There are 8 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2014 Subaru Crosstrekin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Rear brake rotors and pads are wearing prematurely. Repairs to replace both were done in 2020 with mileage of 50,786. They needed to be done again in 2022 with mileage of only 63,000.
Rolling into a stop sign, the brakes did not work and was stuck- extremely difficult to step on. It eventually loosened after about 7 seconds and I was able to stop, but had to run the stop sign and almost hit a car. This occurred when the temperature was about 25 degrees F outside. Upon reading on forums and in a Subaru bulletin (# 06-79-20), it seems like this is a common occurrence for many Subaru owners when the temperature drops.
I own a Subaru Crosstrek XV Limited which I purchased new in November 2014. I was in a line of vehicles on a street waiting to enter a business parking lot and drive-thru. There was an incline from the street into the parking lot. The vehicle in front of me reached the top of the incline and turned right into the parking lot. With my foot remaining on the brake, I raised my foot slightly to allow my vehicle to move up the incline, my car suddenly accelerated and crashed into the bumper of the vehicle in front of me. The local police were contacted and a report was made. It was like when the cruise control is engaged and the engine given more power to climb an incline or hill. I don't know what caused this to happen, but am taking it to a local mechanic since the closest Subaru dealer is 75 miles away.
2014 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 19V-149. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID A REAR END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON MAY 28, 2018 AND HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES, INCLUDING THE CLUTCH FAILING AND THE BUSHING ON THE FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS CRACKED AND RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD CERTIFIED BY SUBARU EL CAJON (900 ARNELE AVE, EL CAJON, CA 92020, (619) 440-0404) WHO STATED THAT ANY FAILURE THAT OCCURRED WOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
I BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WAS IN REVERSE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL ON THE DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO CLOSE. FOR SOME REASON I CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND STARTED GOING FORWARD. I HIT THE BRAKES AND THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT NOT BEFORE HITTING THE THE GARAGE DOOR. I THEN PUT THE SELECTOR ROD IN REVERSE. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY DECLINE INTO THE STREET. I TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CAR STOPPED ONLY BECAUSE I PUT THE SELECTOR INTO DRIVE. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED BY ITSELF AND THE GEAR SELECTOR IN DRIVE. I COULD NOT CHANGE THE GEAR UNTIL I REACHED DOWN AND PULLED THE BRAKE PEDAL UP FROM ITS DEPRESSED POSITION. *TR
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE MY GARAGE, POWER WAS OFF AND VEHICLE WAS UNMANNED. THE VEHICLE SOME HOW ROLLED OUT OF MY GARAGE DOWN MY SLOPED DRIVEWAY AND HIT A PARKED TRUCK ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET. DAMAGES OF ABOUT $12,000 TO BOTH VEHICLES, THIS SUBARU WAS ONLY 30 DAYS OLD! STILL IS BAFFLING HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT AND NO KIDS WERE PLAYING IN MY DRIVEWAY. *JS
BRAKE LIGHTS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026