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2013 Subaru Impreza Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 250 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru Impreza, most often about the air bags (32% of complaints, typically around 57,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Impreza model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2013 Subaru Impreza problems
Air bags
79 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: sensor.
I had to replace the passenger seat airbag because of a sensor malfunction. This is the very issue that the NHTSA is investigating for the Subaru Impreza 2012, yet I own a Subaru Impreza 2013. It is less than two years old and I should not need to replace something that is a known defect.
Cleaned upholstery and seats slightly damp, when I started car the red air bag light came on and passenger seat showed air bag off even though a passenger was in seat. It has been two days and air bag light is still on and passenger bag shows as off even if passenger is in seat. As soon as I start the car the air bag…
Engine
76 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 68,500 miles.
Factory recall for a valve spring and brake lamp switch replacement was completed on sept.25, 2019. The car engine caught on fire while I was driving on october 18, 2019. I was stopped at a red light on a city street. The police and fire departments were called to put out the flames. The fire marshal was present to…
Oil drips from gasket on too hot part of engine causing a serious fire hazard this has not happened to our vehicle yet but we were informed by our mechanic that there's a possibility that this could be a problem if not repaired have any incidents of this nature on subarus been recorded to this day?
Electrical
33 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 81,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring.
The wire harness for the blower motor switch melted and created a dangerous fire hazard. The wire harness and blower motor switch has to be replaced due to the condition. They now have to replace the whole wire harness.
Warning lamps for stability control air bag randomly light up on my dash board panel. The passenger air bag will also switch to off even when a passer is sitting in the seat or the passenger seat belt warning sound will go off if a small object is placed on the seat. My mechanic can't find the issue as I cannot…
Brakes
25 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles. Parts named most often: power assist.
Takata recall: please note shift level gear control locks when car is turned on, in park, foot on brake. The traction control sensors, emergency brake sensors, and hill sensors turn on when this happens. The gear locks and the car will not turn on or off completely when these sensors are on. It will only turn off when…
On two occasions of a rear end collision on dry pavement, while trying to avoid collision and applying the brakes extremely hard, I felt like the vehicle should have come to a complete stop. Instead the vehicle didn't stop but slid into vehicle ahead of me. I know it sounds like I'm blaming the car for my accident but…
Transmission
23 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 94,000 miles.
To start off I have an extended warranty on my vehicle felt my clutch starting to shift they told me I needed a new clutch flywheel and throttle bearing. Took it to a independent repair shop. They replaced the throttle bearing which was completely warped clutch was good but replaced anyway because at that point why…
While going 65 MPH on the highway the continuous variable transmission locked up, gas pedal became unresponsive, and the car had to be towed to the dealership. I am thankful that a car was not tailing behind me and that I was not driving during commute hours. Traction assist, hill assist, and check engine at oil temp…
Other or unspecified
21 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles.
The glass sunroof exploded while driving on the freeway. There were no external influences that would trigger such a catastrophic failure - temperature was moderate, no other vehicles in close proximity and no flying debris. Luckily, I had the interior screen closed, or I would have been showered with broken glass.
Spot welds to the firewall fail/break for the clutch and brake pedale assembly so itlll have a delay in actuation over time due to the welds breaking and because of that the assembly bar will fracture and break over time which will need to be replaced or else braking actuation will be delayed when pressed, this is all…
Steering
14 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 49,500 miles.
The steering became uneven and "sloppy" when not moving. When moving, it was easier to turn one direction than the other. The problem is described in Subaru service bulletin number 04-21-18. The steering rack assembly was replaced by the dealer. I retained the part and found that the steering gear box had cracks as…
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Impreza. While driving various speeds, the electronic steering shifted the direction of the vehicle without warning. As a result, the contact had to apply force to the steering wheel to correct the steering. The contact took the vehicle to quirk auto group (293 hogan rd, bangor, me…
Speed control
13 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 44,500 miles.
Driving up a slight grade into home garage I depressed the accelerator very slightly . The car shot suddenly forward and footbrake did not respond. Car sideswiped other car and broke thru rear panel of garage before I could stop it with handbrake. Major damage to front end of car.
Car was parked directly in front of residential garage. I started the car to pull it into the garage. As soon as I put the car in drive, with my foot still on the brake, it shot forward at full speed and crashed into a trailer at the back of the garage. The impact from the trailer broke a hole in the garage wall.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Subaru Impreza recalls
Lights: switch
Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began april 15, 2019. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is wue-90.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 forester, 2008-2016 impreza sedans, 2012-2016 impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 wrx sedans (including sti), and 2013-2017 crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of park.
Engine
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the fr-s owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began december 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, toyota owners may contact the toyota customer experience center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is wty-84.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 subaru impreza, 2012-2013 impreza stationwagon, 2013 subaru brz, xv crosstrek and toyota scion fr-s vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began december 2016. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is wtm-73.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year legacy and outback vehicles, 2008-2014 impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.
Equipment
Risk: The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the res key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on april 22, 2013. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
Full defect summary
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 legacy and outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an audiovox remote engine starter (res) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an audiovox remote engine starter (res) accessory, and certain model year 2013 xv crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an audiovox remote engine starter (res) accessory. Additionally included are certain model year 2013 legacy and outback vehicles that may have received replacement res fobs. If the res fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2013 Subaru Impreza
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Subaru Impreza?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (79 complaints, typically around 57,000 miles); engine (76 complaints, typically around 68,500 miles); electrical (33 complaints, typically around 81,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Subaru Impreza have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 28, 2019 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Subaru Impreza?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Impreza model year since 2000, with 250 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.