Showing the 2021 Crosstrek Base. We haven't verified this trim's engine; 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
25–35 mpgcombined; city 22–36, highway 29–35; every version of this model year; plug-in hybrid versions on gasoline, 90 MPGe on electricity
Five years of fuel
$10,830–$12,990U.S. average; Ohio $9,680–$11,610 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. Plug-in hybrid versions: $9,500, EPA's own estimate for plug-in hybrids: its national gasoline and electricity prices and the share of miles it expects on electricity; not priced for any state
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2021 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 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 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
Visibility/wiper
29
0
0
0
Unknown or other
25
0
0
0
Electrical system
17
1
0
0
Engine
17
1
2
1
Forward collision avoidance
14
2
1
2
Power train
14
2
0
0
Lane departure
5
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
4
1
1
0
Service brakes
4
1
0
1
Visibility
4
0
0
0
Back over prevention
3
0
0
0
Seats
3
1
0
2
8 more parts
Steering
3
0
0
0
Structure
3
0
0
0
Suspension
3
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
3
1
0
0
Air bags
2
1
0
2
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
I suspect the car seat is counterfeit
1
0
0
0
Seat belts
1
1
0
2
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 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 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. 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.
Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
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.
Risk: A 12-Volt battery that is unable to recharge can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 352 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2021 Crosstrek, the latest on Oct 5, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (215), equipment (118), engine (42), engine and engine cooling (35), power train (33).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Defect petition DP22005 Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes
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 2021 Crosstrek.
See used 2021 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: 5–9 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Crosstrek All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S8)
Regular Gasoline
28 / 33 / 30
Crosstrek All-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S8)
Regular Gasoline
27 / 34 / 29
Crosstrek All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 29 / 25
Crosstrek Hybrid All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline or Electricity 17 miles on electricity, 480 miles in all
36 / 35 / 35 on gasoline 90 MPGe on electricity
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