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2016 Subaru Crosstrek

Hybrid Gas Compact SUV

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
A
Safety Signal
92 / 100
ASafety Signal · 92 / 100
1Recalls · NHTSA campaigns
134Complaints · owner reports
5★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
31 mpgFuel economy · best combined

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the XV Crosstrek Hybrid AWD, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 134 complaints, most often about electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
XV Crosstrek Hybrid AWDHybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl + 101V Ni-MH293331$2,000
XV Crosstrek AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl263329$2,150
XV Crosstrek AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl233026$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

Out of factory warranty soon?

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (1)

Exterior Lighting

high
1,303,530 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

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.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.

NHTSA campaign 19V149000 · reported Feb 28, 2019 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

134 complaints filed

4 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2016: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 32 · 2020: 25 · 2021: 16 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 5

Most-cited components

  • Electrical System — 38
  • Unknown Or Other — 35
  • Power Train — 19
  • Steering — 14
  • Engine — 14
“SINCE I GOT THIS CAR , THE ENGINE OVER HEATED FREQUENTLY. ENGINE OIL MIXED IN THE COOLANT. AT 20 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED MAKE THE VIBRANT NOISE. THE POWER TRAIN IS NOT GOOD FOR THIS VEHICULE. I WENT TO SUBARU ,3340 OAKTON ST SKOKIE,IL FOR INSPECTION, IT IS LIKE OTHERS PEOPLES HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS LIKE ME. ALSO NOTHING …”Dec 4, 2018 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“APRIL 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE GAS PEDAL SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AT IDLE. RESTARTING THE CAR FIXED THE ISSUE BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN 10MIN LATER. BOTH INSTANCES ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO…”May 31, 2018 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA owner report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE N…”Dec 12, 2017 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Crosstrek model years

B

2026 Crosstrek

2 recalls · 8 complaints

A

2025 Crosstrek

0 recalls · 43 complaints

B

2024 Crosstrek

2 recalls · 115 complaints

A

2023 Crosstrek

0 recalls · 34 complaints

A

2022 Crosstrek

1 recalls · 31 complaints

B

2021 Crosstrek

2 recalls · 116 complaints

A

2020 Crosstrek

1 recalls · 68 complaints

F

2019 Crosstrek

8 recalls · 284 complaints

D

2018 Crosstrek

5 recalls · 194 complaints

A

2017 Crosstrek

1 recalls · 94 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 36833, 36832, 36831). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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