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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

13 reports
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10,000 miles · Oct 17, 2015
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS; BOTH WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ON MY BRAKE AT A RED LIGHT (STATIONARY) AND THE SECOND TIME, AFTER I WENT OVER A SMALL "LIP" ON THE ASPHALT, I WAS BRAKING TO PARK IN FRONT OF A HOUSE WHEN I…

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WHILE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS; BOTH WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ON MY BRAKE AT A RED LIGHT (STATIONARY) AND THE SECOND TIME, AFTER I WENT OVER A SMALL "LIP" ON THE ASPHALT, I WAS BRAKING TO PARK IN FRONT OF A HOUSE WHEN IT ACCELERATED SUBSTANTIALLY, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE AND CAR, WHILE ALMOST KILLING ME.

NHTSA ODI #10783058

7,000 miles · Mar 18, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AS IT PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A BOULDER FOLLOWED BY A TREE. THE REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AS IT PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A BOULDER FOLLOWED BY A TREE. THE REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE, INITIALLY IN NOVEMBER 2013 AND AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2014 WHILE IN REVERSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ODI #10573058

800 miles · Oct 6, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, TURNING THE WHEEL AND THE CAR UNEXPECTED LEAPED FORWARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED NOW 5 TIMES--ALL TIMES MOVING SLOWLY FORWARD, TURNING THE WHEEL AS WE TRIED TO PARK. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH BOTH MY PARTNER DRIVING, AND WITH MYSELF DRIVING. SO FAR WE HAVE MANAGED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES IN TIME--AND …

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WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, TURNING THE WHEEL AND THE CAR UNEXPECTED LEAPED FORWARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED NOW 5 TIMES--ALL TIMES MOVING SLOWLY FORWARD, TURNING THE WHEEL AS WE TRIED TO PARK. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH BOTH MY PARTNER DRIVING, AND WITH MYSELF DRIVING. SO FAR WE HAVE MANAGED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES IN TIME--AND THEY STOPPED THE CAR. BUT WE FEAR CRASHING OR ACCIDENTALLY HURTING SOMEONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546915

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.