Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2019 Subaru Crosstrek owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the vehicle decelerated and lost drive power. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road, where the vehicle completely shut off and lost power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with battery failure. The battery was replaced; however, the following morning, while attempting to start the vehicle, there was no electrical power to the vehicle. The Hybrid System Check error message was displayed. The contact researched and found information related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V080000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that there was corrosion on the battery. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. …
I sent my Crosstrek to the dealer for the WRE21 recall. After retrieving the car from the dealership with the recall fix in place, the engine stalled while I was at a red light and I could see smoke coming out from the hood. This occurred after driving less than 4 miles from the dealership. I opened the hood and could see that one of the coil packs on the driver side cylinder bank was on fire. I called 911 and the Fire Department had to extinguish the fire. The fire has rendered the vehicle inoperable and smoke damaged.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving and stopping on a red light at around 25 mph, vehicle was shaking till it completely stalled. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic where it was diagnosed with ignition coil failure and pending repairs. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V743000 (Electrical System). The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,500.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal ringing sound coming from underneath the dashboard. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the ringing sound persisted. After the contact connected the Bluetooth, the ringing stopped. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 49,158.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the battery failed to remain charged. During the failure, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. No further information was available. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 100.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start which resulted in the battery needing to be replaced. The contact stated that the check battery message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
I received 2 recall notices in the mail from Subaru 0n 6/16/2021. I immediately contacted the selling dealer, Dunning Subaru, Ann Arbor Michigan and was advised that they could not even give me a date in July when the vehicle could be repaired, but they would add my name to a waiting list for appointments. I contacted Subaru customer service for assistance and was told I would have to find a local retailer on my own and that though they said the vehicle was not safe to drive, they refused to offer and substitute transportation until the vehicle could be repaired. I contacted LaFontaine Subaru, Commerce Twsp, Mi and was advised that they have been unable to order sufficient parts for this recall and while the earliest available appointment was for July 7th (3 weeks from today) they could not guarantee that they would have the parts on that date to actually perform the repair. …
Today my vehicle make a single click sound and the car rattle a little while driving on the highway and suddenly everything shut off. All my guages, lights, and I lost power on the vehicle. Within seconds I had power again and my guages came back on and I was able to continue on the highway safely. About 5 minutes later it did the same thing; click, shook and lost all power. Except this time the radio stayed on. Luckily I was driving downhill and was able to coast to the next offramp. I pulled over only being able to use the brakes and hazards. I had no turn signals or power. I was able to stop safety on the offramp and turn the engnition off. I started the car and everything started just fine. I drove on the main streets to my destination. At my destination, I checked the battery terminals and air filter, everything looked fine. …
The screen display with the oil temp gauge and water temp gauge will randomly turn off while driving as well as sometimes it will not turn on immediately when the car turns on. I have brought this to the dealers attention and nothing has been done, there has been no warning lights on the dash illuminated. This has been going on randomly for the last 6 months. Another issue is that when the bluetooth or carplay is inuse and there is a call in progress the digital speed display is blocked by a screen that says call in progress. This is very dangerous that the digital speed display is blocked when bluetooth or car play is used to make calls. This has many times resulted in me speeding as the speedometer on the car is marked well with tick marks for how big the arm is that tells you how fast you're going. There is no reason subaru should block the digital speed display. …
2019 Subaru Crosstrek; Battery is drained even when car is fully turned "off". If the car is not driven every day, battery may drain completely and car won't start. If not driven for several days, battery will discharge so low that it is damaged, in which case it may not have sufficient charge to start the car after sitting overnight. After battery is discharged to the point of damage, it must be trickle charged anytime the vehicle is not driven, and even short periods and distances of driving will leave the battery at 25% (or less) of fully charged. Battery replacement is the only way to restore normal operation, but the replacement battery is gradually degraded and ruined just like the original. SOA has not recognized this parasitic battery drain problem in this vehicle. …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Software
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.
Electrical system › Software
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.
Electrical complaints in other Crosstrek years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?
NHTSA has 53 complaints about the electrical system of the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 19% of the model year's 285 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2019 Subaru Crosstrek electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-264 (software, Apr 15, 2021); NHTSA recall 19V-743 (software, Oct 18, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2019 Subaru Crosstrek electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 9,000 miles, and 76% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.