2024 Subaru Crosstrek Instrument Cluster Recall (23V551)
Subaru of America, Inc. · 35,357 vehicles · Reported August 4, 2023
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling 35,357 2024 Subaru Crosstrek; 2024 Subaru Impreza vehicles. Due to insufficient clearance, the instrument panel harness may contact the steering beam bracket, damaging the wire insulation and causing a short circuit. A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V551 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V551000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | WRL-23 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 4, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2024 Subaru Crosstrek; 2024 Subaru Impreza |
| Units affected | 35,357 |
| Component | Electrical System > Instrument Cluster / Panel |
| Safety risk | A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek in recall 23V551?
Due to insufficient clearance, the instrument panel harness may contact the steering beam bracket, damaging the wire insulation and causing a short circuit.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek and Impreza vehicles. Due to insufficient clearance, the instrument panel harness may contact the steering beam bracket, damaging the wire insulation and causing a short circuit.
Is it safe to drive a 2024 Crosstrek with recall 23V551?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Crosstrek shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the instrument cluster and panel, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V551?
Recall 23V551 covers 35,357 vehicles: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek; 2024 Subaru Impreza.
NHTSA lists 35,357 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Subaru | Crosstrek |
| 2024 | Subaru | Impreza |
What is the fix for the Crosstrek instrument cluster recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the harness and install an additional clamp on the steering beam bracket.
Dealers will inspect the harness and install an additional clamp on the steering beam bracket. If damage is found, dealers will add protective tape or replace the instrument panel harness, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 3, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-23.
When was recall 23V551 announced?
Subaru of America, Inc. reported recall 23V551 to NHTSA on August 4, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as October 3, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 4, 2023 | Subaru of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V551000. |
| October 3, 2023 | Owner notification letters scheduled (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 38 months ago. If your Crosstrek was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Crosstrek is part of recall 23V551?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V551 is open on your Crosstrek, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 23V551000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Crosstrek owners do about recall 23V551?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V551000 applies to your Crosstrek.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Subaru dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the instrument cluster and panel happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Crosstrek owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 150 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 9 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 23V551 was reported on August 4, 2023, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 2 of them (22%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after August 4, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 150 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 9 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2024 Subaru Crosstrek: 118 complaints in total, 7 about the electrical system
- 2024 Subaru Impreza: 32 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
head on collision/hit the side of another car head, 2024 subaru impreza was smoking before vehicle stopped moving after impact (was slung in the opposite direction), not even five minutes after exiting vehicle it caught flames starting a the front of the engine that spread to the hood…
2024 Subaru Impreza owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11666058, filed June 10, 2025
Car braked suddenly and violently while driving slowly (5-10 MPH) in traffic. Foot was on the gas pressing lightly – not on the brake. Braking occurred independently with such force that I thought I had been hit by another vehicle going 30-40 MPH. Hyman Bros. Subaru has not yet returned my calls regarding this incident.
2024 Subaru Impreza owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11631918, filed December 21, 2024
Advertisement for XM radio service popped up on console screen of the car, and would not go away unless manually dismissed (touch) – while driving, covering the entire screen. This is entirely unnecessary and distracting, all to serve an advertisement for a service I don't want or use.
2024 Subaru Crosstrek owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11701137, filed November 24, 2025
Can recall 23V551 make my Crosstrek a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this instrument cluster and panel recall means their Crosstrek qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same instrument cluster and panel problem is common in lemon law claims.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Crosstrek been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Subaru Crosstrek recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V551
Did the recall 23V551 fix work?
Since recall 23V551 was reported on August 4, 2023, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 2 of them (22%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed October 3, 2023.
Is the 23V551000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Crosstrek is part of recall 23V551000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V551000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
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Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.