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BrakesPart report

2021 Subaru Crosstrek Brakes Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
3%of 115 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the brakes of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, 3% of the 115 complaints for this model year. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The car in front of me was about a two car's lengths away. It was very cold and that car's exhaust plume was larger than normal. The exhaust plume was highlighted by sunlight, and I believe my car thought it was an object. The auto braking system alerted and immediately slammed on the brakes in the middle of heavy traffic. There was no time for me to respond. Thankfully no one hit me. If I'd been on the highway it could have been catastrophic. The problem has not been reproduced or inspected.”

NHTSA complaint #11736429, filed 2026-05

“In the winter of 2021-22, while parallel parking, backing up, then pressing the brake, my Crosstrek spontaneously accelerated in reverse and rammed into the truck already parked behind me. The Crosstrek paused, then rammed again, as I pressed harder on the brake. I put the car into “park” and turned off the engine. I was baffled and had no explanation for what happened. Thank goodness a person wasn’t between my Crosstrek and the truck. More recently, on October 4, 2022, I was at the post office mailbox drop-off. My Crosstrek was stopped with my foot on the brake. …”

NHTSA complaint #11492507, filed 2022-11

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202619%
202512%
2024119%
2023411%
2022413%
202143%
202023%
201972%
201832%
201766%
201654%
2015318%
2014213%
201328%

Other parts of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
33 complaints
Other or unknown
26 complaints
Electrical system
16 complaints
Engine
16 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
14 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
14 complaints
Lane departure
5 complaints
Fuel system
4 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
3 complaints
Seats
3 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Body and structure
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology