VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Subaru Crosstrek2013–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Subaru Crosstrek
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Subaru Crosstrek Years to Avoid
5 recalls · 174 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: VISIBILITY/WIPER
2 recalls · 117 complaints
Top issue: VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 recall · 88 complaints
7 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
Subaru Crosstrek — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 83 | 40 | 68 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 0 | 21 | — | — | 75 | 55 | 68 | Good |
| 2024 | 2 | 69 | 4 | — | 71 | 68 | 70 | Caution |
| 2023 | 0 | 36 | 6 | — | 81 | 78 | 80 | Good |
| 2022 | 1 | 21 | 6 | — | 84 | 85 | 84 | Good |
| 2021 | 2 | 65 | 5 | — | 76 | 88 | 80 | Caution |
| 2020 | 1 | 34 | 1 | — | 85 | 87 | 86 | Good |
| 2019 | 5 | 174 | 6 | — | 65 | 83 | 71 | Avoid |
| 2018 | 2 | 117 | — | — | 77 | 77 | 77 | Caution |
| 2017 | 1 | 63 | 12 | — | 80 | 70 | 77 | Caution |
| 2016 | 1 | 87 | — | — | 83 | 63 | 76 | Caution |
| 2015 | 2 | 61 | 2 | — | 82 | 56 | 73 | Caution |
| 2014 | 1 | 88 | 7 | — | 82 | 50 | 71 | Caution |
| 2013 | 2 | 94 | 1 | — | 81 | 45 | 68 | Caution |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Subaru Crosstrek Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Crosstrek compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2020 (Buyer Score 86).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Crosstrek to buy?+
The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek scores highest on our Buyer Score (86/100) — combining a reliability score of 85/100 with a value score of 87/100. It has 1 recall and 34 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Crosstrek years have the most problems?+
The 2019, 2018, 2014 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2019 Crosstrek leads with 5 recalls and 174 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Crosstrek problems?+
The most frequently reported Subaru Crosstrek issues involve: UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY/WIPER, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.