Last updated: 2026-10-10

2024 Subaru Crosstrek
RELIABILITY SCORE: 69/100 (GOOD)

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

Complaint Severity42/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs90/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact80/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity73/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

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

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK
  • 2 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

HIGH RISK
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER (26)
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING (13)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

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 sold

Segment avg: 6.9

LowAvgHigh
High

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.

23V7540002023-11-09

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.

23V5510002023-08-04

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.

VIN History Report

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.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2024 Subaru Crosstrek NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 16.4%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (Seat Pan Airbag)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Subaru CrosstrekRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

4.5Maintenance rating: 4.5 out of 5

Based 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

Crosstrek
$492
Category Avg
$521
All Vehicles
$652

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%

after 5 years

Depreciation
21.8%

over the same period

Listings Analyzed
690

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.com

MPG & 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
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
Crosstrek AWD 2.0L 4-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S8)273429$2,050
Crosstrek AWD 2.5L 4-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S8)263329$2,050
Crosstrek Wilderness AWD 2.5L 4-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S8)252927$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.

26
13
17
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (26)EXTERIOR LIGHTING (13)STEERING (9)VISIBILITY (8)VISIBILITY/WIPER (8)SERVICE BRAKES (5)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5)FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (4)Other (17)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

26 complaintsSafety-related

Full-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.

26 complaints total1 crash

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

13 complaints

Low 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.

13 complaints total

STEERING

9 complaints

The 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.

9 complaints total
VISIBILITY (8 complaints)

VISIBILITY

8 complaints

The 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.

8 complaints total
VISIBILITY/WIPER (8 complaints)

VISIBILITY/WIPER

8 complaints

Windshields 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.

8 complaints total
SERVICE BRAKES (5 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

5 complaintsSafety-related

The 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.

5 complaints total2 crashes1 injury
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5 complaints)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 complaints

Two 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.

5 complaints total
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (4 complaints)

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

4 complaintsSafety-related

Pre-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.

4 complaints total2 crashes1 injury
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (3 complaints)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

3 complaintsSafety-related

The 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.

3 complaints total1 crash
TIRES (3 complaints)

TIRES

3 complaints

Original-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.

3 complaints total

When Do 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

10,000–24,000 milesSticky on-center highway steering
600–6,200 milesEarly windshield cracks

Best & Worst Subaru Crosstrek Years

Best Subaru Crosstrek Years to Buy

Subaru Crosstrek Years to Avoid

Subaru Crosstrek Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Subaru Crosstrek reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201860/100Good
201956/100Mixed
202072/100Good
202167/100Good
202278/100Good
202381/100Excellent
202469/100Good
202583/100Excellent
202694/100Excellent

Subaru Crosstrek Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
202694/100+11Excellent01
202583/100+14Excellent025
2024(selected)69/100-12Good295
202381/100+3Excellent028
202278/100+11Good128
202167/100-5Good297
202072/100+16Good162
201956/100-4Mixed8272
201860/100—Good5186

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
Yes, it has good reliability overall. It is close to average against other 2024 SUVs and in the middle of the nine scored Crosstrek years. The 2023 and 2025 models both rate better. Independent repair-cost data shows lower yearly repair costs than the class average, and the crash-test rating is 5 of 5 stars.
What are the most common problems with the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek?
Owners mainly complain about exterior lighting, steering and visibility. Headlights light only a short stretch of road with a sharp cutoff. Steering can stick near center on the highway. The driver's mirror shakes at speed, and windshields crack early, sometimes without any visible impact.
Does the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek have headlight problems?
Yes, headlights are the largest complaint group, with 13 reports. Owners say the low beams end in a sharp cutoff and leave the top of the windshield dark. Shadows move with the steering-responsive lights. Dealers reproduce it but say the lights are standard and cannot be adjusted.
Does the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek have steering problems?
Some owners report it. The wheel sticks near center at highway speed, then releases suddenly, so drivers overcorrect. It tends to appear after 30 to 60 minutes above 50 mph in warm weather. Dealers often cannot reproduce it on short test drives. One owner needed a steering rack replacement.
Is the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek better than the 2023 or 2025?
No, the data favors both neighbors. The 2023 and 2025 each rate better with excellent reliability, and each has fewer complaints and no recalls. The 2024 has 95 complaints and two federal recalls, covering the power train and the electrical system.

Don’t buy a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

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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