2018 Subaru Crosstrek: What to check before buying

Windshields crack with no impact. Cracks appear while the car sits parked, on cold mornings with the defroster running, or at highway speed. A small crack then spreads quickly across the glass. Some owners report repeat cracks, including on dealer-installed replacements. On cars with EyeSight, the glass must be replaced rather than repaired, and the camera must be recalibrated. Replacements are sometimes not in stock, and one dealer quote reached $1,400. A few reports describe wipers that vibrate and leave water on the glass at highway speed, and one describes a sunroof shattering on its own.

Windshields crack without any impact. Owners find vertical or long cracks on parked cars, or watch a small crack form while driving at around 50 mph. Cracks then grow over the following weeks and can block the driver's view. Reported mileages run from about 9,500 to 80,000. Dealers usually cannot explain the cause, and at least one declined warranty coverage. Some owners also say the glass chips unusually easily from minor highway debris.

Battery drain is the main pattern. Batteries go dead after the car sits for a few days, and several new batteries do not fix it. One dealer traced a parasitic drain to the DCM. Radios freeze or keep playing after shutdown. Starters fail early when an internal clutch gives out, and a service bulletin covers the problem. Less common: stalling at speed fixed with an ignition fuse, ECM replacement after the check engine, traction and cruise lights came on, and all four tire pressure sensors failing at 69,000 miles.

Hesitation and stumbling around 2,000 rpm under light throttle is the most common complaint, and owners call it most dangerous when merging. Some engines stall when pulling into intersections. Several reports center on recalls: an ignition coil inspection with ECM reprogramming, and a PCV valve campaign. Some owners say the recall did not cure the stalling. Others waited on backordered recall parts. In one PCV failure the car was stranded on the highway and the engine had to come out for cleanup. A starter that spins without engaging, rev hang on manual upshifts, and high oil temperatures also appear.

Bucking, shuddering and jerking under light acceleration are the core complaints. Owners place them roughly between 1,700 and 3,000 rpm, and dealers often cannot reproduce the problem. Stalling at low speed and in stop-and-go traffic also appears, starting within the first few thousand miles. Three reports involve crashes: a stall followed by a rear-end hit, a stall on a snowy hill with check engine and AWD lights on, and sudden acceleration while parking. Other reports describe a jerky CVT, a clunking center differential that needed replacement, and a car that moved forward in reverse.

Sudden, unintended acceleration is the headline problem. Cars lunge forward at stops or while parking, sometimes with the driver's foot on the brake, and hit vehicles or walls. Four of the 9 complaints involve crashes, and in one, EyeSight braking did not step in. Owners also report idle surging after startup, a delay in throttle response followed by an abrupt surge, and weak acceleration during a turn that led to a collision. Dealers usually find no fault. Separate reports describe the engine shutting off at highway speed and adaptive cruise failing to detect a white truck ahead.

Most reports here are windshield cracks that appear without impact, while driving or parked. One car is on its third windshield. One owner describes the sunroof glass exploding while driving on a clear day. Body complaints include paint chipping and rust-like rough spots along the top of the windshield frame. Front door drain holes sit away from the rear corner, so water pools inside the doors when the car is parked facing uphill. Washer nozzles and the pump also malfunction after replacement.

The engine shuts off while driving, taking power steering with it. Owners describe near-collisions and a hard fight to reach the shoulder. In one case Subaru engineers found a fault with no repair procedure yet available. The steering lock also engages when the car is parked with the wheel turned and then refuses to release with the key, so owners need outside help. Other reports cover heavy steering in a limp-home state with warning lights on, and a popping noise during tight turns that the dealer could not hear.

The driver seat comes loose and rocks back and forth. Reported causes include broken welds on the seat bracket and a failed mounting bolt. Repairs ranged from a new bolt to a new seat base. The problem returns in some cars, appearing at 11,000 miles and again at 25,800 in one case. At 51,000 miles one owner was denied warranty coverage. A rocking seat can shift the driver forward under braking and add unintended pedal pressure. One report also describes the infotainment system cutting out and coming back at high volume.