Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Subaru Crosstrek
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 115 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V755000 Switch Failure May Cause Loss of Rearview Image NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 29 complaints
- Unknown or Other 25 complaints
- Electrical System 16 complaints
- Engine 16 complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 14 complaints
- Power Train 14 complaints
Of the 115 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 115 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek demonstrates an average reliability rating. While there's a notable recall related to the transmission inhibitor switch, the distribution of owner complaints across various systems suggests no overwhelming single point of failure.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| wiper system | 20,000–40,000 miles | $150–$300 | very common |
| engine | 30,000–50,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| transmission switch | 40,000–60,000 miles | $400–$800 | occasional |
| electrical system | 30,000–50,000 miles | $100–$500 | occasional |
| forward collision avoidance | 50,000–70,000 miles | $250–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 6,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Tire rotation every 7,500 miles
- Spark plug replacement at 60,000 miles
- Transmission fluid check annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Intermittent wiper failure
- Delayed engine start
- Dashboard warning lights
- Transmission slipping
- Steering wheel vibrations
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.