There is a grinding noise coming from one of my wheels . I'm pretty sure it's a bad wheel bearing . Noticed the noise after braking very hard to avoid a collision .have had the SUV looked at test driven by an independent mechanic . He believes it is the wheel bearing
2016 Subaru Crosstrek steering problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 13 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Subaru Crosstrek in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2016 Crosstrek has documented power steering electrical failures that can strike without warning, even during highway driving, leaving owners unable to steer safely. Additional recurring issues include stuck ignition keys requiring multiple shift cycles to release, CV axle clicking that leads to premature replacement, and a stuck-cylinder park lock mechanism that dealers acknowledge as common but have not permanently fixed.
Owners of 2016 Crosstrek models report multiple steering-related failures, most alarming being sudden loss of power steering with no warning while driving highway speeds. One owner's entire electrical system failed in freezing conditions—lights dimmed, power steering cut out, engine shut down, and the vehicle could not be shifted into park, forcing rollback down a hill. Several other owners describe power steering loss on cold startup lasting anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes, with steering warning lights illuminating. A dealership has replaced the electronic control module (twice), power steering rack, relief valve, and electric oil pump across multiple service visits without permanently resolving the issue. The factory recall for alternator problems covers 2017+ models but excludes the 2016, despite owners reporting identical symptoms. One owner's entire steering system was replaced along with an 80-amp fuse, yet failure still occurred while the vehicle was off—creating a dangerous precedent.
Separate complaints detail a stuck ignition key requiring the vehicle to be restarted and shifted from Park to Drive and back to Park repeatedly before removal is possible. Dealers acknowledge this as a known common problem with an available fix (sticky park lock cylinder) but owners report the issue persists unresolved.
Front CV axles are clicking loudly during turns on multiple vehicles at 67,000 miles, requiring full axle replacement despite no accident or road damage. One owner paid nearly $600 out-of-pocket because the failure was deemed outside warranty coverage.
Same Subaru Crosstrek steering reports on nearby years: 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering electrical failure / loss of function
Complete or partial loss of power steering capability, often on cold start or during operation, caused by electrical system issues including alternator failure, ECM malfunction, or battery discharge. Owners report steering wheel lockup, inability to turn, or temporary loss lasting seconds to minutes.
When: On startup (most common), during highway driving, after sitting. One case at 40,076 miles. Complaint #1 in below-freezing conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks or becomes difficult to turn; Complete loss of power steering with no warning; Partial power steering loss lasting seconds to 15 minutes; Steering warning light illuminates; Vehicle lights dim or go out; Engine shuts off
Codes mentioned: C2532, Multiple error codes (complaint #1)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced ECM twice (electronic control module, then new/improved version), power steering rack, relief valve, electric oil pump, steering system (rack and connectors), and 80-amp fuse on positive terminal. Multiple repair attempts (up to 5 visits) have not resolved issue in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru recalls alternator in 2017+ Crosstrek but NOT 2016 model. Subaru dealer advised continued service visits despite prior failed repairs. No TSB or warranty program mentioned for 2016 model.
Sticky shift interlock / key stuck in ignition
Key cannot be removed from ignition when vehicle is in Park and turned off. Owner must cycle vehicle back on, shift from Park to Drive then back to Park to release key. Dealer acknowledges this as a known common problem with a fix available, attributed to sticky park lock cylinder mechanism.
When: Recurring issue; one case began in 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not come out of ignition when in Park; Requires shifting from Park to Drive and back to Park multiple times to release key; Key release intermittent
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru dealer acknowledges as a known, common problem. Identified as sticky park lock cylinder or sticky plate cylinder. Fix is available per dealer but not detailed in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer states this is a known problem with available fix, but no recall or TSB mentioned. No warranty information provided.
CV axle clicking and premature failure
Loud clicking noise from front axles (left and/or right side) during turns at any speed. Two cases required replacement of both front left and right axles at relatively low mileage with no accident or pothole impact history.
When: At 67,000 miles (complaint #7). One case beginning in 2019 (complaint #8).
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clicking noise when steering left or right; Clicking occurs on both sides; Clicking during slow turns and highway turns
Repairs/costs cited: Both front left and right axles replaced at 67,000 miles (complaint #7). Owner paid for repair; no warranty coverage mentioned.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No TSB or recall mentioned.
Wheel bearing failure / grinding noise
Grinding or heavy noise from wheel, suspected to be wheel bearing failure. Occurred after hard braking to avoid collision. Independent mechanic confirmed wheel bearing diagnosis.
When: After hard braking incident
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise from wheel; Noise increases or occurs during braking
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosis only; no dealer repair documented in narrative.
CVT valve body defect
CVT valve body diagnosed as defective. Triggered multiple warning lights including transmission oil, hill assist, ABS, traction control, and stability control. Complaint notes this was discovered during brake light switch recall service.
Symptoms owners cite: A/T OIL EMP warning light; HILL ASSIST warning light; ABS warning light; TRACTION CONTROL warning light; STABILITY CONTROL warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Valve body available for inspection; repair status not documented in narrative.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Discovered during Brake Light Switch recall service
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
While driving at night around curves at about 15-20 MPH the steering wheel kind of locked, and could not go back straight. Had to stop, turn the car off in order to the steering wheel feel normal. It did it a couple of times, also while parking it made like a clicking noise by the front passenger wheel. Had it fix, Subaru replace relief valve, electric oil pump. Even though Subaru is at fault,…
Had steering trouble with your 2016 Subaru Crosstrek?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 28,052 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Subaru/Crosstrek.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.