blinking cruise control light subaru forester

Why is Subaru Cruise Control Light Flashing on My Car Dashboard?

Driving can be fun, but long-distance driving can be fatiguing as you keep pressing the gas pedal to keep the car going at your desired speed. Thankfully, cars now feature cruise control — a system that lets drivers set a desired speed and relaxes their feet when traveling a long journey.

You can activate the system by pressing the cruise control button and the vehicle will keep you at the current speed. So you don’t have to depress the gas pedal to keep the car running. Cars with advanced cruise control systems use sensors at the front bumper to detect vehicles ahead of them and keep the car at a distance to prevent collision.

Like other system components, the cruise control does have issues. And these issues are common with Subaru cars. Most Subaru owners complain of Subaru cruise control light flashing on the dashboard as they drive.

Why does my Subaru cruise control light keep flashing?

The most common reason why the cruise control light is flashing on your Subaru is due to an electrical or mechanical problem. Remember, when the light is flashing, the cruise control system is disabled, so don’t try to turn it on because it won’t work.

In some other cases, the cruise control light may be flashing due to a defective or loose gas cap, a blown fuse for the cruise control, a failing brake pedal switch, or a defective vehicle speed sensor. Let’s have an in-depth look to see how these issues could cause cruise control light flashing on Subaru Outback and other Subaru models.

Blown fuses

The cruise control system consists of several electrical systems protected by a fuse. The fuse can blow up if there’s an electrical power issue, preventing the key components from failing. If that happens, it will disable the cruise control system. In some cases, the car computer will start flashing the cruise control light on the dashboard to notify you that there’s an underlying issue that needs urgent attention.

If you suspect the fuse is blown, replace it and see if that fixes the cruise control system and clear the blinking light on the dashboard.  If that resolves the problem but the fuse blows in no time and the light starts blinking again, you have other electrical issues. Contact your mechanic for a thorough diagnosis.

Defective speed sensor

The vehicle speed sensor is one of the essential components of the cruise control system. When you activate the cruise control, the onboard computer collects information from the speed sensor to know when to increase and decrease the engine speed.

The vehicle speed sensor is mounted at the tail end of your transmission, and if it malfunctions, the cruise control light will start blinking on the dashboard. The speed sensor is needed to ensure that the speedometer and the odometer work correctly, and without it, the cruise control system will be affected.

If you notice the cruise control light flashing and check engine light is on, check the vehicle speed sensor. A bad speed sensor triggers the check engine light and disables the cruise control system. This sensor cannot be repaired. So, if it is the root cause, the only solution is to replace it with a new one.

Loose gas cap

Believe it or not, the gas cap plays a crucial role in your vehicle’s overall functionality. The gas cap can affect the performance of the cruise control system. For instance, in Subarus, a loose gas cap can cause the cruise control light to blink as you drive. It can also trigger the check engine light to pop on the dashboard. So, a loose gas cap can cause the Subaru Forester check engine light with flashing cruise control to pop on the dashboard.

Faulty mechanical component

If you own an older Subaru car, the cruise control light could be flashing due to a faulty mechanical component. In older models, the cruise control system has a cable, connecting the throttle to an air actuator, which regulates the cable to keep the vehicle at the set speed settings.

If any of the mechanical components go bad, it can disable the system and trigger the blinking light on the dashboard.

Malfunctioning brake pedal switch

Under perfect conditions, the brake lights shine as you depress the brake pedal. There’s a component attached to the brake pedal — the brake pedal switch, which tells the brake lights to light up as you depress the pedal.

If the switch goes bad, the brake lights won’t know when you step on the brake pedal. But aside from this, a bad brake pedal switch can also affect the cruise control system.

When you activate the cruise control system, the system will deactivate and switch to manual mode whenever you step on the brake pedal. If the switch malfunctions, it may send wrong signals to the cruise control system, telling it the brake pedal is always depressed, preventing the cruise control system from turning on.

System malfunction

If your Subaru check engine light is flashing along with the cruise control light and the brake pedal switch, fuses, and vehicle speed sensors are good, you have a problem somewhere in the cruise control system.

To determine the root cause of the malfunction, you need a mechanic to diagnose the vehicle. The mechanic will inspect all cruise control components and may plug in a scan tool to pull out all the error codes in the vehicle.

It’s okay for the cruise control light to be on when you activate it, but if the light comes on when you are not using the cruise control, or the light starts blinking when you activate it, there’s a problem that needs to be addressed. In most cases, a flashing cruise control light on Subaru is accompanied by the engine warning light.

What to do if your Subaru cruise control light flashing?

Whenever the Subrau cruise control light starts flashing on the dashboard, the cruise control has malfunctioned or disabled. Hence, do not turn on the cruise control system. If the light starts flashing after getting gas, locate a safe spot and pull over. Check the gas cap and re-tighten it. It could be you did not secure the gas cap properly.

If that do not solve the problem, drive straight to your mechanic and have them diagnose and fix the problem.

Does the cruise control stop working when check engine light is on?

If the onboard computer detects a problem with your transmission or the engine, it will display the check engine light and disable certain vehicle functions, like the cruise control system, to prevent further damage until you address the issue.

Let’s be clear here; this does not mean that the PCM must disable the cruise control whenever it detects an issue with the engine or transmission. It will only disable the system if the issue is causing unstable engine performance.

Subaru Outback check engine light flashing, cruise control, and traction control light blinking can all come up due to engine performance issues. Contact your mechanic to proffer solutions to the problem. 

Final Words

To be precise, the flashing Subaru cruise control light shows there is a mechanical or electrical problem in your car. The cruise control light should be green and steady when you turn on the system. But if the light is flashing, turn off the cruise control until you address the problem.

If you are a DIYer, you can fix the issue yourself. But if you are not, contact your mechanic or dealership. The solution can be easy, quick, and quite affordable.

Osuagwu Solomon

Osuagwu Solomon is a certified mechanic with over a decade of experience in the mechanic garage, and he has over five years of experience in the writing industry. He started writing automotive articles to share his garage experience with car enthusiasts and armature mechanics. If he is not in the garage fixing challenging mechanical problems, he is writing automotive repair guides, buyer’s guides, and car and tools comparisons.

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• Gen 3: 2005-2009

Check Engine Light, Traction Control Disabled and blinking Cruise Control

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On the way back from the General Store the Check Engine Light illuminated. Also illuminated the Traction Control Disabled light and the Cruise Control light is flashing. No noticeable problems driving the car. Warning lights remained on after turning off and back on. I pulled the codes and got the following: C0071 Change Range Of Steering Angle Sensor Is Too Big C0042 Power Supply Voltage Failure C0052 Steering Wheel Position Sensor Signal 'A' I gather that these codes are all related to the VDC system and that’s why the warning lights are on. I performed an oil change last week and replaced the battery a month ago but I don’t think that work has anything to do with this problem. The roads have been super slushy lately so I’m inclined to go looking for dirty, corroded or water-logged sensors or wiring. Where should I start? 🐦  

start by checking for a loose battery cable. take advantage of that and clear the codes - remove neg. battery cable, touch it to the pos. cable, (or, step on the brake pedal) re-attach neg. cable. Car may start oddly a coupla times but, that will clear the codes. Monitor how quickly and what codes return - if at all. could be a problem with the clockspring/roll connector in steering column.....?  

Thanks Lucky. I disconnected the battery and discharged everything with the brake pedal. On restart the Check Engine and Traction Control Disabled warning lights reset (they are no longer illuminated) and the Cruise Control indicator stopped blinking. Only one code remained after restart, it was: C0071 Change Range Of Steering Angle Sensor Is Too Big I will do some research on the clockspring/roll connector, thanks for the pointer. 🐤  

Hey there. Funny you mentioned that you changed your oil. I had the exact same dash warning light sequence about a month ago. I cleared the codes and they were gone... All seemingly good. About a week later they came back on. It turns out that the car was extremely low on oil. Once I topped it up the warning lights disappeared and haven't come back on. It could be somehow sensors detected low oil level while you were changing the oil. Not really sure. Just thinking out loud.  

Thank you for the suggestion @Kristian G . Engine oil level was all good. For latecomers I am troubleshooting the problem in this thread now. 🐦  

what a coincidence - the same dash light combo hit my '09 2.5L tonight - blinking cruise with CEL & traction lit solid. Happened when starting after being driven in the AM and sitting all day. But when I scan for codes, I get none of the ones you did - only (!) a P0302 Cyl 2 misfire detected and a P0302 Cyl 2 misfire detected pending. Based on your conversation with @cardoc and @plain OM in the other thread on the VDC code C0071, I checked the grounds in the engine bay. Had already replaced the head ground straps last fall, so those were good. Checked the two small-gage ones on the passenger side (below ABS body on top of frame rail, and below inlet air filter box on inside of frame rail), the ganged ignition grounds on the intake manifold Cyl #1 runner, the strap under the engine tilt snubber at the firewall, the main ground to the engine block near the starter solenoid, another at the inside of the driver's side frame rail near Cyl #2, and the one on the strut tower behind the fuse box. All were in quite good shape - a little corrosion on the exposed surfaces for some but looked like clean shiny metal in the contact areas. Wire brushed anyway and reassembled. Checked resistance from battery negative post to main engine block ground - even though some of the strands appear corroded or broken, 0.0 ohms resistance was the answer. Also checked to the ABS body ground wire when I had it disconnected - that was about 6k ohm, don't know what it's supposed to be but assuming it's tied to circuitry in the ABS unit and meant to be non-zero. Feel like I should replace the main cables anyway, but doesn't seem to be the issue at the moment. Was going to pull plug #2 but haven't read up on it yet, and after I pulled the boot it was shaping up to be more than I had time for at the moment. Oh yeah, and removed the very old dual USB adapter from the cigarette lighter port. Just in case. I just find it odd that I got the same dash light behavior for a seemingly completely different reason...  

update - learned how to read the codes from the dash display, sure enough there's codes that my Actron didn't pick up. It of course showed for the ECM the P0302 & a "P0000" for the pending cylinder misfire(s), and for the TCM I got a flashing "P" (meaning "receiving DTC", but not sure how to interpret this...), and for the ABS/VDCCM it listed C0047, then C0071, then C0045. I checked the two harness connectors next to the brake pedal that @slowagon had troubles with - everything looked in place, clean, undamaged, untouched even, but I exercised the two plugs anyway to get some movement at the terminals and to make sure they clicked in. Curiously, where that module bracket attaches to the frame, one nut was missing and the other was loose... may be something to this, if that box contains inertial sensors for the VDC? Need to read up on that. [edit - nope, it's the TCM... but curious that I have a blinking "P" in the TCM code group, plus the C0045 in the ABS group?] Tightened the one nut and will get replacement from the hardware store. Also found a second USB adapter, this one plugged into the port in the console armrest. Took it out too. Cleared the misfire codes using the Actron, then checked the on-board display and confirmed the misfire codes cleared but the three C-codes for the ABS system still stored. Started the car and found that the 3 warning lights I had seen (blinking Cruise, solid VDC warning & solid CEL) were gone. Started the car 4 times in a row, hoping to clear the ABS system codes, however they were still stored (though the 3 warning lights did not come back). Maybe need a few more drive cycles to clear them out, presuming the original trigger doesn't return.  

It seems this is a random combination of lights that is fairly common and no one has found the surefire culprit based on various googling.  

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Check Engine light on & Cruse Control light flashing

• Thread starter QX
• Start date Jan 14, 2008
• Jan 14, 2008

Need info for a 2005 Forester XT turbo (USA). I drove into work this AM without a problem. After work, engine idled rough, had a steady check engine light, and flashing cruise light (flashes 1x per second), virtually no power at all. Checked oil, found it 1.5 qt low (this is the day after a long, long drive at freeway speeds). Added oil, now engine is smooth runs like it always has,(steady idle and normal power & accelleration), but the check engine remains on & cruise control light is still flashing once per second. Could this just be a residual indicator from the low oil? and now the system needs a reset to get the lights out? or ???? Can anyone advise how to pull the codes without a meter? How does one reset the check engine light? Thanks to all in advance.  

• Jan 15, 2008

Need info for a 2005 Forester XT turbo (USA). I drove into work this AM without a problem. After work, engine idled rough, had a steady check engine light, and flashing cruise light (flashes 1x per second), virtually no power at all. Checked oil, found it 1.5 qt low (this is the day after a long, long drive at freeway speeds). Added oil, now engine is smooth runs like it always has,(steady idle and normal power & accelleration), but the check engine remains on & cruise control light is still flashing once per second. Could this just be a residual indicator from the low oil? and now the system needs a reset to get the lights out? or ???? Can anyone advise how to pull the codes without a meter? How does one reset the check engine light? Thanks to all in advance. Click to expand...

• Jan 16, 2008

Dano58 said: You need to get the codes read. Autozone does it for free, they will give you a printout with what it means. Other auto stores may do it as well. Dan D '99 Impreza 2.5 RS (son's) Central NJ USA Click to expand...

• Jan 17, 2008
• Jan 18, 2008

QX said: UPDATE: I went out to the garage yesterday AM to drive over to AutoZone. The car started right up, rolled out of the garage and down the driveway. Put the car in drive, stepped on the gas, and nothing but idle. Parked in front of the house and called for a tow to the dealer. Problem is a bad relay in the "throttle by wire" circuitry. Dealer said he has only ever seen 2 go bad. Part not in stock, but due in tomorrow. Warranty covers. Click to expand...

its scary to know that all airplanes since A320 are fly by wire, too Click to expand...

Dano58 said: I suspect that they may have more redundant systems that a car would..... Dan D '99 Impreza 2.5 RS (son's) Central NJ USA Click to expand...

• Jan 22, 2008

UPDATE: I went out to the garage yesterday AM to drive over to AutoZone. The car started right up, rolled out of the garage and down the driveway. Put the car in drive, stepped on the gas, and nothing but idle. Parked in front of the house and called for a tow to the dealer. Problem is a bad relay in the "throttle by wire" circuitry. Dealer said he has only ever seen 2 go bad. Part not in stock, but due in tomorrow. Warranty covers. Click to expand...

• Jun 14, 2021

QX said: Need info for a 2005 Forester XT turbo (USA). I drove into work this AM without a problem. After work, engine idled rough, had a steady check engine light, and flashing cruise light (flashes 1x per second), virtually no power at all. Checked oil, found it 1.5 qt low (this is the day after a long, long drive at freeway speeds). Added oil, now engine is smooth runs like it always has,(steady idle and normal power & accelleration), but the check engine remains on & cruise control light is still flashing once per second. Could this just be a residual indicator from the low oil? and now the system needs a reset to get the lights out? or ???? Can anyone advise how to pull the codes without a meter? How does one reset the check engine light? Thanks to all in advance. Click to expand...

• Nov 10, 2021

My 2013 forester running normal. Check engine light and flashing cruise control came on. Still running fine with warning lights on. I take it to dealership for service . FYI on my second engine due to huge oil consumption which blew first engine. Second engine failed oil consumption test. I carry oil everywhere I go due to consumption and check oil often. Subaru very aware and say nothing can be done. Main concern today is check engine light on  

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Home & renters insurance, car repair estimates, read car content, jerry data & research, why is my subaru’s cruise control light flashing.

The cruise control on my Subaru hasn’t been working for a few days now. When I try to turn it on, the cruise control light just flashes. Why is this happening and what can I do about it?

• Malfunctioning speed sensor
• Loose gas cap
• Failing brake pedal switch
• Traction control system issues
• Malfunctioning mechanical components (in older Subarus)

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Subaru Forester -- check engine light, flashing cruise control, misfiring cylinder, rough idling

I have 2006 Subaru Forester that is idling roughly. 90k – oil change every 3k miles. Per diagnostic codes I learned that the 2nd cylinder was misfiring. I replaced the coil, spark plugs, ignition wires, and an airflow sensor. Yet, my car still idles rough. The check engine light is solid and the cruise control is flashing. The idling problem only happens when stopped… after I get high rpms there is no shaking. I had someone disconnect the battery and reset the computer and the lights stayed off for about a week and idling was fine. Week later – the problem returned. I think this an electrical problem, but not sure if mechanical. Any thoughts?

It might be a good idea to check the compression on all cylinders. It’s possible that No. 2 could be misfiring due to a tight valve and it’s always best to weed out any mechanical issues before replacing anything.

It could also be a bad head gasket.

Being that it runs ok when you have your foot on the gas and idles rough when its off leads me to guess a vacuum leak of some sort. Check that every single hose is connected tightly and theres no small cracks or dry rotting. Look around your throttle body.

The other possibility, although im slightly leaning towards it not being this - a bad IAC.

Using a vacuum gauge might help pin down an engine problem also.

You need to get the codes read again. If you do then post them

Although I am mechanically challenged on post 1976 vehicles I would guess valve problems. My 1971 Mustang 250 cu in inline 6 cylinder suddenly started to idle so rough it was shaking itself apart in 1981. It was normally smooth on the highway. I did a compression test and 2 cylinders were dead. When I pulled the head 2 exhaust valves were very badly burned due to a head gasket air leak. I took the head to a local machine shop and was treated to one of those rare lucky moments. The owner of the shop had a completely rebuilt head with brand new valves, springs, rocker shaft, rocker arms, and pushrods, A customer had brought it in more than a year earlier and never came back. He sold it to me for his parts cost $85! It went another 50,000 miles until I sold it with no problems!

Our 06 Forester LL Bean edition bought in 07 with a couple thousand miles on it and at 51000 now has been having this cruise control light/check engine light issue for couple years, Dealer just keeps saying its the gas cap. Never offers to check it out. Same nice guy that charged over $2300 for head gaskets on my 02 Impreza. We have replaced gas cap, most of exhaust system, and its still on again.

" I had someone disconnect the battery and reset the computer and the lights stayed off for about a week and idling was fine."

There’s the mystery. Have the computer reset again. If runs perfectly fine afterward for a few days like before, then reverts to bad running, I’d be looking at the PCM (engine computer).

@bobcu174 , maybe providing some info about any codes that were set could lead to some assistance on this forum.

You state the dealer says it’s the gas cap but never offers to check it out. The question is not whether they will offer to check it out; it’s whether or not you will authorize a diagnostic and any associated labor charge to do so.

At least with a roomful of monkeys pounding on typewriters there is at least a faint chance they could eventually pound out some decent literature...... ;-)

There’s the problem. The dealer usually has only a few “service advisers”, maybe if they had a couple hundred we’d stand a faint (albeit very, very, faint) chance of getting the correct work done on our cars. LOL

Note to bobcu174; had this problem w/ a 2007 LL Bean Forester. It was the check valves mounted on top of the fuel tank - plastic parts that degraded, leaked and generated the emission code. PIA to change because you have to drop the tank.

Take the car to Autozone or Advance and get the codes read and report back.

has the accelerator stopped working?

I have a 2007 L.L. Bean Edition Forrester. The cruise light is flashing and check engine light is solid. I am well into my retirement age and nearest dealer is about 2 hours away. Is this something that local mechanic can fix? He is very good, but not Subaru schooled. Help, I’m afraid to drive it now.

@kansasgirl - you need to start a new discussion on this. Copy what you wrote, then click on the “New Discussion” button (top right) and paste it in, with an appropriate title.

I had a similar problem with the flashing cruise control and check engine light. Had a scan done at a local repair shop. The problem was a faulty stoplight switch. The complete list of symptoms included: - check engine light on - cruise control light flashing - brake lights not working occasionally - shifter stuck in park occasionally. Needed to use a screwdriver to push in a release mechanism beside the base of the shifter. I was told all of these problems were related to the faulty stoplight switch. Everything is working fine… for now.

I had a similar issue on a completely different car (Lexus is300) and it turned out that the battery was failing and I guess not supplying enough energy to operate things at very low engine speeds. On my car the stability control flashed and something else, not the check engine light, was on. I bought a new battery from Costco, and it fixed everything. And yes, I did clean the terminals really well first, and it did not help.

The bottom line of this thread is that the car needs to be diagnosed by a competent mechanic ASAP. Driving it this way may very likely be doing further damage, even though the CEL is not flashing.

Any good shop will likely start by downloading the stored fault codes. In addition, they’ll very likely do a compression test, a leakdown test, and if they haven’t nailed it down by them they’ll probably put the engine on an ignition analyzer to check the spark out. They’re probably going to ask you questions about your oil usage and operating problems as well, and they may test the coolant for evidence of hydrocarbons.

My guess is that somewhere in the process of the above actions they’ll find out exactly what your problem is and ask you what you’d like to do from there. Post back and let us know. We do care, but this needs to be looked at hands-on.

Agree with you mountain bike, in addition many newer model vehicles (especially subarus) will flash the cruise control light to warn that it will not function with the check engine light on and the engine running poorly

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Considering there's only about 3-5 sources in the U.S. now you've got to be apprehensive! It used to be that some news outlets took pride in producing worthy media even if it meant operating at a loss. Now we're bombarded with Scott Peterson type stories 24/7 as if they're the the only one's in the world. Talk about red herrings.  

Forester VS Outlander Forester VS Outlander This a video from meeting Forester Moscow Club vs Outlander club. :lol: http://www.youtube.com/v/A4VUR29jwXU  

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Test-driving the 2024 subaru crosstrek wilderness.

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The all-new Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is an attractive, capable machine, good for outings and carting doggos, equipment, kids or the mob off to the rock concert, the woods, the beach or similar. Combining Subaru’s renowned Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with a revised drivetrain, standard X-MODE, elevated 9.3-inch ground clearance and exclusive body cladding, the 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness is rugged and trail-capable, as it should be.

2024 Subary Crosstrek Wilderness

It doesn’t have the best get-up-and-go, but some will be ok with that and it’s therefore good for the conservative and careful or new or inexperienced drivers. Subaru also says 96% of Subaru Crosstrek vehicles sold in the last 10 years are still on the road today, a great endorsement especially for a ride you expect to slam around, at least a little. It starts at a relatively inexpensive $31,995, another plus.

It’s about as Subaru-y as you can get, with my tester covered in trim- specific orange accents on the roof rack and elsewhere and its big logo on each door and the rear gate.

You’ve got a body-color roof spoiler and black side mirrors with integrated turn signals. It also features a versatile ladder-type roof rack system with a 165-lb. dynamic load capacity and a 700-lb. static load limit, allowing safe use of larger roof-top tents. The roof rail design provides flexibility to fit a wide variety of carrying accessories, including Genuine Subaru Accessories available from Subaru retailers if you go that route.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

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An available option package for Wilderness includes Power Moonroof; 10-way power driver seat with 2-way lumbar support and a Harman Kardon® 10-speaker system with 432-watt equivalent amplifier for an MSRP of $2,270.

It’s attractive – for a Subaru – and you’ll have no trouble finding it in parking lots.

Your seats are upholstered in comfortable, water-resistant Subaru StarTex material displaying Subaru’s Wilderness logo embossed in the front headrests. Copper colored contrast stitching accents the interior, complementing the anodized copper-finish accents on the shifter (had to Google “anodized”) gauge meter rings and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The driver is greeted with a Wilderness logo appearing in the meter display at start-up. So far, so good.

Standard all-weather floor mats feature a outdoorsy Wilderness design. In the cargo area, a removable water-resistant rear cargo tray protects the load floor from wet, muddy gear tossed in the back. The rear gate comes equipped with an LED light for better nighttime visibility.

You’re powered by a 2.5-liter direct-injection SUBARU BOXER engine, making a feeble 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. You’ve got a revised differential gear ratio and retuned Lineartronic CVT which will improve the SUV’s climbing ability, and the new tuning for the CVT optimizes traction at low speeds and on slippery surfaces. Additionally, maximum towing capacity more than doubles to 3,500 lb. thanks to the addition of a transmission oil cooler.

An 11.6 inch screen dominates the cockpit, but I found it easy to use and its icons attractive. Despite my tester arriving with a Harman Kardon 10-speaker system with 432-watt equivalent amplifier, I found the sound substandard no matter if I was listening to commercial radio or by syncing playlists from my phone. The sound in my tester was muffled and un-punchy.

My weeklong drive took me into New York City and in and around the streets and highways of Yonkers, with as many as 5 full-sized passengers. For my purposes, there wasn’t a thing wrong with any of these journeys except I found the acceleration feeble.

I happened to get into my buddy’s 2012 Impreza during my Crosstrek test, and took off like a shot everywhere I went. It meant getting back into the Crosstrek ever-so-much of a bummer. It doesn’t have a lot of power, end of story. A standard shift would be ideal.

I did not find the brakes in any way peculiar or hard to get used to as some others have reported. The vehicle did what was asked of it in its own time and I found a pleasant, unremarkable driving experience. That’s not necessarily a “bad” thing, as I pointed out at the start of this article. It just meant than when the car went back, I had no particular memory of its drive within just a couple of days.

I already mentioned the problem I had with the sound system. But one thing that really got my goat were the seat belt alerts in the back seat. I had a 75-pound dog during my entire test, and she fit nicely in the back with the protective cover I had, but she made the seat belt alarm go off back there. So I buckled all the seatbelts in the back to shut the alarm off.

When I put three humans back there, I naturally had to unbuckle the seat belts for them so they could be used. But then, when they were gone and it was back to the pooch, “bong bong bong bong bong bong bong.” Over a week’s test, as people came and went in the car, unbuckling and then rebuckling the seat belts really got on my nerves.

Safety equipment

Like all 2024 Crosstrek models, the Wilderness is equipped with the brand’s award-winning EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, which includes Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control; Pre-Collision Braking; Pre-Collision Throttle Management; Lane Departure and Sway Warning, and Lead Vehicle Start Alert. In addition, Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are standard on the new model.

The Crosstrek Wilderness also comes standard with Automatic Emergency Steering. The feature works in conjunction with EyeSight and Blind-Spot Detection to assist with steering control to help avoid a collision at speeds less than 50 mph. Standard Reverse Automatic Braking adds an extra measure of safety in tight trail situations and while parking.

More About Its Off-Road Capability

Usually I let readers investigate all the off-road charms of a vehicle by directing them to the manufacturer’s website, but the more I read about what Subaru has done to make this the best off-roader it can be this side of a Wrangler or similar, the more impressed I was, so here goes.

Exclusive suspension components give the 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness 9.3-inch ground clearance, more than a half-inch increase over the other Crosstrek models, which already were among the highest in their segment. Longer coil springs and shock absorbers provide the added ground clearance, while special tuning helps maintain dynamic performance.

Longer travel strokes for the front and rear shock absorbers help keep the tires in contact with rough surfaces, and increasing stability.The Crosstrek Wilderness also comes equipped with Yokohama GEOLANDAR® all-terrain tires for optimal performance in mud, gravel or snow. Mounted on exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels in matte-black finish, the tires are embossed with raised white letters.

X-MODE for Maximum Control

Snow / Dirt and Deep Snow / Mud modes are all on deck to assist – but no Sport. To help maximize traction in varying conditions, each mode specifically optimizes the engine output and CVT ratio positions, increases the Active All-Wheel Drive engagement and enhances the control logic of the Vehicle Dynamics Control with Traction Control System.

The X-MODE display features a Roll-Angle Indicator to help the driver judge potentially hazardous situations.

This technology also helps make Crosstrek Wilderness a nimble climber. When the X-MODE system is activated, Low Speed / Low Ratio Gradient Control is automatically put on standby to sense when the vehicle is traveling on a steep incline at low speed. When it does, the system shifts the CVT to its lowest ratio (4.066:1). Combined with the Wilderness model’s lower differential ratios, the system also enhances rough off-pavement, low-speed drivability over rocks and other situations that require repeated on/off accelerator usage.

Standard Hill Descent Control will automatically engage individual wheel braking control on downgrades when the vehicle is driven under 12 mph with the accelerator pedal pressed less than about 10 percent. Active Torque Vectoring , standard on all 2024 Crosstrek models, enhances handling stability on road or trail.

Conclusion: The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is functional and attractive, it can hold a lot of stuff and it’s on the lower end of the spectrum sticker-wise. It’s a good choice for fans of the brand. It just doesn’t go very fast.

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