FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD
The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD has 5 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 193 owner complaints, and gets about 29 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
SPECS
2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD at a glance
- Engine
- 4-cyl 2L
- Cylinders
- 4
- Displacement
- 2 L
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (AV-S7)
- Body
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Fuel
- Regular
Source: EPA / NHTSA vPIC, as of July 9, 2026.
SAFETY RECALLS · NHTSA
5 openEngine And Engine Cooling
17/10/2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUP-01.
Suspension
15/04/2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will retorque and replace any missing bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21.
Electrical System
15/04/2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software, replace the ignition coils and, if necessary, the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 1, 2021. Owners can contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-21. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously repaired under Recall 19V743.
Electrical System
18/10/2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, which could result in a short circuit and blown fuse.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software and inspect and replace the ignition coil, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, on vehicles with confirmed ignition coil damage and a certain stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC), Subaru will replace the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUQ-02.
Service Brakes
07/11/2017
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Crosstrek vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect floor mat retention bracket, allowing the floor mat to move out of position and interfere with the accelerator or brake pedal operation.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the floor mat retention bracket and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTR-77.
NHTSA has opened one or more investigations covering this model. Recalls can follow an investigation, so check NHTSA for the latest before you buy.
Open safety recalls are free to fix at any franchised dealer. What recalls mean → Source: NHTSA recalls, as of July 9, 2026. Recalls can be issued any time, confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
OWNER COMPLAINTS · NHTSA
193 filed- 57
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The front windshield spontaneously developed a crack about 5 inches long which later suddenly increased to about 15 inches in length. It is our understanding that this problem has occurred in the windshields of other Subaru models. The inte
- 32
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2018 Subaru Crosstrek rapidly accelerated unexpectedly while pulling into a parking space with the foot on the brake. Hit a concrete pole and sustained vehicle damage and injuries.
- 28
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3/3!2026 while driving heat stop working. Called Milea Saburu spoke to Christian made an appointment for 3/5/2026 they had nothing sooner. Told her what happened. Brought in they gave me loaner 12 days later on 3/18/2026 pick up car. Pai
- 15
ENGINE
Dangerous stall in traffic due to ignition coil failure. Ignition coils and spark plugs were replaced during the WRE21 recall campaign only 13k miles ago back in 2021. Stopped at red light awaiting to turn left when the vehicle started sh
- 13
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle was maintained by dealer and out of the blue, started bucking intermittently while driving resulting in an unsafe driving experience. took it to the dealer to evaluate, told us, "They could change the transmission fluid and filter t
- 9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to immediately respond before abruptly accelerating forward. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent.
Problems owners reported to the government, useful for spotting patterns, not proof any one car has them. What complaints mean → Source: NHTSA complaints, as of July 9, 2026. Owner-submitted reports, not verified diagnoses.
CRASH-TEST RATINGS · NHTSA NCAP
- Overall
- ★★★★★
- Frontal
- ★★★★☆
- Side
- ★★★★★
- Rollover
- ★★★★☆
Government crash tests of this model; not every trim or year is tested. Source: NHTSA NCAP, as of July 9, 2026.
FUEL & RUNNING COST · U.S. EPA
- Combined
- 29 mpg
- City / Hwy
- 27 / 33
- Est. fuel / yr
- $2,150
- CO₂ / mi
- 301 g
EPA lab estimates; real mpg varies by how you drive. Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov, as of July 9, 2026. Annual cost assumes 15,000 mi/yr at EPA's reference price.
All figures above come from free U.S. government sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, investigations, crash tests) and the EPA (fuel economy and specs). We don't show market price, insurance cost, or proprietary reliability scores, because there's no free, reliable public source for them. For a verdict on a specific listing, with a fair-offer number and what to ask the seller, that's the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Confirm the recalls were fixed
This model has 5 open NHTSA recalls (including the engine and engine cooling). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
Have a mechanic check the visibility/wiper
Owners report problems with the visibility/wiper more than anything else on this model. Call it out specifically during a pre-purchase inspection.
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
-
Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
-
Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
-
Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
Quick answers
What is recalled on the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD? +
NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD, including the engine and engine cooling. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD get? +
The EPA rates the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD at 29 mpg combined (27 city / 33 highway), about $2,150 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD? +
Owners have filed 193 complaints with NHTSA for the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD, including 10 involving a crash. The most-reported area is visibility/wiper.
MORE SUBARU RESEARCH
FREE IN THE APP
Comparing a few cars? Save the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD and line it up against the others in the app.
No account. Saving and comparing cars is free; the per-listing report is $3.99.
THE FULL BUYER'S REPORT · $3.99
Found a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek AWD for sale?
The research above is free. The app takes a screenshot of one real listing and returns a verdict, a fair-offer number, the red flags specific to that car, a walk-away floor, and a message you can send the seller, word for word.