2021 Subaru Crosstrek Electrical Problems

Your car lost all engine power while being driven on the road, with warning lights appearing on the dashboard. The dealer first diagnosed a battery failure and replaced it, but the problem happened again. On the second visit, they found a head gasket failure, which can cause the engine to lose power and overheat. Fixing this will require replacing the head gasket, which is a major engine repair involving removing parts of the engine to access the gasket seal.

Your car unexpectedly lost power to accelerate on two separate occasions while driving in traffic, forcing you to coast to a safe stop. The second incident occurred at higher speed in heavy traffic, creating a serious safety hazard. Subaru service was unable to reproduce, diagnose, or fix the problem after a week of inspection, leaving the issue unresolved. This could involve troubleshooting the fuel system, electrical connections to the engine, or the engine control computer to identify why power is being lost.

The USB ports under your dashboard that connect to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay lose connection intermittently — sometimes dropping every 60-90 seconds or not connecting until you restart the head unit. This causes driver distraction when you're trying to reconnect, especially dangerous when using GPS navigation. The problem isn't solved by replacing the USB cable or trying a different phone, and it's specific to these ports since the same cables and phones work fine with other USB ports. Getting the USB ports inspected and potentially replaced by your Subaru dealer is likely needed to resolve the connection issues.

Your car unexpectedly shut off while driving and wouldn't restart, with several warning lights appearing on the dashboard. The dealer diagnosed a failed battery as the cause at 27,000 miles. The battery will likely need to be replaced to restore normal operation.

In early November 2023, NHTSA Recall Number23V755000 was issued for my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. I was not notified by NHTSA or Subaru even though none of my contact info has changed since buying this new vehicle. I believe that this creates a potential safety issue if owners are not made aware. I found out through Carfax in early January 2024.

I was driving my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek slowly in a parking lot when it unexpectedly accelerated on its own without me pressing the gas pedal. I believe the Crosstrek was now going 40mph. I tried to shut off the engine and brake at the same time but neither one had any effect. I thought maybe I had two options. Either hit another vehicle or pedestrian or turn my car into the curb. I decided to turn into the curb which resulted in the breaking of both axels, flattening all the tires, and sustaining damage to the front fender and headlight. The car was then towed to a garage we’re it was declared totaled. I checked the internet to see if this had occurred to any other Crosstrek. It turns out their is a class action suit pending for the same reason. Police records will show I was not drunk, sleeping, and the car mat was off gas pedal.12

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that the battery was drained quickly, causing the battery to need frequent recharging. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the replacement was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was 1,300.

The main battery drained completely while parked, once when left overnight, and once while on an errand for 30 minutes only. AAA jump-started car first time and Subaru Roadside Assistance the second. First incident was mid January 2022 when the new car had been in my possession for only 5 weeks (Dec 3 2021). Second incident happened one month later on February 5 2022. Subaru had no explanations other than I might have left doors open. In the second occurrence that was most definitely NOT true as I am now extra careful to turn everything electrical off and check all doors are fully closed. Being stranded alone on the roadside is not something I am in any way comfortable with.

The battery dies completely, seemingly under colder conditions. In the first case it was after 6 days of not turning the car on, however the next time it happened after only a day and a half of not turning on the vehicle. The vehicle is only a few months old so the battery or other cause of the dead battery (eg alternator) are only a few months in use.