Last updated: 2026-10-10

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Reliability Report
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek has good reliability, but owners report poor headlight reach, sticky highway steering and windshields that crack early.
Recalls
2
Complaints
95
Complaint Rate
83.9per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$492
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,050–$2,200
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Good but only mid-pack among Crosstrek years, with two recalls and headlight, steering and windshield complaints, while the 2023 and 2025 rate better.
Top Issues to Watch
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING (13)
- STEERING (9)
- VISIBILITY (8)
Should You Buy the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek?
Buy this year with some caution. It has good reliability and sits close to average among 2024 SUVs. Within the Crosstrek line it lands in the middle of nine scored years, and both the 2023 and 2025 rate better. Federal crash testing gave it 5 of 5 stars, and independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs below the class figure.
Owner complaints focus on things you see and feel at the wheel. Headlights are the top issue: low beams reach a short stretch of road, and moving shadows inside the beam can look like an animal and cause sudden braking. Some owners report the steering sticking near center on the highway after 30 to 60 minutes, starting between under 10,000 and 24,000 miles. Windshields have cracked early, from 600 to 6,200 miles. Federal recall records show two recalls, covering the power train and the electrical system.
Look at a 2023 or 2025 first, since both have fewer complaints and no recalls. If you choose a 2024, ask for proof that both recalls were completed and for any windshield or steering repair history. Drive it at night and on the highway for at least half an hour.
Compared to the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek, which scored 14 points higher. See also the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +$29 cheaper to maintain than avg compact SUVs
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (7%)
Cons
- −Above-average complaint rate for SUV
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Full-screen SiriusXM ads pop up on the infotainment display while driving (26 complaints)
- −EXTERIOR LIGHTING: Low beams light only a short stretch of road and end in a sharp cutoff (13 complaints)
Compare 2024 Subaru Crosstrek With

2024 Honda HR-V
Reliability: 83/100

2024 Chevrolet Trax
Reliability: 80/100

2024 Buick Encore GX
Reliability: 77/100

2024 Kia Niro
Reliability: 79/100

2024 Toyota Corolla Cross
Reliability: 82/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 2 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (26)
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING (13)
Recall Overview
2
recalls on record
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
83.9
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 6.9
Safety Incidents
7
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2024 Subaru Crosstrek Recall Details
2 recalls have been issued for the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
POWER TRAIN
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
Consequence
A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek and Impreza vehicles. Due to insufficient clearance, the instrument panel harness may contact the steering beam bracket, damaging the wire insulation and causing a short circuit.
Consequence
A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the harness and install an additional clamp on the steering beam bracket. If damage is found, dealers will add protective tape or replace the instrument panel harness, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 3, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-23.
Buying a used 2024 Subaru Crosstrek? Check its history first
Exterior lighting problems lead owner complaints about the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2024 Subaru Crosstrek NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 16.4%
Safety Technologies
Subaru CrosstrekRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4.5Maintenance rating: 4.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$492
vs $521 avg for compact SUVs
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.1
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
7%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Subaru Crosstrek Resale Value
The Subaru Crosstrek is estimated to retain about 78.2% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Subaru Crosstrek model overall and is not specific to the 2024 model year.
- Value Retained
- 78.2%
- Depreciation
- 21.8%
- Listings Analyzed
- 690
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.
Explore Subaru Crosstrek depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
27–29 MPG
Running cost: $2,550–$2,700/yr
Fuel + repair
25–27 city / 29–34 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2024 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crosstrek AWD 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 27 | 34 | 29 | $2,050 |
| Crosstrek AWD 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 26 | 33 | 29 | $2,050 |
| Crosstrek Wilderness AWD 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 25 | 29 | 27 | $2,200 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek.
Drive above 50 mph and check whether the driver's side mirror image blurs from vibration.
On a warm drive of 30 to 60 minutes above 50 mph, feel for steering that sticks at center then releases.
Test-drive at night on a hilly road and judge low-beam reach and moving shadows in the beam.
Inspect the windshield for chips, cracks and wiper scratches, and ask whether it has been replaced.
Run the VIN and confirm the WRL-23 dash wire harness recall repair was completed.
Make left turns across traffic and drive winding roads, watching for false pre-collision braking.
Check the original tire sidewalls for damage and ask whether any tire has failed.
Drive a while with the infotainment screen on and see whether full-screen ads block controls.
2024 Subaru Crosstrek Common Problems by Component
95 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
26 complaintsSafety-relatedFull-screen SiriusXM ads pop up on the infotainment display while driving. They cover navigation, CarPlay, climate controls and driver-assist settings such as X-Mode until the driver taps a small close button. The ads appear at random, about once a month for some owners, and the car offers no way to opt out. Other reports describe windshield chips and cracks, thin hood paint that chips by 18000 miles, and one crash in which the car surged forward over a low wall while turning into a driveway.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
13 complaintsLow beams light only a short stretch of road and end in a sharp cutoff. The top of the windshield stays dark, and drivers lose sight of the road on hills and curves. Many reports describe dark shadows inside the beam that swing with the steering-responsive headlights and look like an animal darting out, which leads to sudden braking. Some owners now avoid driving at night. Dealers reproduce the complaint but say the lights are standard and cannot be adjusted. One report says snow packs into the headlight housings.
STEERING
9 complaintsThe wheel sticks near center at highway speed and then lets go suddenly, so drivers overcorrect. It tends to show up after 30 to 60 minutes of driving, above 50 mph and in warmer weather. Cold weather masks it. Reported onset ranges from under 10k to 24K miles, and dealers often can't reproduce it on short test drives. Other reports describe pulling to the right that came back after an alignment, plus one sudden loss of power assist with warning lights that led to a steering rack replacement.
VISIBILITY (8 complaints)
VISIBILITY
8 complaintsThe driver's side mirror shakes at highway speeds, blurring the image enough to make merging and lane changes hard. Dealers confirm the vibration but call it normal for this model. Replacing mirror glass and housings, sometimes more than once, does not fix it. Other reports describe windshields cracking without any impact, including one found cracked in a garage at about 6,200 miles. In another case the rearview mirror came loose from the windshield and fell into the driver's line of sight while driving.
VISIBILITY/WIPER (8 complaints)
VISIBILITY/WIPER
8 complaintsWindshields crack early and the cracks spread fast, sometimes with no visible impact. Reports include a crack that spread after a pebble strike at 600 miles, cracks that formed overnight while parked, a loud pop on the highway followed by a crack across the glass, and a crack on the second day of ownership. Owners call the glass thin. At least one dealer said the replacement was not covered by warranty. A few complaints here also describe the driver's mirror shaking above 60 mph.
SERVICE BRAKES (5 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
5 complaintsSafety-relatedThe car brakes hard on its own with nothing ahead, on side streets and at highway speeds, sometimes with no warning. Owners report being thrown into the seatbelt and worry about being rear-ended. In one crash the car slowed twice on the highway and was hit from behind, injuring one person. Dealers can't reproduce the false braking because the car logs no fault. Other reports describe the car lurching forward while stopped at a light, and a brake pedal that did not respond in snow before a crash.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5 complaints)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5 complaintsTwo of these reports involve the WRL-23 recall for the dash wire harness, where the replacement harness stayed on back order for months after owners got the notice. Others describe SiriusXM ads filling the screen while driving and Apple CarPlay calls randomly losing audio until the phone is reconnected. One report describes a wireless charger that barely charges the phone while making it very hot. Dealers had no fix for the CarPlay dropouts.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (4 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
4 complaintsSafety-relatedPre-collision braking activates when nothing is in the way, most often during left turns across traffic or on winding roads lined with pillars. The car cuts power or brakes hard and sounds an alarm. Drivers describe nearly being T-boned mid-turn and nearly being rear-ended by cars following close behind. Two reports involve crashes, one with an injury, in which the driver says adaptive cruise took over acceleration and steering during a left turn. Owners note these events depend on the situation, which makes them hard for a dealer to verify.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (3 complaints)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3 complaintsSafety-relatedThe car surges forward unexpectedly at low speed. It happens while parking with a foot on the brake or while turning at about 5 MPH. One surge ended in a crash into a parked car, with several dashboard warnings lit during the event. After a surge at 4,000 miles, the dealer could not find the cause. Another report describes cruise control braking the car back down to its set speed right after the driver accelerated to pass another vehicle.
TIRES (3 complaints)
TIRES
3 complaintsOriginal-equipment tires blow out at highway speed, usually through the sidewall, sometimes with several holes in one tire. Reports involve both the Falken Ziex 18-inch tire and a Yokohama 17-inch tire. One owner lost three of four original tires, the first at 10K miles. In that case the car's tire warning gave the driver time to move to a safe spot. Owners describe tire makers as unhelpful, and at least one planned to replace all four tires.
When Do 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Subaru Crosstrek Years
Best Subaru Crosstrek Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreSubaru Crosstrek Years to Avoid
Subaru Crosstrek Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 60/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 56/100 | Mixed |
| 2020 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 67/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 69/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2026 | 94/100 | Excellent |
Subaru Crosstrek Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek?
Does the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek have headlight problems?
Does the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek have steering problems?
Is the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek better than the 2023 or 2025?
Don’t buy a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek does best on repair costs (90/100) and worst on complaint severity (42/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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