Is the Jeep Renegade more reliable than the Subaru Crosstrek?

Based on our data, the Jeep Renegade is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 73/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Jeep Renegade or the Subaru Crosstrek?

The Subaru Crosstrek has more recalls (19) compared to the Jeep Renegade (15). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Jeep Renegade or the Subaru Crosstrek?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Jeep Renegade has a lower complaint rate at 20.4 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 72.5 for the Subaru Crosstrek. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Jeep Renegade or the Subaru Crosstrek?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Subaru Crosstrek is cheaper to maintain at $492/year versus $498/year for the Jeep Renegade.

Last updated: 2026-07-26

Jeep Renegade vs Subaru Crosstrek: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Jeep Renegade

Good

Subaru Crosstrek

Good

Choosing between the Jeep Renegade and the Subaru Crosstrek? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Jeep Renegade currently leads with an average score of 74/100 compared to 73/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Jeep Renegade and Subaru Crosstrek Generations Compare?

As of 2026, the Subaru Crosstrek is in its third generation, introduced in 2024. This model is relatively early in its generation cycle, which can sometimes mean first-year issues as manufacturers work out initial kinks. The previous second generation (2018–2023) received a facelift in 2021, indicating a mature and generally well-sorted platform by the end of its run. In contrast, the Jeep Renegade remains in its first generation, introduced in 2015. It underwent several updates, with significant facelifts in 2019, 2022, and 2023, suggesting a platform that has been refined over time. Being late in its generation cycle, the Renegade may offer more reliability due to these iterative improvements.

Verdict

The Jeep Renegade is more reliable than the Subaru Crosstrek, scoring 74/100 vs 73/100.

The Subaru Crosstrek and the Jeep Renegade are closely matched in terms of reliability, with average scores of 73 and 74 out of 100, respectively. However, the Jeep Renegade stands out with significantly fewer owner complaints at 20.4 per 10,000 sold, compared to the Crosstrek's 72.5. Both models have similar annual repair costs, estimated at $492 for the Crosstrek and $498 for the Renegade, and share common issues with electrical systems and power trains. Despite the Crosstrek's slightly higher recall count over a longer period, the Renegade's lower complaint rate suggests a more consistent reliability performance.

Key Differences

1Jeep Renegade has 52.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Subaru Crosstrek costs $6 less per year to repair
3Jeep Renegade has 4 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

3Jeep Renegade

—

3Subaru Crosstrek

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair Risk

Jeep Renegade vs Subaru Crosstrek: Which Is More Reliable?

Jeep Renegade vs Subaru Crosstrek at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Jeep Renegade	Subaru Crosstrek
Reliability Score	74/100	73/100
Years Tracked	6	9
Total Recalls	15	19
Complaints per 10k Sold	20.4	72.5
Annual Repair Cost	$498/yr	$492/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.1/yr
Major Repair Risk	9%	7%
Year Wins	4	2

What Are the Common Problems With the Jeep Renegade and Subaru Crosstrek?

The Subaru Crosstrek shows a significant concentration of complaints in visibility and wiper issues, with 239 reports, whereas the Jeep Renegade has its highest number of complaints in the electrical system category with 185 issues. Notably, the Crosstrek's vehicle speed control problems are linked to eight crashes, indicating a critical area of concern. Conversely, the Jeep Renegade has a disproportionately high number of crash-linked complaints related to airbags, with 21 incidents reported. While both vehicles have issues with the power train and electrical systems, the Crosstrek's visibility-related complaints and the Renegade's airbag-related incidents highlight distinct reliability challenges for each model.

Jeep Renegade vs Subaru Crosstrek common problem areas comparison
Component	Jeep Renegade	Subaru Crosstrek
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	21.8High
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	5.5Average	8.8Above Avg
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2.8Low	11.3Above Avg
POWER TRAIN	2.5Low	4.8Average
ENGINE	3.8Average	3.3Average
STEERING	0.4Very Low	3Low
VISIBILITY	—None	2.6Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.3Very Low	1.9Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.9Very Low	0.7Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.9Very Low	0.7Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	1.5Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	1.3Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	0.8Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	1.1Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
TIRES	0.1Very Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Jeep Renegade or Subaru Crosstrek?

Based on independent repair cost data, the Subaru Crosstrek and Jeep Renegade have similar annual repair costs, with the Crosstrek at $492 and the Renegade at $498. While the difference of $6 per year may seem negligible, over five years, the Crosstrek saves you $30. However, when considering repair frequency, the Crosstrek averages 0.1 visits per year compared to the Renegade's 0.2 visits, indicating the Crosstrek requires fewer trips to the shop. Moreover, the major repair risk is lower for the Crosstrek at 7% versus the Renegade's 9%. For cost-conscious buyers, these factors make the Subaru Crosstrek a better value, offering both lower repair frequency and a reduced likelihood of major repairs.

How Does Jeep Renegade vs Subaru Crosstrek Reliability Compare by Year?

Jeep Renegade vs Subaru Crosstrek year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Jeep Renegade	Subaru Crosstrek	Edge
2023	77/1002R / 20C	81/1000R / 28C	Subaru Crosstrek
2022	76/1002R / 24C	78/1001R / 28C	Subaru Crosstrek
2021	75/1002R / 64C	67/1002R / 97C	Jeep Renegade
2020	75/1003R / 62C	72/1001R / 62C	Jeep Renegade
2019	75/1004R / 77C	56/1008R / 272C	Jeep Renegade
2018	65/1002R / 440C	60/1005R / 186C	Jeep Renegade

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Jeep Renegade scored 77/100 and the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek scored 81/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Jeep Renegade vs the Subaru Crosstrek?

If you prioritize fewer owner complaints and lower recall numbers, the Jeep Renegade may be your best bet. With only 20.4 complaints per 10,000 sold and 15 total recalls, it offers a more reassuring ownership experience. However, keep in mind its slightly higher repair frequency and a 9% risk of major repairs, which can impact long-term reliability. On the other hand, if you value lower annual repair costs and less frequent visits to the mechanic, consider the Subaru Crosstrek. Despite its higher number of recalls and complaints (72.5 per 10,000 sold), it boasts a lower estimated annual repair cost of $492 and a repair frequency of just 0.1 per year. This might appeal if you prefer to minimize ongoing maintenance interruptions. Ultimately, choose the Crosstrek if cost-efficiency is your priority and the Renegade if fewer initial issues are more important to you.

Jeep Renegade vs Subaru Crosstrek: Common Questions

Is the Jeep Renegade more reliable than the Subaru Crosstrek?: Based on our data, the Jeep Renegade is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 73/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Jeep Renegade or the Subaru Crosstrek?: The Subaru Crosstrek has more recalls (19) compared to the Jeep Renegade (15). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Jeep Renegade or the Subaru Crosstrek?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Jeep Renegade has a lower complaint rate at 20.4 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 72.5 for the Subaru Crosstrek. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Jeep Renegade or the Subaru Crosstrek?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Subaru Crosstrek is cheaper to maintain at $492/year versus $498/year for the Jeep Renegade.

More Jeep Renegade comparisons

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More Subaru Crosstrek comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

See incorrect data? Report an issue