2016 Subaru Crosstrek steering problems
13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the steering on the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek — 10% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The CVT valve body was diagnosed as defective by the Subaru Dealership service department. The car was taken to the dcealership when the A/T OIL EMP, HILL ASSIST, ABS and TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL lights came up. The valve body is still available for inspection. The car was taken to the…”
filed Apr 29, 2025
“On Jan 7th, during rush-hour traffic on the highway, without any warning all of my vehicle lights began to dim. The power steering and brakes went out. I was able to steer to the side of the road. Then, all of the lights went out and the car shut off. I was unable to shift the vehicle into park…”
filed Jan 11, 2022
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
05-97-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 20, 2026
Steering problems in other Crosstrek years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Crosstrek | 3 | 7% |
| 2024 Crosstrek | 9 | 8% |
| 2022 Crosstrek | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 Crosstrek | 3 | 3% |
| 2019 Crosstrek | 15 | 5% |
| 2018 Crosstrek | 6 | 3% |
| 2017 Crosstrek | 5 | 5% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.