Subaru Crosstrek Rear Suspension: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

A genuinely important finding on related SLS-equipped models: the matching strut is expensive and dealer-only, often cheaper to convert away from SLS entirely — plus an alarming account of suspension corrosion.

Illustration of a suspension strut and coil spring

Illustration for editorial purposes

OEM Part Numbers

Accuracy note: we weren't able to verify a confident Subaru Crosstrek rear suspension part number at the time of writing. Please confirm the correct part via a Subaru dealer or parts specialist using your VIN.

Often the Quieter Half of the Conversation

Front suspension tends to get most of the attention since it also handles steering, but the rear axle wears too — often more subtly, with symptoms that are easy to write off as road noise until they get worse.

Before you buy: rear suspension design and components vary by trim, body style and engine weight. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

What It Does

The rear suspension manages how the rear wheels respond to the road surface, working alongside the front suspension to control body movement and keep the car stable under braking and cornering. Depending on trim, the Crosstrek uses different rear axle designs, which affects both ride character and which specific components need replacing when something wears.

Subaru Crosstrek Rear Suspension reference plate

A Genuinely Important Finding Worth Knowing About Corrosion and Cost

This is genuinely worth knowing if your car has Self-Levelling Suspension: documented cases on related Subaru models describe the matching SLS strut being expensive and only available through dealers when a rear coil spring needs replacing, so much so that it's often cheaper to convert away from SLS entirely than to source the like-for-like part.

A genuinely alarming, real safety point worth knowing about corrosion: documented cases describe rear suspension components corroding severely enough to fracture, and a coil spring rusting through so completely it broke apart entirely.

It's also genuinely worth knowing that a dealer replacing one broken coil spring has, in at least one documented case, been followed by both rear struts leaking within days — the theory being the original faulty spring had placed extra stress on the struts before it was replaced.

Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Rear Suspension Guide for symptoms to watch for (and which design — torsion beam or multi-link — your car actually has), confirming fitment against your VIN, and aftermarket guidance.

More Subaru Rear Suspension

The same part, covered across other Subaru models.