Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Subaru XV Crosstrek problems

Owners filed 3 complaints about the 2016 Subaru XV Crosstrek with NHTSA between Aug 2017 and Dec 2018. The most-cited component is suspension (1).

Complaints
3
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension1
  2. Power train1
  3. Engine1
  4. Steering1
  5. Electrical system1
  6. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20172
20181

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

1 report
“SINCE I GOT THIS CAR , THE ENGINE OVER HEATED FREQUENTLY. ENGINE OIL MIXED IN THE COOLANT. AT 20 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED MAKE THE VIBRANT NOISE. THE POWER TRAIN IS NOT GOOD FOR THIS VEHICULE. I WENT TO SUBARU ,3340 OAKTON ST SKOKIE,IL FOR INSPECTION, IT IS LIKE OTHERS PEOPLES HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS LIKE ME. ALSO NOTHING IS GUARANTEED IF YOU WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIXED OR REPLACED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE OVER HEATED FREQUENTLY WAS THE MAIN PROBLEMS AND ISSUES FOR THIS VEHICULE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2018Suspension, Power train, EngineODI 11155840

Power train

1 report

Engine

1 report

Steering

1 report
“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-30MPH FOOT ON THE BREAK I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING. CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT STEERING WAS DEAD NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT ON THE DASH AFTER ABOUT 4 SECONDS THE STEERING CAME BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME. I PURCHASED THE SUBARU NEW IT HAS 7,220 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED SAME SCENARIO CAR HAD ABOUT 5K MILES ON IT. THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE DIDN'T THINK NOTHING OF IT UNTIL TODAY IT HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. TALKED TO DEALER THEY NEED THE ISSUE TO BE CONSTANT TO DO ANYTHING. TRIED TO DUPLICATE ISSUE AND IT WILL NOT IT HAPPENS WHEN IT WANTS TO BUT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2017SteeringODI 11044628

Electrical system

1 report
“REAR VIEW CAMERA IS MALFUNCTIONING. RANDOMLY WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS PREVENTS YOU FROM BEING ABLE TO USE THE HANDS FREE PHONE SYSTEM. UNABLE TO MAKE IT DUPLICATE IT WHEN TAKE IT TO DEALER. HOWEVER, I DID GET IT ON VIDEO. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS AN UPDATE AND THAT THEY LOADED THE UPDATE TO THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, IT CONTINUES TO DO IT. JUST STARTED THIS A COUPLE DAYS AGO. THE VEHICLE IS OVER ONE YEAR OLD. IT HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY AND/OR IN MOTION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2017Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11014547
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.