This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Subaru Crosstrek electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 38,182 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Crosstrek | 32 |
| 2017 Crosstrek (this page) | 15 |
| 2018 Crosstrek | 29 |
| 2019 Crosstrek | 44 |
| 2020 Crosstrek | 8 |
| 2021 Crosstrek | 11 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 15 electrical complaints filed for the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin contains information to help when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for 2026 model year vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20 with gen 4 Telematics.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek report several electrical issues. The most common complaint is a stuck ignition key that won't pull out when the car is in Park and turned off. Owners describe having to repeatedly shift into and out of Park, sometimes cycling the ignition to ACC or Start, before the key releases—sometimes taking 9+ attempts. This happens intermittently at first, then escalates in frequency. Owners mention an existing TSB for CVT transmission models, though non-CVT owners report the same problem. Dealers have been unable or unwilling to reproduce it during diagnostic visits.
A second major issue is sudden engine shutdown while driving. One owner reported the engine dying at 45 mph with all dashboard warning lights illuminating; the car restarted normally after stopping. Another reported complete brake failure in rain at 35 mph—the brake pedal didn't engage, the vehicle collided with another car, and the EyeSight collision-avoidance system failed to stop the vehicle. The airbag didn't deploy.
Battery drain is also reported: one owner's battery died three times in two months; each jump-start lasted only three days, forcing daily starts or regular jump-starting.
Minor electrical issues include a driver's window rolling down by itself after being raised, a non-functioning fuel low warning chime (described as sharp and barely audible), and an infotainment system that freezes and becomes unresponsive. Check Engine light remains on even after sensor repairs.
Same Subaru Crosstrek electrical reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Stuck ignition key (Park lock switch failure)
Key cannot be removed from ignition when vehicle is in Park and powered off. Requires multiple cycles of shifting and restarting to release key.
When: Intermittent, escalating in frequency; reported at 6,000–40,000 miles; one owner notes happening 50% of the time after several months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Key locked in ignition; Requires repeated shifting into/out of Park to release key; Sometimes requires cycling ignition through ACC or Start position; May require 1–9 attempts to achieve release
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB exists for CVT transmission models; Subaru has not issued recall for non-CVT models. Dealers have stated repairs would be customer-paid; some dealers unable to reproduce issue during diagnostic visits.
Sudden engine shutdown while driving
Engine loses power unexpectedly during normal driving. Vehicle coasts to a stop and restarts without intervention.
When: At 45 mph during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Engine cuts out suddenly; All dashboard warning lights illuminate; Vehicle coasts safely to shoulder; Restarts normally after stopping
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership instructed customer to continue driving and report if problem recurs before performing diagnostic.
Brake failure with EyeSight collision-avoidance malfunction
Complete loss of braking function in rain conditions. Collision-avoidance system (EyeSight) failed to engage. Resulted in crash into rear of another vehicle.
When: At 15,000 miles, while driving at 35 mph in rain
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal unresponsive to driver input; Vehicle did not decelerate; EyeSight system did not activate; Airbag did not deploy on impact; Vehicle collided with rear of second vehicle; front end severely damaged
Battery drain
Battery loses charge rapidly, requiring jump-start to restart vehicle. Charge does not hold.
When: After three days of inactivity; reported as recurring three times in two months
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dies after 3 days of inactivity; Vehicle will not start without jump-start; Requires daily starts or regular jump-starting to maintain charge
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no fault was found.
Driver-side window auto-descent
Driver's window rolls down on its own immediately after being manually raised.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Window rolls down without driver input; Occurs immediately after raising window; Requires 5+ minutes of fighting control to keep window up
Fuel low warning chime malfunction
Fuel low warning chime produces incorrect sound and is inaudible.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Chime is sharp/staccato rather than normal alert; Barely audible volume
Infotainment system freezing
Touchscreen becomes unresponsive and system freezes intermittently.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Touchscreen unresponsive; System glitches constantly; Cannot access apps, navigation, or Starlink
Check Engine light with cruise control malfunction
Check Engine light remains on; cruise control non-functional with blinking light. Persists despite sensor repairs.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light on; Cruise control light blinks; Cruise control does not function; Symptoms persist after catalytic converter and O2 sensor replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports catalytic converter and O2 sensors were replaced; issue not resolved.
Shift interlock failure (rolling vehicle)
Vehicle rolls even when in Park, or does not remain securely in Park without parking brake engaged.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls in Park without E-brake engaged; Requires manual E-brake use every time to prevent rolling; Vehicle rolled while owner was unstrapping child
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
More often than not, the key cannot be removed from the ignition when the car is tuned off and in park. Constantly need to restart the car and play around with the shifter. This has been happening for over a month. Car is less than three years old and has 40k miles on it. Ganley Subaru of bedford has said any repair would need to be paid for out of pocket.
Check engine light is on and cruise control light blinks. Cannot use cruise control. Its a 2017 crosstrek. Took it to dealer twice. They thought it was catalytic convertor or o2 sensors which were fixed but lights remain on
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Subaru crosstrek. Intermittently, the contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition while the ignition was in the off position and the gear shift selector was in park. The vehicle was taken to palm springs Subaru (located at 67925 e palm canyon dr, cathedral city, ca 92234, (760) 318-4700) to be diagnosed, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure.…
Had electrical trouble with your 2017 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 electrical problem on the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 18,000 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 38,182. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,000; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2017/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.