← New search

2013 Subaru Crosstrek

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 43.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Crosstrek years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 26 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

26 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2026
Power Train

The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving, the transmission seized, causing the vehicle to come to a sudden stop. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it …

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving, the transmission seized, causing the vehicle to come to a sudden stop. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with a transmission solenoid and valve body failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to a dealer for regular maintenance 3,000 miles prior to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.

NHTSA ODI #11762874

1,000 miles · Oct 13, 2021
Electrical System

The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that after refueling with the fuel tank at 3/4 tank full, the fuel gauge failed to provide the correct fuel level. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the fuel sending tank, but the failure continued to occur. The contact indicated that the failure h…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that after refueling with the fuel tank at 3/4 tank full, the fuel gauge failed to provide the correct fuel level. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the fuel sending tank, but the failure continued to occur. The contact indicated that the failure had caused fuel leakage and spillage while adding fuel to the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,000.

NHTSA ODI #11436584

210,000 miles · Jul 26, 2019
Electrical SystemFire

CAR PARKED AND SOME ELECTRICAL WIRE? CAUSED CAR TO CATCH FIRE? THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE OF THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK AREA WAS BURNT/ MELTED THROUGH TO THE METAL AND THE WIRES AROUND THE BACK WINDOW ON INSIDE WERE HANGING DOWN AND HOT PLASTIC DRIPPED DOWN ONTO A BOX OF PAPERS THAT WERE IN THE HATCHBACK. THE PAPERS HAD BLACK BURNT SPOT ON…

Read full complaint

CAR PARKED AND SOME ELECTRICAL WIRE? CAUSED CAR TO CATCH FIRE? THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE OF THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK AREA WAS BURNT/ MELTED THROUGH TO THE METAL AND THE WIRES AROUND THE BACK WINDOW ON INSIDE WERE HANGING DOWN AND HOT PLASTIC DRIPPED DOWN ONTO A BOX OF PAPERS THAT WERE IN THE HATCHBACK. THE PAPERS HAD BLACK BURNT SPOT ON THEM BUT FORTUNATELY DID NOT ALL BURN. THERE WAS A DARK BLACK BROWN SPOT ON THE BACK WINDOW DRIVERS SIDE ON THE INSIDE AND THERE WAS SOOT ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AND INSIDES OF THE WINDOWS. IT GOT SO HOT THAT THE TRUNK COULD NOT BE OPENED. NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED IT. I WAS PARKED IN MY WORK PARKING LOT. I GOT TO WORK AT 7 PM AND GOT OUT OF WORK AROUND 938 AM. THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED THANKFULLY. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. ALL THE DAMAGE WAS ON THE INSIDE. MY HUSBAND IS CAR OWNER.

NHTSA ODI #11235188

10 miles · Jul 17, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BRAKE OR STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BRAKE OR STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE UNKNOWN DEALER IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS AND THE REPAIR SPECIFICS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO STAR SUBARU (206-26 NORTHERN BLVD, BAYSIDE, NY 11361, (833) 271-0487) WHERE THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO EAST HILLS SUBARU (1039 NORTHERN BLVD, ROSLYN, NY, (866) 391-1314), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). BOTH DEALERS STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY THE CONTACT WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.

NHTSA ODI #11232902

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2019
Engine

MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU DIRECTLY AND THEY BOTH STATED THAT DUE THE THE VOLUME OF CARS AFFECTED THEY WERE NOT TAKING ANY NEW APPOINTMENTS UNTIL 2020 AND TO CALL THEM BACK IN 2020. THE ISSUE IS WITH THE VALVE SPRINGS IN THE ENGINE. A FRACTURE IN THE SPRING COULD CAUSE ENGINE F…

Read full complaint

MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU DIRECTLY AND THEY BOTH STATED THAT DUE THE THE VOLUME OF CARS AFFECTED THEY WERE NOT TAKING ANY NEW APPOINTMENTS UNTIL 2020 AND TO CALL THEM BACK IN 2020. THE ISSUE IS WITH THE VALVE SPRINGS IN THE ENGINE. A FRACTURE IN THE SPRING COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. I WANT SUBARU TO REPLACE IT NOW, PAY ME TO HAVE IT FIXED SOMEWHERE ELSE OR REPLACE MY CURRENT SUBARU WITH A FAIR VALUE TRADE-IN. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND AVOID BE ILLEGAL. ON TOP OF THAT, THE RESPONSES FROM BOTH THE LOCAL AND CORPORATE OFFICES IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE. THEY SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED.

NHTSA ODI #11223061

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2019
EngineExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIRS. DUFF SUBARU (1028 S ROANE ST, HARRIMAN, TN 37748, (8…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIRS. DUFF SUBARU (1028 S ROANE ST, HARRIMAN, TN 37748, (865) 882-0113) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *BF CONSUMER STATED SUBARU SAID CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE - NO HELP DEALER BACKED UP FOR REPAIR. APPROX 6 MONTH WAIT FOR SERVICE REPAIR COMPLETED. TRADE IN A NISSAN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #11220044

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2019
Engine

DEALER NOT ABLE TO FIX RECALL PROBLEM UNTIL AUG. 28 2019 DUE TO BACKLOG CAN NOT RENEW REGISTRATION UNTIL FIXED

NHTSA ODI #11218325

145,941 miles · May 17, 2019
Engine

AFTER REPLACING VALVE SPRINGS AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP DUE TO A RECALL, NOW OIL IS MIXED IN THE COOLANT. PROBLEM APPEARED SAME DAY AS WE PICKED THE CAR FROM DEALERSHIP UPON COMPLETION OFF RECALL ISSUE. AFTER EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM THEY REPLACE COOLANT AGAIN TO TEST SEE IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES BU…

Read full complaint

AFTER REPLACING VALVE SPRINGS AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP DUE TO A RECALL, NOW OIL IS MIXED IN THE COOLANT. PROBLEM APPEARED SAME DAY AS WE PICKED THE CAR FROM DEALERSHIP UPON COMPLETION OFF RECALL ISSUE. AFTER EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM THEY REPLACE COOLANT AGAIN TO TEST SEE IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES BUT NOW THEY CLAIM PREEXISTING CONDITION!!! IMAGINE THAT! PLEASE IS THERE ANY ADVISE BEFORE WE SICK LEGAL ACTION. WE ARE AFRAID CAR WILL OVER HEAT NAD BURN ENGINE OR CATCH FIRE!

NHTSA ODI #11208251

27,000 miles · May 14, 2019
Engine

I RECIEVED A RECALL NOTICE IN DEC. 2018. I CALLED MY DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. I WAS TOLD THE NEXT APPOINTMENT WOULD BE DECEMBER 2020. I WAS TOLD THE APPOINTMENT WOULD BE MOVED UP BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT DONE EARLIER WOULD BE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND USE A LOANER OR RENTAL CAR UNTIL FIXED, …

Read full complaint

I RECIEVED A RECALL NOTICE IN DEC. 2018. I CALLED MY DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. I WAS TOLD THE NEXT APPOINTMENT WOULD BE DECEMBER 2020. I WAS TOLD THE APPOINTMENT WOULD BE MOVED UP BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT DONE EARLIER WOULD BE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND USE A LOANER OR RENTAL CAR UNTIL FIXED, APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. I LIVE 80 MILES FROM THE CLOSEST DEALER. I DON'T FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #11207547

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2019
Engine

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. (SUBARU) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2012-2014 , , XV CROSSTREK THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS IN THESE VEHICLES MAY FRACTURE CAUSING AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION OR A POSSIBLE ENGINE STALL. ITS BEEN MONTHS AND STILL NO RESPONSE FROM ANY SUBARU DEALERSHIP REGRDING MY SUBARU.

NHTSA ODI #11195263

Official recalls

1

19V149000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 28, 2019

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.