NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 116 owner complaints for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek (including the hybrid).
Recalled components: powertrain and electrical system. Most-described problem: a cracked or shattered windshield (29 complaints, 25%). Most-reported area: visibility/wiper (29 complaints, 25%).
More complaints than most Crosstrek years
The 2021 drew 72 owner complaints in its first three years, against 39 for a typical Crosstrek year: 1.8 times as many. It is not a year to avoid, which takes at least twice the typical count and at least 50 complaints.
Years to avoid: 2018 and 2019; best years: 2016, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles.
The harness terminal that supplies low-voltage power from the converter to the 12-Volt battery may corrode and break, preventing the 12-Volt battery from charging.
Risk: A 12-Volt battery that is unable to recharge can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will replace the converter terminal mounting bracket. If corrosion is found on the terminals, the 12-Volt output harness and terminals will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 12, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-23.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek.
What owners report
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Crosstrek. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Cracked or shattered windshield29 · 25%
Check engine light10 · 9%
Shaking, shuddering or vibration9 · 8%
Several warning lights at once8 · 7%
Jerking, lurching or harsh shifting7 · 6%
Hesitation or slow acceleration6 · 5%
Loss of power or limp mode5 · 4%
Driver-assist errors or blocked-sensor messages5 · 4%
Most named: automatic emergency braking (10); warnings (6)
Powertrain14 · 12%
Lane departure systems5 · 4%
Most named: assist (3)
Brakes4 · 3%
Unknown or other25 · 22%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Subaru Crosstrek recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2021 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Crosstrek drew the most (200) and the 2021 drew 72.
Owner complaints
2021: 116 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Subaru Crosstrek
Model year
Complaints
2013
124
2014
107
2015
100
2016
136
2017
99
2018
195
2019
288
2020
71
2021
116
2022
32
2023
36
2024
121
2025
48
2026
11
Safety recalls
2021: 2 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Subaru Crosstrek
Model year
Recalls
2013
3
2014
1
2015
2
2016
1
2017
1
2018
5
2019
8
2020
1
2021
2
2022
1
2023
0
2024
2
2025
0
2026
3
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, the problems described most are a cracked or shattered windshield (29), the check engine light coming on (10), and shaking, shuddering or vibration (9). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek.
How do I check if my Crosstrek has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Subaru dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: CROSSTREK, CROSSTREK HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.