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.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Subaru Crosstrek steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 3,800 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Crosstrek | 13 |
| 2017 Crosstrek | 5 |
| 2018 Crosstrek | 6 |
| 2019 Crosstrek (this page) | 15 |
| 2021 Crosstrek | 3 |
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of Subaru Crosstrek we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 15.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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 the design change made to the cowl panel. The change was made to address a small number of cases where the rubber sealing portion becomes separated.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the design change made to the leather wrapped steering wheels.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2019 model year Forester and Crosstrek vehicles to inspect and, if necessary, replace the power steering gear box. A total of 10,417 U.S. vehicles will be affected by this recall.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2019 model year Forester and Crosstrek vehicles to inspect and, if necessary, replace the power steering gear box. A total of 10,417 U.S. vehicles will be affected by this recall.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two dominant steering safety issues on 2019 Crosstreks. First is aggressive, unpredictable behavior from the lane-keep and lane-departure assist systems. Multiple owners describe abrupt steering corrections that jerk the car across lanes at highway speeds (50–75 MPH), sometimes violently enough to force them into adjacent lanes. One owner had to fight the wheel to avoid hitting semis; another disabled the system entirely after drifting off a country road at 50 MPH. Subaru's response has been to tell owners the behavior is normal and to turn the system off—which infuriates customers who bought the car specifically for that safety feature.
Second is intermittent failure of the electronic power steering (EPS) itself. One owner's dealership diagnosed an electrical fault in the EPS gearbox and duplicated it on a test drive; repair cost $2,000. Another experienced complete loss of power steering while the engine shut down and brakes failed—the dealer service manager admitted he wouldn't let family drive it but couldn't identify the cause or error code. A third owner's VIN was excluded from the existing steering recall despite matching symptoms.
One owner also reported steering and transmission locking simultaneously while idling, requiring manual intervention via a hidden dashboard mechanism to restart.
Repairs range from simple (disabling the lane-keep system) to expensive ($2,000 for EPS gearbox) to impossible (when dealers cannot diagnose the root cause).
Same Subaru Crosstrek steering reports on nearby years: 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Lane Departure/Lane Keep Assist - Aggressive or Abrupt Steering Input
Lane departure and lane keep assist systems steer the vehicle with excessive force, sometimes violently correcting across lanes without appropriate warning. Owners report the system pulling the car across multiple lanes, jerking abruptly left or right during curves or straight-line driving, or causing steering wheel movements inconsistent with gentle lane corrections. Multiple owners disable the feature entirely due to safety concerns.
When: Highway speeds (50–75 MPH) and local speeds, occurring intermittently and without warning. One owner noted the issue started 3 weeks after purchase; another at 5,725 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt steering input pulling vehicle across lanes; Violent correction when exiting ramps; Excessive jerking in crosswinds; Loss of steering control requiring owner to fight the wheel; System described as overly aggressive compared to competitors' lane-assist
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed for this issue. Subaru customer service dismisses it as normal lane-assist operation and recommends disabling the feature.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru has informed owners that the behavior is normal operation of lane-keep assist and advises disabling the system. One owner filed formal complaint #148267253025 with Subaru of America.
Electronic Power Steering (EPS) - Intermittent Electrical Fault and Loss of Assist
Electronic power steering malfunctions intermittently, with the steering wheel seizing or assist failing without warning. One owner reports an electrical fault inside the EPS gearbox diagnosed by the dealership. Another reports complete loss of power steering and brakes during engine shutdown while driving.
When: Highway speeds (70–75 MPH) and local speeds. One event occurred at approximately 36,000 miles; another vehicle had less than 2 years of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seizes with power steering warning light illuminated; Intermittent self-steering forcing owner to counteract steering forces; Complete loss of power steering assist; Loss of power steering coinciding with engine shutdown and brake loss
Repairs/costs cited: One owner cited $1,400 parts cost plus $600 labor to replace OEM steering gearbox. Replacement part # 34110FL133 ordered by dealer as of 12/16/2024. Another vehicle remained at dealership indefinitely awaiting repair; engine remained unstarted due to transmission lock (separate issue).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One vehicle was not covered under NHTSA recall #19V065000 despite similar symptoms. Dealer confirmed electrical fault in EPS gearbox and duplicated it during test drive. Subaru customer service reportedly had no knowledge of the issues when contacted by owner.
Transmission Lock - Steering and Transmission Immobilized During Idle
Steering and transmission lock simultaneously while the vehicle is idling in traffic, rendering the car completely immobile. Restarting requires accessing a hidden mechanical unlock mechanism via a small 'dimple' on the dashboard. This occurred twice for one owner—once at a drive-through, once on a hill during traffic congestion.
When: While idling in traffic during drive-through and during stopped traffic on a hill.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering locked in place; Transmission locked, preventing vehicle from moving; Vehicle unable to restart normally after unlock mechanism is engaged; Requires mechanical intervention via hidden dashboard access point
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed. Owner required manual intervention by third party to unlock mechanism using a slender rod inserted into dashboard dimple.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru customer service and corporate office stated they had no knowledge of this issue when owner contacted them.
Steering Veer/Veering to One Side
Vehicle veers to the right or unexpectedly pulls to one side of the lane, particularly over uneven road surfaces or during mild turns. Owner reports steering had to be straightened by force.
When: Occurred from purchase onward; one incident at approximately 3,000 miles over uneven surface.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle veers to the right over uneven pavement; Steering wheel requires forceful correction; Recurring behavior since vehicle purchase
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed. Appointment scheduled with Wilkins Subaru but no diagnostic testing documented.
Control Arm - Cracked
Control arm found cracked during routine inspection at an independent shop. No symptoms reported by owner prior to discovery.
When: Discovered at approximately 20,500 miles; timing relative to purchase not specified.
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; crack identified by independent mechanic during routine inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware by owner.
Eyesight Notification with Power Steering Loss
Eyesight system notification appears on dashboard, engine warning light illuminates, and power steering is lost while vehicle is in operation.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Eyesight notification displayed; Engine warning light illumination; Loss of power steering during driving
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Intermittent Power Steering Malfunction while driving causing car to violently "self-steer". Vehicle is NOT equipped with adaptive cruise control or lane assist features. Loss of control while driving become intermittently high risk having to clutch the steering wheel and counteract undesired vehicle self-steering forces to avoid hitting other cars on the road. No other vehicles or other…
Had steering trouble with your 2019 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 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 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?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 3,000 and 20,500 miles, with the median around 3,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,000; a quarter make it past 20,500. 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 $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/2019/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.