repaired · 2020 Q3
Brake lights: switch
Risk. Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
2016 Subaru CrosstrekProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 133 owner complaints about the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 19V-149 the manufacturer reports only 76% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 31, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek has problems
133 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
37Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
18Power train1 crash/fire/injury
15Engine2 crash/fire/injury
13Steering
8Fuel/propulsion system
6Vehicle speed control
5Structure
5Visibility/wiper
5Service brakes
209 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 37 | 4 |
| Power train | 18 | 1 |
| Engine | 15 | 2 |
| Steering | 13 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 20 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2016 Subaru Crosstrek recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
39kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 20 electrical system complaints. 95% were reported before 100,000 miles.
5under 30k miles19under 100k miles1100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Crosstrek year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Crosstrek median. How we score
'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Subaru Crosstrek safety ratings
2016 Subaru Crosstrek SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Crosstrek owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
A/C Control Head and connector burned on both ends. Dealer service center stated it was a significant safety/fire hazard if we had not immediately taken in to be checked. No warning, no fuses out. Only indication something was wrong is a/c turned on but only on 1,2 and 4. Then, same day, only on 4.…
I have a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek. Unfortunately I have had a couple of issues. The main thing being the horn. The location of the problem is affecting my air bag, AND my rear window defroster. I don’t know if Subaru has a faulty clockspring and relays, that malfunction after a certain amount of time.…
Battery drain Bought new battery Got dcm update Pulled dcm fuse Still battery goes dead Thousands of vehicles involved Suburu knows the cause To expensive to fix Please help3/3
Own a 2016 Crosstrek?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.