Most common 2015 Subaru Crosstrek problems
Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Crosstrek complaints by model year
Best Crosstrek years: 2014, 2015, 2022. Years to avoid: 2018, 2016, 2024, 2019, 2017. Compare all years →
2015 Subaru Crosstrek recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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.
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.
What 2015 Subaru Crosstrek owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
I have random but consistent problems with my 2015 Subaru Crosstrek in regards to the CVT, stalling and acceleration issues. I have complained to the dealership on many occasions. When coming to a stop and then accelerating again it feels as if the car is about to stall and in some situations I felt it did for a second. Its a very frightening situation when merging into traffic or driving defensively and the car just doesn't respond. I have come very close to being hit because the car did not respond. Another way to explain it is this: when starting from a complete stop, its like the car shifts from 1st to 4th in a split second and the car fails to accelerate and it takes about 5 seconds for the car to respond and slowly pick up speed like it was accelerating starting in the wrong gear (4th). I have been dealing with this for over 2 years now and I'd like to get this fixed asap. …
Car stalled and died while driving on freeway traveling 75mph. Felt like the transmission shifted into a low gear and the RPM's revved. Car immediately lost power and fortunately I was able to safely move to freeway shoulder. Car would not start and had to be towed but all electrical still functioned. I was low on gas but not out. I was on freeway at 11:30 pm just outside detroit when this occurred. Ridiculously unsafe. Vehicle is currently at dealer and will be looked at 8/14/2018. Incident 8/9/2018. Exact same symptoms happened to the same vehicle 6 months ago. Car died on freeway traveling 75mph, RPM's revved, got safely to shoulder. Vehicle towed. Car started next morning and no error codes found. Even more compelling, the engine died 3 other times while driving at least 45mph, same sensation of engine going into lower gear, RPM's increased to 5000+, car dies, electrical works. …
Engine & cooling
Car stalled and died while driving on freeway traveling 75mph. Felt like the transmission shifted into a low gear and the RPM's revved. Car immediately lost power and fortunately I was able to safely move to freeway shoulder. Car would not start and had to be towed but all electrical still functioned. I was low on gas but not out. I was on freeway at 11:30 pm just outside detroit when this occurred. Ridiculously unsafe. Vehicle is currently at dealer and will be looked at 8/14/2018. Incident 8/9/2018. Exact same symptoms happened to the same vehicle 6 months ago. Car died on freeway traveling 75mph, RPM's revved, got safely to shoulder. Vehicle towed. Car started next morning and no error codes found. Even more compelling, the engine died 3 other times while driving at least 45mph, same sensation of engine going into lower gear, RPM's increased to 5000+, car dies, electrical works. …
I was driving on the interstate going 75 MPH, passing another vehicle, when the car rapidly lost speed and revved to 5500 RPM. The vehicle continued to lose speed and would not respond when I pressed down on the accelerator. I had to quickly pull to the left shoulder. Luckily, the car behind me was paying attention and was able to slow down and not hit us. I turned the car off and luckily the vehicle did restart. My fuel light had just turned on minutes before this but I still had 60 miles to go before empty. I was planning on exiting to refuel before this happened. I still do not know what caused this to occur. I left a message with the dealership and I am awaiting a return phone call to have the vehicle assessed.
Brakes
I was driving on a 2 lane highway going 55mph. My knee bumped the steering column and at that moment the dash went blank, I lost power steering and brakes. I was able to pull over onto the shoulder before the steering locked up. I had no idea what had just happened. After awhile I discovered the car would restart and drove the remaining 20 miles home with no problem. It wasn't until I called the dealer the next day and looked online that I realized what had happened. I'm short , 5'1' and had the steering column at the lowest position and the seat forward. I've moved the column to the next setting higher and believe this problem is now unlikely to recur. The lowest column position should be eliminated . Dangerous!!
Sometimes when pushing the brake pedal the ABS light comes on and will not allow the car to shift from park. Other times May come on while driving. The car only has 25K miles on it. I don't want to drive anywhere and get stuck there nor do I need a brake problem in snow as I live in new york state. After reading online it seems to be not an uncommon issue but more importantly it is a safety issue. After shutting the car on and off multiple times the ABS light goes out and the car is then able to shift. Again I don't need to worry about my personal safety or safety of the passengers in my car.
2015 Subaru Crosstrek engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | AWD | 29 / 33 / 31 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | AWD | 26 / 33 / 29 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | AWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Subaru Crosstrek a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Crosstrek rates better than average: 69% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Crosstrek at the same age. It is one of the best Crosstrek years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Subaru Crosstrek?
The transmission & drivetrain — 6 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 2015 Subaru Crosstrek have?
There is 1 recall for the 2015 Subaru Crosstrek, the most recent from February 28, 2019 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Crosstrek?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2015 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2018, 2016, 2024, 2019 and 2017. See the full Subaru Crosstrek years comparison.
At what mileage do 2015 Subaru Crosstrek problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 44% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.