Home · 2016 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness · Complaints

What 131 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (131)Crash / fire / injury (8)Electrical system (37)Transmission & drivetrain (18)Engine (13)Steering (13)Fuel system (8)Speed control (6)Visibility & wipers (6)Body & structure (5)Brakes (5)Airbags (4)

5 of 131 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Jan 11, 2022SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

On Jan 7th, during rush-hour traffic on the highway, without any warning all of my vehicle lights began to dim. The power steering and brakes went out. I was able to steer to the side of the road. Then, all of the lights went out and the car shut off. I was unable to shift the vehicle into park, and as I was going up a hill at the time, I was forced to roll backwards slowly and engage the emergency brake. Only luck prevented a serious, perhaps fatal accident. It was also below freezing in Ohio so I had to sit in the frigid temperatures until a tow truck arrived. After being towed to two separate dealerships, the Subaru dealer believes this was caused by a faulty hybrid battery, alternator, or both. An inspection is available by request. The problem did flag multiple error codes (confirmed by the dealer) but it is very frightening that there was absolutely NO warning and I feel unsafe driving this vehicle, even after it will be repaired. Next time, myself or others, may not be so fortunate. The alternator is being recalled in 2017+ Subaru Crosstrek for this very issue, but not the 2016 (my vehicle).

NHTSA ODI 11446983

Dec 12, 2019Electrical systemBrakesEngine

THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER AND GETTING CLOSE TO THE POINT OF STALLING BUT NEVER STALLED. IT WOULD PERIODICALLY NOT SWITCH GEARS AS WELL. SEEMS LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. APPARENTLY I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL PUT OUT EARLIER FOR THIS ISSUE. SO I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET.

NHTSA ODI 11288735

May 6, 2019Brakes

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT SUBARU DEALERS NOT RESPONDING TO A RECALL IN WHAT I WOULD CALL A TIMELY MANNER. I CANNOT TELL WHERE ON YOUR WEBSITE TO SUBMIT THIS. IT IS VERY CONFUSING. IT SAYS TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT OF THIS TYPE, BUT DOESN'T TELL WHERE. I GOT A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE. I CONSIDER THIS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD SEE ME IN A WEEK. THAT SEEMS UNREASONABLE CONSIDERING THE NATURE OF THE RECALL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN SUBARU, AND IN YOUR CALL-IN SYSTEM WHICH SEEMED TO PROVIDE NOT HELP.

NHTSA ODI 11205801

Apr 18, 2019Brakes

HAD TO HAVE REAR BRAKES REPLACES ON VEHICLE AT 36,000 MILES. FRONT BRAKES SHOULD WEAR OUT BEFORE REAR BRAKES. ROTORS WERE RUSTED OUT. ALSO THE DOWNHILL ALERT LIGHT WOULD COME ON RANDOMLY ON FLAT SURFACES WHICH CAUSES REAR BRAKES TO ENGAGE. BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS SPORADIC, DEALER WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11197144

Aug 9, 2016Brakes

WAS STANDING IN THE LINE OF OTHER CARS ON THE STOP SIGN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, BRAKE PEDAL LOST IT'S HEIGHT AND DEPRESSED BY ITSELF, CAUSING MY FOOT TO SLIP FROM BRAKE TO DRIVE PEDAL AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED A DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND A CAR IN FRONT OF MINE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10894419

Working with the data? Download all 131 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 20, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness verdict →