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2013 Subaru Impreza

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Impreza years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Subaru Impreza are substantially higher than the model-year median of 56.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

154 reports with mileage · 95 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports7 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine complaints

74 reports
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23,850 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Engine

I HAVE HAD MY 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHEN I STARTED ENDURING MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR LOW OIL. I AM BEING TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT MY OIL ISSUE IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT HAD TO BE TAKE TO THE DEALER AS MUCH AS MY SUBARU. I AM HAVING MY OIL CHANGES DONE EVERY 3-4 MONTHS …

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I HAVE HAD MY 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHEN I STARTED ENDURING MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR LOW OIL. I AM BEING TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT MY OIL ISSUE IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT HAD TO BE TAKE TO THE DEALER AS MUCH AS MY SUBARU. I AM HAVING MY OIL CHANGES DONE EVERY 3-4 MONTHS AND HAVING TO TAKE IT IN 1-2 TIMES IN BETWEEN TO HAVE OIL ADDED. EVERY TIME I SHOW UP FOR THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST I AM ABOUT 1-1/2 QTS LOW ON OIL. I PURCHASED A SUBARU BECAUSE THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE THEY ARE. NOW, I WAS TOLD THAT I JUST NEED TO CARRY OIL IN MY CAR AT ALL TIMES. I COULD UNDERSTAND IF THIS WAS A USED CAR OFF OF A LOT, THIS WAS NOT. THIS HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST PAIN OF A CAR AND I WILL BE TRADING IT IN AND NEVER BUYING ANOTHER SUBARU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609217

10,882 miles · Nov 19, 2013
Engine

I WAS DRIVING INTO WORK IN THE MORNING AND AS I ENTERED THE PARKING AREA I NOTICED MY OIL LIGHT COME ON. I PARKED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE OIL, AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE STICK. I HAD JUST CHANGED THE OIL LESS THAN 2000 MILES PRIOR TO THIS AND I WAS CONCERNED. I PROCEEDED TO CHECK FOR LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. I TOOK…

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I WAS DRIVING INTO WORK IN THE MORNING AND AS I ENTERED THE PARKING AREA I NOTICED MY OIL LIGHT COME ON. I PARKED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE OIL, AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE STICK. I HAD JUST CHANGED THE OIL LESS THAN 2000 MILES PRIOR TO THIS AND I WAS CONCERNED. I PROCEEDED TO CHECK FOR LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE IS A QUART LOW ON MOTOR OIL (0W20), AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL BECAUSE 2.0I FB ENGINES BURN A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1200 MILES AT THE MOST. THIS IS ABSURD, I AM A FORMER ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING I THOUGHT TO BE NORMAL. THIS CARS IS RATED TO GO 7500 MILES BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, AND IF I AM BURNING A QRT OF OIL EVERY 1200 MILE THEN I AM ESSENTIALLY CHANGING THE OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. TO CALL THIS A COMMON/NORMAL OCCURRENCE IS LIKE SAYING THAT THEY CARE NOTHING ABOUT THERE CUSTOMERS. THE DEALER ESSENTIALLY TOPED OFF MY OIL, PUT A STICKER IN THE WINDOW AND SAID IN 1200 MILE COME BACK AND WE WILL START AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, BUT NOT AT THE COST OF THE DEALER OR SUBARU. THIS INITIAL COST WOULD BE CHARGED TO ME THE CUSTOMER AT A COST OF ALMOST $100.00 DOLLARS WHICH I FIND RIDICULOUS SINCE THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THIS IS A DIAGNOSTIC OF A FAILURE NOT A NORMAL OIL CHANGE. WHEN I CONTACTED SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA I STILL GOT THE RUN AROUND, AND I FEEL AS IF THEY ARE HIDING THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A WHOLE FLEET OF VEHICLES OUT ON THE ROAD READY TO BLOW ENGINES AND THEY ARE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING THEY DID IN THE PAST WITH THE 2.5 AND BLAME THE CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552849

10,000 miles · Aug 22, 2013
Engine

I BOUGHT MY 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA AND WITH APPROX 10,000 MILES I GOT A LOW OIL LIGHT ON. I FOUND OUT MY SUBARU BURNS A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2500-3000 MILES. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A BRAND NEW CAR. SUBARU IS SELLING A LEMON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536829

8,500 miles · Mar 8, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion System

VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF ATTEMPTS. APPEARS TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED (EITHER INDOORS OR OUTSIDE) FOR MORE THAN SEVERAL HOURS. CAR WILL CRANK OVER FOR 10+ SECONDS AND WILL NOT START. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, CAR HAS STARTED EVENTUALLY. HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH DEALER AND SIA OFFICES…

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VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF ATTEMPTS. APPEARS TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED (EITHER INDOORS OR OUTSIDE) FOR MORE THAN SEVERAL HOURS. CAR WILL CRANK OVER FOR 10+ SECONDS AND WILL NOT START. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, CAR HAS STARTED EVENTUALLY. HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH DEALER AND SIA OFFICES THAT I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR WILL MAKE WHIRRING NOISES THAT COME FROM THE BACK RH SIDE OF VEHICLE - AND ALSO A CLICKING NOISE NEAR CENTER OF DASH WHEN TURNED OFF AND SITTING. THIS WILL GO ON FOR OVER 5 MINUTES AT A TIME, WHICH MUST DRAIN BATTERY SINCE CAR IS NOT TURNED ON OR ENGINE RUNNING. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS IS THE EMISSION SYSTEM "PURGING" ITSELF - AND IS CONSIDERED NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. SIA OFFICES CONFIRMED THIS AND ALSO STATED THAT NOTHING IS NOTED IN THE CURRENT OWNERS MANUAL WHICH EXPLAINS THIS FEATURE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE CAR IS UNABLE TO START WHEN REQUIRED TO - AND AM GUESSING THAT IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THIS UNUSUAL FEATURE... . REGARDLESS OF ORIGIN, SAFETY ISSUE WITH CAR NOT STARTING AND BEING READY TO OPERATE WHEN NORMAL STARTING PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502043

Official recalls

4

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.

18V772000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Nov 1, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

16V738000 · Electrical System

Oct 13, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

13V061000 · Electrical System; Equipment

Feb 25, 2013

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Equipment

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Electrical System

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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.