Showing the 2016 Crosstrek Premium. NHTSA's VIN data shows it with a 2.0 L engine, but that may not be every version of it, so the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
26–31 mpgcombined; city 23–29, highway 30–33; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$10,480–$12,490U.S. average; Ohio $9,360–$11,160 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2016 Crosstrek. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Crosstrek. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical system
38
3
1
0
Unknown or other
35
0
1
0
Power train
19
1
0
0
Engine
15
0
2
0
Steering
14
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
8
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
6
0
0
0
Service brakes
5
0
0
0
Structure
5
0
0
0
Suspension
5
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
5
0
0
0
Air bags
4
1
1
1
7 more parts
Wheels
3
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
1
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
2
0
0
0
Seats
2
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2016 Crosstrek over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 371 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2016 Crosstrek, the latest on Oct 5, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (167), equipment (135), power train (41), unknown or other (27), engine and engine cooling (24).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2016 Crosstrek.
See used 2016 Subaru Crosstreks for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 6–7 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
XV Crosstrek All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S6)
Regular Gasoline
26 / 33 / 29
XV Crosstrek All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 30 / 26
XV Crosstrek Hybrid All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S6)
Regular Gasoline
29 / 33 / 31
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data