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2020 Subaru Crosstrek Electrical Problems

6 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

6
Complaints
Mar 2026Nov 2021
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (6)

criticalELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Mar 2026

Your car's starter fails when the auto-stop system turns off the engine at a stop, leaving you unable to restart the vehicle. When this happens, your brake pressure drops significantly, which can cause your car to roll unexpectedly—the owner reported rolling into the car behind them. The problem occurs even with a new battery and happens on level ground, but the car starts normally when you turn off auto-stop and restart from a full ignition-off position, suggesting the auto-stop system itself is malfunctioning. Fixing this will likely require diagnosing and repairing or replacing the auto-stop system components and possibly the starter.

NHTSA #: 11725956
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2022

Car is a Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Car was connected to its electrical charge cable The connector is a type SAE J1772 When the connector is connected to the car, the ignition is supposed to be disabled, and the car is not supposed to be able to be removed from Park. Neither safety system was operable. When the car was moved, it broke the connector, exposing the bare pins. Hazard - potential exposure to electrocution or fire There is a small orange indicator on the display when the cable is connected. It should be RED, and it should inhibit the operation of the car.

NHTSA #: 11467690
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2021

Battery drains quickly.

NHTSA #: 11441155
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2021

If car sits unused for 2 or 3 days, the battery will have slowly drained down to the point where the car won't start. It seems that the car's internal electronics drains the battery down, even if the car isn't being operated. Even if the car is being operated, the battery is only charged up to about half of a full charge which contributes to the battery drain problem. The dealer says that the car should be started up every day to keep this problem from occurring, but that doesn't seem reasonable, and is practical if the car needs to be parked a few days at the airport.

NHTSA #: 11421689
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2021

MY CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER STOPPING TO VISIT A FRIEND. THE FRIEND WATCHED UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I PRESSED THE START BUTTON. HE SAW SPARKS FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD DRIVEN OVER 27 MILES THAT DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I MADE TOO MANY SHORT TRIPS. THEY OFFERED TO INSTALL A BATTERY CHARGER WHICH I DON'T FEEL SHOULD BE NECESSARY ON A BRAND NEW CAR.

NHTSA #: 11415012
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2020

WE HAD A REMOTE START INSTALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO ACCEPTING DELIVERY OF THE CAR. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO START. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP (SPORT SUBARU SOUTH IN ORLANDO FL) SENT A TECHNICIAN TO REPAIR THE CAR, RATHER THAN TOWING IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRING IT THERE. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE REMOTE START WAS DEFECTIVE AND REROUTED THE STARTING PROCEDURE. SINCE THEN, THE CAR MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE ON COLD STARTS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE REST OF THE REMOTE START COMPONENTS REMOVED, BUT THEY CLAIMED TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE SOUND. WE FEEL THESE REMOTE STARERS ARE UNSAFE AND LIKELY DAMAGING THE VEHICLE'S STARTER, AND POSSIBLY OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. WE HAVE VIDEO OF THE CAR NOT STARTING AND THE ENGINE NOISE.

NHTSA #: 11321959

Other 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Issues