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#BS-2021-SUBCRO-68CB

2021 Subaru CrosstrekProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 162 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
162
Crashes
14
Fires
4
Recalls
1
TSBs
334
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 162 complaints, 14 crashes, 4 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

gps on bluetooth

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX
2

multiple stereo issues

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX
3

gear whining noise from powertrain

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
4

loud crack pop noise when reversing

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX
5

dcm failure

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the VisibilityHIGH

29 owners reported visibility issues — failures commonly reported around 6K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

17
0–30K
30–60K
4
60–90K
90–120K
2
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (17 reports) • Median: 6K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Visibility (29 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Visibility29 (18%)
Other25 (15%)
Engine16 (10%)
Electrical14 (9%)
Drivetrain12 (7%)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking10 (6%)
Collision Avoidance6 (4%)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control5 (3%)

2021 Subaru Crosstrek: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Visibility Issues

Visibility complaints account for 18% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, with 29 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 5,700 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 6K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, with 16 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

2
20
36
21
31
22
25
23
26
24
15
25
27
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. Recent trend: increasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

23V755000Jan 2024

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2021 Subaru Crosstrek NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

The worst model year for the Subaru Crosstrek is the 2019 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD)

This vehicle

162

Class avg

226

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicles from 2021.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 162 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Subaru Crosstrek Model Years

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012
View all Subaru Crosstrek years →

2021 Subaru Crosstrek: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is related to the visibility, with 29 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has 162 complaints, 14 crash reports, and 4 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How safe is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?
NHTSA rates the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Subaru Crosstrek problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Subaru Crosstrek problems start?
Based on 23 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 5,700 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 13, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 162 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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