The Lemon Index

All cars · Subaru Crosstrek

2019 Subaru Crosstrek.

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek is worse than average by owner complaints: 229 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 167, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about wipers & visibility, it has 7 recalls, and it gets 25 to 35 mpg combined. The best Subaru Crosstrek year is 2022.

167Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Worse than average. 1.7× the average car's complaints.

Best year 2022

Subaru Crosstrek
Photo shows a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. EurovisionNim, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Before you buy. What matters most for this car.

Owner complaints229first 3 years
Fuel economy25–35 mpgcombined, EPA
Crash test★★★★★NHTSA overall

How serious. Out of 285 owner complaints, owners reported:

7crashes
4injuries
3fires
10tows

What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.

wipers & visibility48%
electrical15%
engine10%
transmission & drivetrain5%
steering4%

Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.

Transmission problems in every Subaru Crosstrek year →

When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.

half by 10K
0K50K100K150K200K

Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 4K to 19K miles on the car (179 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.

  • wipers & visibility complaints mostly came at 4K–16K miles
  • electrical complaints mostly came at 1K–27K miles
  • engine complaints mostly came at 1K–20K miles

Recalls 7

  • suspension 2021

    The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.

  • electrical 2021

    The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.

  • seat belts 2020

    The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended.

Show all 7 recalls
  • engine 2019

    The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.

  • electrical 2019

    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.

  • visibility 2019

    The driver's side rear-door window glass may be improperly tempered.

  • steering 2019

    A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.

Check a VIN for open recalls

Problems Subaru told dealers about

Subaru sent dealers 538 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:

  • This bulletin announces part information for new Active Valve Control System (AVCS) oil…
  • This Service Information Bulletin is in response to several battery sensor replacements resulting
  • This bulletin announces availability of new intake manifold assemblies which include enhanced…

Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.

Safety

Stability controlStandard
Collision warningStandard
Lane departure warningStandard
NHTSA front crash test of the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek
Front crash test · NHTSA
Crash test details
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Subaru Crosstrek SW AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid SW AWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
Fuel cost and engines

About $1850–2550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl.

In owners' words

Small rock chipped front windshield and caused a 4 inch crack.

2019 Subaru Crosstrek owner · NHTSA complaint 11271338
More owner reports

Eye sight notification and engine light turns on and we lost power steering whilst driving the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11331459

The windshield had a small chip in it (not sure from what). Over the course of two days the chip had spread to cover half the windshield. I believe the chip happened while driving.

NHTSA complaint 11281284

Quick answers

Is the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?

No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.7× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 167; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Subaru Crosstrek year by this measure is 2022.

What are the most common 2019 Subaru Crosstrek problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (48%), electrical (15%) and engine (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.

How many recalls does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have?

7 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek get?

25 to 35 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).

Is the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek safe?

NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.

At what mileage do 2019 Subaru Crosstrek problems start?

Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 4,300 and 19,000 miles. The middle report was at 10,500 miles, from 179 complaints.

Does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have transmission problems?

Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 5% of its owner complaints.

How much does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek cost in fuel a year?

About $1850 to $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.

What engines does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have?

2.0L 4-cyl.

What Subaru Crosstrek year is better than the 2019?

By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2013 and 2014.

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data