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2018 Subaru Crosstrek

Gas Compact SUV

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
D
Safety Signal
60 / 100
DSafety Signal · 60 / 100
5Recalls · NHTSA campaigns
194Complaints · owner reports
5★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
29 mpgFuel economy · best combined

The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Crosstrek AWD, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 194 complaints, most often about visibility/wiper. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Crosstrek AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl273329$2,150
Crosstrek AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl232925$2,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

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Recalls (5)

Suspension

high
408,271 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.

Risk: Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

NHTSA campaign 21V263000 · reported Apr 15, 2021 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Engine And Engine Cooling

high
466,205 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.

Risk: A short circuit in the ignition coils may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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 this recall is WRE-21. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously repaired under Recall 19V743.

NHTSA campaign 21V264000 · reported Apr 15, 2021 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Electrical System

high
466,205 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, which could result in a short circuit and blown fuse.

Risk: If a short circuit occurs while driving, the vehicle may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUQ-02.

NHTSA campaign 19V743000 · reported Oct 18, 2019 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Engine And Engine Cooling

high
205,000 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.

Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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 at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUP-01.

NHTSA campaign 19V744000 · reported Oct 17, 2019 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Vehicle Speed Control

high
2,367 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Crosstrek vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect floor mat retention bracket, allowing the floor mat to move out of position and interfere with the accelerator or brake pedal operation.

Risk: If the floor mat moves out of position and interferes with the accelerator or brake pedal operation, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

NHTSA campaign 17V701000 · reported Nov 7, 2017 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

194 complaints filed

10 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2017: 2 · 2018: 23 · 2019: 29 · 2020: 44 · 2021: 34 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 8

Most-cited components

  • Visibility/Wiper — 64
  • Unknown Or Other — 41
  • Electrical System — 32
  • Engine — 32
  • Power Train — 14
“JUNE 2, 2018. PURCHASED A NEW 2018 SUBARU CROSSTREK FROM MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND DROVE THE CAR HOME. THE NEXT DAY (JUNE 3, 2018), ON MY FIRST TRIP OUT TO RUN ERRANDS THE CAR STALLED AFTER GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AT SLOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT. THE NEXT DAY (JUNE 4, 2018), THE CAR STALLED AGAIN TWICE IN RAPID…”Jun 25, 2018 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“VEHICLE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING TWO TIMES IN TRAFFIC CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS. ITS BEEN AT DEALER FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. THE DEALER SAYS THEY COULDN'T REPAIR IT SO SUBARU SENT OUT ENGINEERS AND DETERMINED THEIR WAS A FAULT WITH NO REPAIR PROTOCOL AVAILABLE. THEY SAY THEY WILL HAVE TO KEEP MY CAR UNTIL THEY CAN REPAIR IT…”Jun 20, 2018 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“MAIN COMPUTER SYSTEM STOPS WORKING ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. NO RADIO, NO VOLUME CONTROL, NO CD, NO PHONE, NO MAP/GPS. MAP/GPS WAS IN USED AT THE TIME. SYSTEM RESUMES ALL OF ITS FUNCTIONS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS.”Jun 8, 2018 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SW AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Crosstrek model years

B

2026 Crosstrek

2 recalls · 8 complaints

A

2025 Crosstrek

0 recalls · 43 complaints

B

2024 Crosstrek

2 recalls · 115 complaints

A

2023 Crosstrek

0 recalls · 34 complaints

A

2022 Crosstrek

1 recalls · 31 complaints

B

2021 Crosstrek

2 recalls · 116 complaints

A

2020 Crosstrek

1 recalls · 68 complaints

F

2019 Crosstrek

8 recalls · 284 complaints

A

2017 Crosstrek

1 recalls · 94 complaints

A

2016 Crosstrek

1 recalls · 134 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 38695, 38694). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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