IllustrationKEY STUCK IN IGNITION SWITCH WHILE IN PARK AND DOES NOT WANT TO COME OUT.
2016 Subaru Crosstrek
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Crosstrek years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek are substantially higher than the model-year median of 43.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Crosstrek years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
220–25K
3125–50K
1450–75K
575–100K
4100–150K
2150K+
78 reports with mileage · 53 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
131 reportsMY BATTERY KEEP DRAINING ALL THE TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE CHANGED 3 OF THEM. TWO OF THE BATTERY WERE STILL OKAY BUT I STILL CHANGED THEM. ALSO, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD KEEP ON AND OFF WITHOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL AND I ALSO MENTIO…
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MY BATTERY KEEP DRAINING ALL THE TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE CHANGED 3 OF THEM. TWO OF THE BATTERY WERE STILL OKAY BUT I STILL CHANGED THEM. ALSO, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD KEEP ON AND OFF WITHOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL AND I ALSO MENTION THE PROBLEM TO THEM BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. FEW DAYS LATER, I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND SAID THE CAR NEED TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY TRANSMISSION WHICH I DOUBT THAT MY CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I ALSO HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SUBARU HAVE THAT SAME ISSUE. I PERSONALLY USED TO OWN THE SUBARU BRZ AND THAT CAR ALSO HAS THE PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND THE DEALER JUST REPLACED IT FOR ME.
WHEN TURNING CLICKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM WHEEL AREA. CAR HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES. WHEN I TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHECK MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT FOR ME. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE PASSENGER CV AXLE.
2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK DRIVING WENT TO PARK KEY GOT STUCK IN IGNITION COULD NOT TAKE IT OUT CANT UNDERSTAND WHY SO MANY PROBLEMS AND NO RECALLS
I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND I TRY TO TURN MY CAR OFF THE KEY TURNS HALF WAY AND STOPS. I CAN'T GET THE KEY OUT. I TRY AGAIN BY TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES THAT WORKS. SOMETIMES PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE AND AND THEN PARK AGAIN WORKS. IT IS BECOMING A PROBLEM MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. IT CAN TAKE UP TO 3 MINUTES OF FIDGETING T…
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I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND I TRY TO TURN MY CAR OFF THE KEY TURNS HALF WAY AND STOPS. I CAN'T GET THE KEY OUT. I TRY AGAIN BY TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES THAT WORKS. SOMETIMES PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE AND AND THEN PARK AGAIN WORKS. IT IS BECOMING A PROBLEM MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. IT CAN TAKE UP TO 3 MINUTES OF FIDGETING TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION.
OUT OF GAS WITH 3 BARS SHOWING...TWICE *TR *BF*JB
WHILE PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. IT TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE KEY TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH "FAILURE TO PARK POSITION, AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MICRO SWITCH PLATE" WITH A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $8…
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WHILE PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. IT TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE KEY TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH "FAILURE TO PARK POSITION, AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MICRO SWITCH PLATE" WITH A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $800.00 DOLLARS. *TR
WHILE PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. IT TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE KEY TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND SUBARU HAS YET TO ISSUE A NATIONAL RECALL. I HAVE ATTACHED A DOCUMENT THAT DETAILS THE PROBL…
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WHILE PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. IT TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE KEY TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND SUBARU HAS YET TO ISSUE A NATIONAL RECALL. I HAVE ATTACHED A DOCUMENT THAT DETAILS THE PROBLEM.
THE KET GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN PARK. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.
A/C COMPRESSOR HAS FAILED AND THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 80K MILES.
Official recalls
119V149000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Feb 28, 2019
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.