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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is associated with 115 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Visibility & Wipers, accounting for 26 reports (23% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 4 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2L 4-Cyl plug-in hybrid, 2l 4-cyl, and 2.5l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 25 to 30 MPG combined. Plug-in hybrid variants are rated up to 90 MPGe (35 MPG on gasoline) with up to 17 miles of electric driving range.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 115 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Visibility & Wipers (26 / 23%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 8 crash / 2 fire / 4 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 25–30 MPG across 4 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Crosstrek Hybrid AWD Plug-in Hybrid 2L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) 99 MPGe (36 MPG) 80 MPGe (35 MPG) 90 MPGe (35 MPG) 17 mi EV (480 mi total) $1,750 / yr
Crosstrek AWD 2L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) 28 MPG 33 MPG 30 MPG — $2,050 / yr
Crosstrek AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) 27 MPG 34 MPG 29 MPG — $2,100 / yr
Crosstrek AWD 2L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 22 MPG 29 MPG 25 MPG — $2,450 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
Electric Range & Charging: The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek provides an official EPA-rated driving range of up to 17 miles on a single battery charge.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SW AWD 15.6%
Hybrid SW AWD —
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 Subaru Crosstrek models.
View complete 2021 Subaru Crosstrek crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?

Summary of 115 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
115
Crash Reports
8
Fire Reports
2
Complaints w/ Injury
4
Total Injuries
6

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Visibility & Wipers 26 complaints
Engine 10 complaints (1 crash)
Electrical System 8 complaints
Powertrain 8 complaints (2 crashes)
Forward Collision Avoidance 5 complaints (2 crashes)

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2021 Subaru Crosstrek problems & component breakdown (41 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #23V755000 Active Recall
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
NHTSA Campaign #23V080000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles. The harness terminal that supplies low-voltage power from the converter to the 12-Volt battery may corrode and break, preventing the 12-Volt battery from charging.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will replace the converter terminal mounting bracket. If corrosion is found on the terminals, the 12-Volt output harness and terminals will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 12, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-23.
View all 2021 Subaru Crosstrek recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

How many safety recalls does the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek have?

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is associated with 2 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 2 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?

NHTSA records list 115 consumer defect complaints for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Visibility & Wipers, appearing in 26 filings (23% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2021 Subaru Crosstrek defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 1 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek range from 25 to 30 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.