2018 Subaru Crosstrek: recalls and problems
5 recalls and 194 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is visibility/wiper.
Most common problems
What owners report
On 06/26/26, while traveling at highway speeds, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power in active traffic due to a blown out/melted cylinder 4 ignition coil. this unexpected engine failure forced raw fuel into the exhaust system, causing an immediate internal thermal meltdown of the catalytic converter, rendering the vehicle entirely undriveable and creating a severe highway safety hazard.
2018 subaru crosstrek rapidly accelerated unexpectedly while pulling into a parking space with the foot on the brake. hit a concrete pole and sustained vehicle damage and injuries.
3/3!2026 while driving heat stop working. called milea saburu spoke to christian made an appointment for 3/5/2026 they had nothing sooner. told her what happened. brought in they gave me loaner 12 days later on 3/18/2026 pick up car. paid bill they told me everything done no problems. i would get my 250 dollars for the car back in 30 days. even though they said it was a hold it went through. i live 15 minutes from
Dangerous stall in traffic due to ignition coil failure. ignition coils and spark plugs were replaced during the wre21 recall campaign only 13k miles ago back in 2021. stopped at red light awaiting to turn left when the vehicle started shaking violently. no check engine light came on though. when the light turned green, the vehicle was barely able to move forward then it completely stalled before pulling over to
Crash-test ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Subaru Crosstrek SW AWD |
Source: NHTSA recalls, complaints and NCAP APIs, covering Crosstrek. Last refreshed 2026-09-29.