YearToAvoid

2015 Subaru XV CrossTrek Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#3 most-complained of 5 XV CrossTrek years

The 2015 Subaru XV CrossTrek has 78 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 3rd worst out of 5 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Engine problems lead at 24% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 14,000 miles.

Complaints
78
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
5 / 1
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29
26 city / 33 hwy

Top 2015 Subaru XV CrossTrek problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other20 (26%)
  2. Engine19 (24%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain18 (23%)
  4. Electrical System17 (22%)
  5. Brakes6 (8%)
  6. Structure & Body5 (6%)
  7. Airbags4 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (5%)
  9. Fuel System2 (3%)
  10. Steering2 (3%)

What owners report

  • Engine stalls or shuts off without warning while driving, sometimes without any check engine light.
  • Engine falters and loses power at highway speed, forcing the driver to slow well below traffic flow.
  • Transmission gets stuck in reverse and will not shift out during low-speed maneuvers.
  • Vehicle rolls on its own while parked in gear on a slight slope.
  • Brake pedal oscillates or pushes back hard on icy or snowy roads.
  • Airbags fail to deploy in low-speed frontal collisions.
2015 Subaru XV CrossTrek complaints: complaints filed per quarter112015 Q32016 Q42018 Q32020 Q22021 Q32023 Q12025 Q2
100 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (11).

2015 Subaru XV CrossTrek recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V366000Jun 12, 2015Collision Avoidance & Cameras71,710 vehicles

    Forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.

    Risk: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.

2015 Subaru XV CrossTrek fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other XV CrossTrek years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid7597226.5
2014Avoid10081028
2015Caution5078129
2016No verdict03029
2017No verdict2530—

All Subaru XV CrossTrek years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Subaru XV CrossTrek reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2015 model has a Complaint Index of 50 and ranks 3rd worst among 5 model years covered, earning a Caution verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru XV CrossTrek?
Engine issues account for 24% of complaints (19 of 78), followed by transmission and powertrain issues at 23% and electrical system issues at 22%.
Does the 2015 Subaru XV CrossTrek have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for this model year, campaign 15V366000, covering the collision avoidance and camera system; none are do-not-drive recalls.
At what mileage do 2015 XV CrossTrek engine problems tend to show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 14,000 miles for engine-related complaints on this model year.
How does the 2015 XV CrossTrek compare to other years?
It ranks better than the 2013 (Complaint Index 75, Avoid) and 2014 (Complaint Index 100, Avoid) model years, but worse than the 2016 and 2017 model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.