2017 Subaru Crosstrek Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 26,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

Dome light goes has gone on automatically several times. Twice drained my battery. Never use dome light because I do not drive at night and have never turned it on myself.Owner complaint, filed 2022

I drove approximately 100 minutes to central illinois on a 80 degree and sunny afternoon. I parked my car on the street and when I returned to it 45 minutes later, there was a 12inch crack on my passenger side windshield. There was no apparent point of contact in the crack and there were no large sticks or branches on the car. It…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 67,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 36,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The key gets stuck in the ignition. We have to turn the ignition to ACC or start the car then switch it back to OFF multiple times for it to release. We have not had the issue looked at yet. It's easily reproduceable. No other symptoms are present. Subaru issued a recall for this issue for vehicles with a CVT transmission but there are…Owner complaint, filed 2022

On three occasions in the last 2 months, the battery died and the car would not start. I called service and the car was jump started. Three days later I had the same issue. I brought the car to my dealer and was told there was nothing wrong. Since that time, I have had to start my car every day, or jump start if the car sits for three…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 17,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 41,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

Premature shift fork failure in 2017 Subaru Crosstrek manual transmission at 62,521 miles requiring complete transmission replacement ($10,000 repair, vehicle worth $11,000). EVIDENCE OF DESIGN DEFECT: - Subaru issued TSB 03-83-20R acknowledging shift fork design flaws in 2018-2020 Crosstreks with identical transmission - TSB states…Owner complaint, filed 2025

When I put the car in park the key would turn off the car but not come out of the ignition. The only way to get the key out was to turn the car back on and try again, sometimes 5+ times. When I took the car in for repair at a Subaru dealership they said this was a constant Subaru problem and that my shifter plate guide would need to be…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 17,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 subaru crosstrek. While operating the vehicle and approaching a stop, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart, but the failure recurred three times. The vehicle was taken to autonation subaru scottsdale (15678 n northsight blvd, scottsdale, az 85260), but the cause of the failure could…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 11 miles

*The engine experienced a failure of an internal valve spring, a component that controls the operation of the engine valves. The failure required significant engine repair, including engine teardown. The vehicle was diagnosed by Subaru of Olathe, and the failed component and vehicle should be available for inspection through the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

Both of the front inner brake pads separated from the backing plate presenting a safety concern since the brake performance was compromised. The front outer brake pads did not separate from the backing plates. All four brake pads were installed by myself along with new rotors in November 2021 and have experienced about 30,000 miles of…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Outer left rear brake pad broke away from the backing plate causing damage to the brake rotor. The pads were original equipment and not worn out.Owner complaint, filed 2021

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while pulling out of her driveway, the steering wheel became stiff, and the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over on the side the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 48,300 miles

The car lost power steering shortly after car was started to go on s short trip. We were still n our driveway when it happened. I could still drive it, but turning the steering wheel was difficult on curves on back roads and highway to the doctor's office 32 miles away. I have heard other subarus have had shorts in the electric power…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 30,758 miles

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

In August of 2024, I got into my car in a parking lot and turned the key in the ignition. The car started revving really high. I waited for it to slow down, and then I put it into reverse. The car shot back and would have hit the building if I hadn't slammed on the brakes. Fortunately, there wasn't anyone behind the car at the time, but…Owner complaint, filed 2025

I was driving very slow into my garage from townhouse street. I heard this strange noise and my car [VIN] fast. I tried to brake but could not stop the car. I hit the back of my garage causing damage to garage wall and inside of my townhome. I have lived here since 1987 and this has never happened before. The car is now at gale auto…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 12,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Wheel bearing go out after 40K plus miles. After doing research on my own wheels bearings it appears that this is a very common issue for this vehicle. This is not a lot of miles to have on a car before wheel bearings (rear) go bad. Causing extensive damage if not caught and a safety hazard for those opporating the vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Greetings: As outlined in Service Bulletin 05-70-19, Rear Wheel Backing Plate Design change, I am having an almost overwhelming “whining or humming” sound coming from the rear portion of my vehicle. Given the significance of this WHEEL BEARING & BACKING PLATE issue, I respectfully request an RECALL & subsequent repair be initiated.…Owner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

12042022 - not sure of cause, could be multiple as all systems just shut down for seconds, the car goes dead while driving down I235 at 70mph, first the radio turns off, then the car seemed to go to lower gear rpm to zero and just shut off at a high speed, NO POWER on anything, then about 2.5 seconds later it restated and continued…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Upon accelerating, the engine seems to bog down and I lose speed. It has happened under many conditions, after turning a corner, going down a straightaway, and when accelerating to merge on a highway. This puts people in the car at risk and others traveling behind me. I took it to the dealer and they said that since they could not…Owner complaint, filed 2021

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

Since the car was new (currently 55,000 miles on it) the air bag red malfunction light has intermittently come on when I have a passenger in the passenger seat. Also, at times, the dashboard will register that the airbag is off when there is a passenger. I mentioned this to dealer early on, but was told because the light was not on when…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 55,000 miles

My airbag sensor went out on my passenger seat and it was on backorder for over a month and a half. This issue had been reported by other subaru cars (forester) and it also occurred on my vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 52,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 subaru crosstrek. While driving various speeds, the vehicle veered from left to right. In addition, the contact stated there was an abnormal vibration from the front end of the vehicle, which caused the wheels to wobble. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer where…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 13,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 subaru crosstrek. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the blind spot detector warning light was illuminated. The side view mirrors blind spot function was inoperable. Additionally, the blind spot button was depressed however, failed to respond. The local dealer and [VIN] were not contacted. The…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 26,322 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact rented a 2017 subaru crosstrek. While the contact was resting his right arm on the leather shifter, he sustained burns. The passenger and his wife also received burns on the bottom left and right forearms of the leather seating surfaces. The contact did not receive medical treatment for his injuries; however, the passenger…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 396 miles

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact rented a 2017 subaru crosstrek. While the contact was resting his right arm on the leather shifter, he sustained burns. The passenger and his wife also received burns on the bottom left and right forearms of the leather seating surfaces. The contact did not receive medical treatment for his injuries; however, the passenger…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 396 miles