2016 Subaru Crosstrek Electrical System

A/C Control Head and connector burned on both ends. Dealer service center stated it was a significant safety/fire hazard if we had not immediately taken in to be checked. No warning, no fuses out. Only indication something was wrong is a/c turned on but only on 1,2 and 4. Then, same day, only on 4. Next day took to Subaru service center. When we asked how would replacing parts stop this from happening again, we were told original parts had a “Design Flaw” and was “Defective”. Replacement/New parts wiring system actually corrects the OEM defect.

Battery drain Bought new battery Got dcm update Pulled dcm fuse Still battery goes dead Thousands of vehicles involved Suburu knows the cause To expensive to fix Please help3/3

Horn failed to sound. It sounds when hitting the lock button three times, but doesn’t when the steering wheel is pressed. This was identified during a near miss accident when we tried to alert another driving that was weaving into our lane and couldn’t.

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while coming to a stop at a traffic signal, the vehicle was idling roughly. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become a recurring failure. The contact stated that the failure occurred frequently whenever the A/C was running. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the throttle body needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure returned, and the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the alternator and belt tensioner needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

Since at least 2009 all Subaru models have a faulty air bag Clockspring. The horn doesn’t work due to this. Subaru knows about this issue. Even 2018 Forester is still using the faulty clock spring. We almost had an accident because the horn didn’t work. After researching the issue, I cannot believe a recall has not been issued. Tried to get it fixed at Subaru today. Still not fixed. We cannot drive until the horn is fixed it is dangerous driving in [XXX] and not having a horn to give a warning when you are about to be hit. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I own a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek with only 37,000 miles. There is a problem with my battery being drained after not driving the car for several days. I have had to call for a jump start 3 times, Aug. 8, 2023, Sept. 5, 2023 and Nov. 14, 2023, each time after returning from vacation. I replaced the battery when it happened the second time, but the problem continued to occur. I have taken my car to the Subaru dealership for diagnostic. They checked the draw level in the vehicle electric system found excessive draw of 350MAH when everything was turned off. The performed DCM (data control module) check and disconnected the fuse. The draw dropped down to 15MAH. I was told I could leave the fuse disconnected, which would leave me with a useless navigation system, loss of front speakers and bluetooth, or replace the DCM that would cost me around $1000. I have done research online and found this is an ongoing problem with Subaru. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure each time. This poses a safety risk if I am in a public parking late at night and I cannot get my car started. I have reported the problem to Subaru of America.

I have had three occurrences with my vehicle where I discovered a dangerous situation in the manual heater and air conditioner control module connector that resulted in the module connector and the wiring harness connector both becoming scorched and melted due to excessive heat. I believe that this is probably occurring due to high electrical current at the connector. In all occurrences, the first symptoms of the problem are intermittent blower fan speed followed by the fan speed knob becoming melted into a fixed position. The first occurrence was in February 2021 and the damaged control module (part number 72311FJ500) and the pigtail connector were replaced by a trained auto body tech. The second occurrence was in August 2021 and I took the vehicle to the Subaru dealership given it was a repeat occurrence and because we were concerned it might be a problem that could impact other vehicles. The service department at Subaru kept the vehicle for 2 weeks to diagnose the problem and eventually recommended we replace the vehicle's main wiring harness as well as again replace the damaged heater and air conditioning control module. We authorized the required repairs. The issue has now occurred for a third time and I will be taking the vehicle to Subaru again. I will be asking the service department to contact the manufacturer about this safety issue. I believe the primary risk to safety the potential of a fire in the vehicle in the right circumstances due to excessive current at the connector of the module. There is a secondary but less acute risk that the heater becomes inoperable during the winter and puts occupants at risk which is the situation we are facing as we travel frequently in rural areas.

I had to have it be jump-started first on 7/20/21 and again on 7/23/21, the battery had been replaced with a new manufacturer's battery in Feb. of 2020. When the battery didn't start on 7/23 there were several warning lights concerning all the electrical safety systems. AAA came again this time jumped it and it started and I had it towed to the dealership. Since it was towed to the dealership I have learned that this is a documented problem with this car and that there was even a service bulletin put out by Subaru about how to deal with the problem, their fix is to replace the battery but that is fixing the symptom but not a cure. I was told that I should report this to your agency.

2016 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 LTD (CVT) When placing vehicle in park, occasionally, will not allow me to remove ignition key when transmission is placed in park position. Safety issue is that I am not able to exit vehicle because if they remains in the car, it will be an easy vehicle to steal. Especially an issue if I am in a parking lot at night or during severe weather conditions. The car dealer and Subaru of America feel that it is my financial responsibility even though there are numerous other Subaru Crosstrek owners that have voiced the same complaint. Subaru has issued several service bulletins acknowledging that there is a defect and that the shifter was redesigned for model year 2019. Subaru Service Bulletin 16-112-18R states "The cause is contamination if the Park-Range switch internal components.

WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK I AM UNABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. AFTER 2-6X OF PUTTING IT IN AND OUT OF PARK THE KEY WILL RELEASE.

MY IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK SOMETIMES. I BELIEVE IT IS THIS ISSUE: HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2018/MC-10153178-9999.PDF

WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN PARK THE KEYS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK IN THE IGNITION AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. WHEN SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR THIS ISSUE IT CAME UP NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF TIMES. SOMEONE FOUND OUT THE ISSUE THAT SUBARU INSTALLED FAULTY CONNECTORS NEAR THE SHIFTER. THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SEND A SIGNAL TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER THAT SIGNAL IS NOT ALWAYS SENT BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DO NOT CONNECT WHEN IT IS PUT INTO PARK. DRIVER'S ONLY HAVE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION OF SHIFTING IT INTO DRIVE THEN BACK INTO PARK MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE TRYING TO PULL THE KEYS OUT. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE HOWEVER IT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS KEYS MAY BE LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE AUTOMOBILE TO BE STOLEN.

MY CAR JUST HAS HAD BACKUP CAMERA ISSUE SINCE A MONTH AGO. I CALLED THE LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE BUT THEY WOULD CHARGE ME FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHICH I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA TO PAY IT. I LEARNED THAT SUBARU RECALLS OTHER SUBARU MODELS (NON CROSSTREK) FOR ITS BACKUP CAMERA ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY BACKUP CAMERA TO BE FIXED WHICH THAT IS A SAFETY CONCERN.*DT VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. CONSUMER STATED CROSSTREK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB

THE KET GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN PARK. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.

KEY IS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK. SOMETIMES REQUIRES YOU TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF PARK SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE KEY TO RELEASE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AND A DEFECTIVE PARK POSITION SENSOR.

THE KEY MECHANISM FAILS TO LET YOU REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE SWITCH. IT FAILS TO RETURN TO THE FULL OFF POSITION TO ALLOW THE KEY REMOVAL. I HAVE TO TURN KEY OFF & ON ANYWHERE FROM TWICE TO 20 TIMES TO GET THE KEY TO RETURN ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION TO ALLOW THE KEY REMOVAL. SOMETIMES, I START AND STOP TO ASSIST THE OPERATION BUT STILL CAN TAKE UP TO 10 TIMES FOR THE KEY POSITION TO FULLY RETURN TO THE OFF POSITION TO ALLOW FOR THE KEY REMOVAL

TRANSMISSION IN PARK. KEY IS IN IGNITION AND TURNED OFF. HOWEVER THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN. REQUIRES SEVERAL ON OFF ATTEMPTS TO SHUT ENGINE OFF.

KEY IS STICKING IN IGNITION. WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN FIX FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS BUT IT WILL COST OVER $400 TO FIX. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW WITH A KNOWN SERVICE BULLETIN THAT MAKES A CHANGE TO A PIECE OF PLASTIC IN THE SHIFTER.

2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK, 27,500 MILES. UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ONLY WAY TO REMOVE KEY IS TO PUT THE CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND THEN BACK TO PARK. HAS OCCURRED 1/2 DOZEN TIMES, MOST RECENTLY TODAY 11/13/2018. I AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. OBVIOUSLY, I CANNOT LEAVE THE CAR UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION! SWITCHING GEARS IS NOT ALWAYS AN INSTANT FIX AND CAN TAKE AWHILE GOING BETWEEN DRIVE/REVERSE/NEUTRAL BEFORE RETURNING TO PARK AND THE KEY RELEASES FROM THE IGNITION. HAVE A CALL INTO THE DEALER REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-16-112-18R

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. INTERMITTENTLY, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION TO ALLOW REMOVAL. TURNING THE KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION THEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR AND BACK INTO PARK SOMETIMES ALLOWS THE KEY TO THEN TURN OFF AND BE REMOVED. THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND IN PARK. THE CAR DOESN'T SEEM TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN PARK.

HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF NOT BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. RECENTLY WENT TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND TOLD THEM OF PROBLEM BUT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY COMPLAINTS. NOW I SEE THERE IS A MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER 16-112-18R. SO APPARENTLY THIS INFORMATION ISN'T BEING EMPHASIZED TO THE DEALERS. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND TO DATE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE SHIFTER LEVER SEVERAL TIMES AND GET KEY RELEASED BUT I'M SURE SOMEDAY I WON'T BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY AT ALL. THIS STARTED HAPPENING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND CONTINUES. IF I RETURN LATE IN THE EVENING AND CAN'T SHUT OFF MY CAR WHAT WILL I DO?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

TWICE NOW AFTER LETTING MY CAR SIT PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 3 TO 5 DAYS MY BATTERY HAS DRAINED TO THE POINT THAT MY CAR WILL NOT START AND I WOULD NEED TO JUMP START MY CAR EACH TIME. BOTH TIMES I JUMP STARTED MY CAR I WOULD VERIFY THAT I DIDN'T MAKE AN HONEST MISTAKE OF LEAVING ANYTHING ON LIKE A DOME LIGHT ETC. AND I HAVE NOT LEFT ANYTHING ON. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT I HAVE THE LIMITED VERSION WITH KEYLESS ENTRY/START THE WHOLE EYESIGHT SYSTEM WITH AN ADDED OEM REMOTE START SYSTEM INSTALLED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER.