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Which Subaru Crosstrek years have the strongest reliability ratings?
The answer depends on which Consumer Reports edition you consult. Ratings can change as new owner-survey data arrive, so keep the report year attached to every score rather than treating the figures as one permanent sequence.
| Model year | Consumer Reports 2025 table | Consumer Reports 2026 table |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3/5 | not stated (2026 model page) |
| 2018 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| 2019 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| 2020 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2022 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| 2023 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2024 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| 2025 | Predicted reliability: 75/100; no historical verdict stated | 4/5 |
| 2026 | not stated (2025 model page) | Predicted reliability: 78/100; no historical verdict stated |
Sources: Consumer Reports’ 2025 Crosstrek page and 2026 Crosstrek page. The pages are identified as current as of April 2025 and February 2026, respectively. Predicted reliability figures are distinct from the historical year-by-year verdicts.
How to interpret the ratings
They summarize owner-survey reports
Consumer Reports says its reliability estimates draw on problems members report in its Annual Auto Surveys. Its 2023 methodology reprint describes those surveys as covering around 420,000 vehicles overall; that is not a Crosstrek-specific sample size. The methodology explains predicted reliability as an estimate based on member-reported problems, not a promise about any individual vehicle. Consumer Reports’ 2023 methodology and ratings.
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Use each edition as its own snapshot
The changes between tables are meaningful: for example, 2020, 2021, and 2023 each move from 5/5 in the 2025 table to 4/5 in the 2026 table, while 2024 moves from 4/5 to 5/5. This is why the edition matters when comparing years; the ratings are survey-based verdicts that may shift as additional owner data arrive.
What redesign years do—and do not—tell you
Consumer Reports marks 2018 and 2024 as redesign years. That is useful context when comparing model years, but the cited pages do not establish that redesign status caused either year’s reliability verdict. Treat it as background, not as a diagnosis of a specific car.
How to assess the actual used Crosstrek
A model-year score cannot tell you whether the vehicle you are considering was maintained, damaged, or repaired properly. Evaluate the individual car as well as its year-level rating.
- Check for open recalls by VIN. Use the NHTSA recall lookup or Subaru’s recall lookup. NHTSA says a VIN or license-plate search identifies whether a specific vehicle needs an unrepaired recall repair. A year/make/model search instead returns general recall, investigation, complaint, and manufacturer-communication information.
- Review the service history. Look for records showing routine maintenance and repairs, and ask about gaps or unclear entries.
- Assess condition and mileage. Have the vehicle inspected independently if appropriate, with attention to its present condition rather than assuming the model-year rating settles the question.
- Keep complaint data in perspective. NHTSA owner complaints can contribute to an investigation, and similar reports may point to a possible safety defect that merits investigation. A complaint alone is not an agency finding that a defect exists. Raw complaint totals are not reliability rates: the cited sources do not normalize them by vehicle population or time on the road. See NHTSA’s recall and investigation guidance.
A practical way to choose between years
Start with the edition-specific rating, then weigh the specific vehicle’s history and condition. On the 2025 table alone, 2020, 2021, and 2023 are the top-rated years; the 2026 table adds 2024 as a 5/5 year. A well-maintained example with a clear history may be a better candidate than a higher-rated year with unresolved questions, so use the rating to narrow your search rather than to make the decision for you.
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