2018 Subaru Crosstrek
Common Problems
Ranked from 98 federal NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
11 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Windshield Cracking Without Impact
60complaintsHigh severityOtherWindshields crack without any apparent cause or impact, leading to costly replacements.
- 2
Battery Drain Without Use
10complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe battery drains quickly when the car is not in use, requiring frequent replacements within a short period.
$150–$700est. parasitic-drain diagnosis + battery · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 21V264000, 19V743000
- 3
Engine Stall and Hesitation
8complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine of some 2018 Subaru Crosstrek models intermittently stalls and hesitates during acceleration, posing a safety concern.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 19V744000
- 4
Transmission Jerkiness
6complaintsLow severityTransmissionThe CVT transmission in some 2018 Subaru Crosstrek models is jerky and difficult to shift, especially in stop-and-go traffic.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Unexpected Acceleration During Parking
4complaintsHigh severityOtherThe vehicle unexpectedly accelerates and hits objects during parking, posing a risk of injury or property damage.
- 6
Acceleration Hesitation and Stumbling
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe vehicle experiences hesitation and stumbling during acceleration, especially under light throttle conditions.
Related recall: 19V744000
- 7
Driver Seat Mounting Issues
2complaintsLow severityOtherThe driver seat mounting issues cause the seat to rock or become loose, affecting comfort and safety.
- 8
Engine Failure Causing Catastrophic Loss of Power
2complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine suddenly fails, causing a loss of power and rendering the vehicle undriveable, often due to ignition coil failure.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 19V744000
- 9
Random White Smoke Emanating from Exhaust
2complaintsLow severityFuel systemThe vehicle emits white smoke from the exhaust, possibly indicating a problem with the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve.
- 10
Recall issues with parts availability
2complaintsLow severityOtherRecalls were not properly addressed due to parts unavailability, leading to delayed repairs.
- 11
Unexplained engine stalling
2complaintsMedium severityEngineEngines stalled unexpectedly while accelerating or turning, sometimes requiring multiple attempts to restart.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 19V744000
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.