To open the hood of a Subaru Crosstrek, you’ll need to find and push the hood release button on the dashboard next to the driver’s-side seating area. Then, you’ll need to pull the release lever located between the underside of your hood and the grille to release the secondary safety latch.

Whether you’re checking your engine coolant levels, performing an

oil change

, or getting a major

car repair

done, you’ll need to know how to open the hood of your Subaru Crosstrek. If you’ve never popped the hood of your car or can’t find your owner’s manual for instructions, we’ve got you covered.

In this guide to the Subaru Crosstrek’s hood release, we’ll show you where the latch is located, how to pop your hood, and what steps you can take if your hood won’t open. Let’s get started!

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Where is the hood release on a Subaru Crosstrek?

The Subaru Crosstrek’s hood release button is located on the bottom-left corner of the dashboard. To find the release button, open the driver’s side door and look for a small black button with a picture of an open car hood.

Before you can pop the hood, you’ll need to find the secondary hood release handle. Located on the underside of your Crosstrek’s hood, this latch acts as a safety release lever. Once the primary hood latch has been released, you can find the secondary latch by feeling around inside the hood.

How to open the hood on a Subaru Crosstrek

After you’ve found the hood release lever in your Subaru Crosstrek,

opening the hood of your car

is easy. Just follow these steps:

Push the hood release button located inside your Subaru Crosstrek until you hear the hood pop open.

Slide your hand between the underside of the hood and the front grille to locate the secondary hood release handle.

Pull the secondary handle to release the safety latch and use your hand to lift the hood up.

Grab the prop rod inside your car hood and lift it up, sliding the hook into a notch on the underside of your hood.

Once the hood is popped open and propped up, you can safely navigate under the hood to complete your vehicle maintenance. If you’re having trouble releasing one of the latches, however, any work you want to do under the hood may prove difficult.

What if the hood release latch doesn’t work?

If you’ve pressed the hood release button but your hood won’t open, you may be dealing with a broken hood latch release cable. Don’t worry—you’re not completely out of options. To open the hood on your Subaru Crosstrek, you’ll just need a large flathead screwdriver and a flashlight.

Using your screwdriver, you can open the hood latch by exerting force on the latch to release it from the spring. Don’t forget to release the safety latch! Once it’s open, you can remove the broken cable from the passenger and engine compartments.

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How to repair the Subaru Crosstrek hood release

Unless you’re backed with automotive repair experience, it’s better to hand off your Subaru to a seasoned mechanic to

replace the hood latch

In general, the replacement costs for these services sit between $150 and $300. If you take your Crosstrek to a Subaru dealership, you may have to pay more for OEM replacement parts, unless you’re covered with

OEM coverage

on your car insurance policy. If you don’t have OEM coverage, going to an independent mechanic could save you a few bucks.

On the other hand, if your broken hood latch is the result of a car accident, you may be able to cover the repair costs if you have

collision coverage

. Check with your insurance company if you have any additional coverages to avoid paying for the repairs out of pocket.

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Find savings on Subaru Crosstrek car insurance costs

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