general problems of the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek

When attempting to put the car in park, the key will not release and is stuck. Incident happens often in recent past days. Key will not release from ignition.

The electrical system and engine flickers on and off or sometimes dies entirely. The trigger is unknown and the underlying cause is unknown. It is unsafe because this has occurred while the vehicle is moving. The problem was confirmed and reproduced by a Subaru service center. They were unable to diagnose the issue. There is no warning when it will happen.

Ignition key keeps intermittently locking into ignition when trying to retrieve key. Putting vehicle in park, key will turn engine off, but then will not turn all the way to release the key. Key has a key fob, vehicle is placed on parking gear. Sometimes restarting vehicle can help, sometimes shifting gears and driving vehicle again can help. Sometimes turning steering wheel helps. Sometimes all you can do is wait a few to five minutes to be able to turn off vehicle and retrieve car. No warning lights. After my warranty expired was when I noticed the problem. Bought vehicle used less than a year ago. It can be a safety risk if I cannot retrieve my key and then anyone could jump in and steal it as their is no other way to lock the vehicle unless I automatically locky myself out.

Battery drains excessively and frequently. Will not hold a charge. Frequently replacing battery only to have it fail. The personal safety issue here is being stranded with a dead battery in an unsafe environment with no way to escape, or needing the vehicle for an immediate personal health emergency and having the vehicle not start. I don't know if there is a safety related issue with operating the car with this electrical system issue. There are scores of web searches that depict this issue of parasitic draining of the battery by the vehicle's controller area network. Several class action lawsuits are referenced. I don't find any information that the lawsuits have resolved in a recall of any sort. Thank you for your interest in it this issue.

Break lights are on, but do not light up when breaking. Changed break lights with many different bulbs, but same problem occurs. Not lighting up when breaking.

I was driving on the highway, I turned on the blower fan and ac. The ac was not cooling down the cabin (outside temperature was 71-74 degrees). After 40 minutes the blower fan shut down and stopped working. I brought the car to the dealership service department. This is what they found: instrument wire harness, component(s) and switch had melted, causing a hazardous situation. It remains a hazard and needs to be replaced. Subaru denies any responsibility in the defective/failed/unsafe components and will not cover expense. Reason: vehicle grossly over warranty period (by 10,000 miles).

I was driving the car when all the lights on dash come on. Constant jerking/bucking of the car without increasing pressure to the gas peddle. Meter rpms indicator needle is erratic moving back and forth while the engine revs. The mpg needle goes from plus to minus erratically also. At this time the car is not dependable. I have brought the car to granite Subaru 4 times for the same complaint. They say they have used the diagnostic meter to determine the problem but it still remains, now even worse. I have discussed the problem with a engineer and 2 auto mechanics who feel the problem is with the computer. I mentioned this to granite Subaru and was told that was not the problem. My plan at this time is to bring my car to autozone and have them evaluate my car. I am hoping to get a list of error codes to bring to Subaru with the hope that the 5th time will be my last. I have receipts for what has transpired so far but do not have a way to upload them and send with this report. Please send address and I will make copies and send. Thank you.

Battery does not hold a charge. My battery needs to be replaced for a second time since 2014. The first time it was only 2 or so years old (dealer replaced it under warranty). I've had this second battery for about the same amount of time (2 or so years). Each battery just slowly loses the ability to hold a charge until it dies. It doesn't matter if you drive it. . . You can hear the battery get weaker over a period each time you start it.

The first time the instance happen I started the car and all the indicator lights on the dashboard were lit. The mechanic couldn't find a reason why this would happen, so he just reset it and the lights went off. A few weeks later I was driving on the highway home from work and all the lights came on again. I took it to a different a mechanic and he can not find why this would be happening.

The car cannot move due to it is unable to shift out of park. The brake light doesnt come on --believe it is the brake switch sometime doesn't work dealer wont admit problem.

On November 11th, 2017 at 12:30am a police officer woke us up to inform us that our had spontaneously caught on fire. The vehicle was parked on a city street, turned off, and not moving. The car had been parked and turned off for for approximately 5 hours before it caught fire. The fire department ruled that it was a mechanical failure and not arson. The fire also totaled the car that was parked in front of it. The reason for the fire is currently unknown although the insurance company is assigning an investigator to follow up on the fire department's report. The vehicle was purchased as a pre-owned lease and had 53,000 miles on it. We also had routine maintenance preformed and oil changes every 4,500 miles. The police report for this case is through the city of santa monica police department - incident # 17-142429.