but the screen indicated there were at least 100miles to drive. Therefore, I called 911 right after (see EXHIBIT 1) and asked for help as well as Subaru roadside service (see EXHIBIT 2 ). Fortunately, my car stopped at the shoulders and we were not involved in a crash. This happened three days AFTER I had my car maintenance (Oct 17 at 10:15 am, Morrie's Minnetonka Subaru, 12520 Wayzata Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55305), and according to the report from that maintenance, the car was functioning well and had no red flag (see EXHIBIT 3). My car is currently located at Morrie's Minnetonka Subaru for further inspection. However, as far as I know so far (from the dealership mechanics), they have no clue what happened and they need to ask for additional help to figure out why the car engine suddenly lost power. In addition, I saw this is not a solo accident, many other Subaru Crosstrek Owners have encountered similar situations (i.e., lost power completely on the highway or freeway after regular car maintenance). Please see EXHIBIT 4 for detailed information.
At 89,000 the transmission was replaced because of a “known issue” and I was having problems. The car would lurch and hesitate coming off traffic stops. This prompted me to go to the dealer who called Subaru who offered to replace transmission, no further questions asked. Less than 20,000 miles later, this new transmission is causing problems again to the tune of $12,000! They refuse to replace it at no charge when they KNOW the CVT transmissions have issues
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HIGH TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DCH SUBARU OF THOUSAND OAKS (3725 AUTO MALL DR, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, UPON RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE CORRECTLY WITH A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER 4 MONTHS LATER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VALVES NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.
VEHICLE TURNED OFF/STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON 2 OCCASIONS, 2 MONTHS APART. NEEDED TO BE TOWED. SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. BOTH TIMES, DEALER STATED NO ISSUES WERE FOUND. FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT MAY BE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. SECOND TIME THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL PUMP OVERHEATING BUT SAID PUMP LOOKED FINE. I DO NOT TRUST THE CAR AND WILL NOT DRIVE IT.
THE IGNITION KEY DOES NOT COME OUT AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO START IT ON AND TURN IT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL IT DOES COME OUT. BTW, MY SISTER OWNS THE SAME CAR, AND SHE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS.
WHILE PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. IT TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE KEY TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND SUBARU HAS YET TO ISSUE A NATIONAL RECALL. I HAVE ATTACHED A DOCUMENT THAT DETAILS THE PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. COLONIAL SUBARU (761 E CHESTER ST, KINGSTON, NY 12401, (845) 339-3330) ADVISED THE CONTACT TO GO TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE OIL ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SENT A LETTER TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE DEALER CHANGED THE OIL AND A 1,000 MILE TEST WAS TO BE PERFORMED TO CHECK THE STATUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, IT FAILED TO START WHILE IT WAS RAINING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THE BATTER WAS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SMOKE AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,700.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.