IllustrationCHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL TEMP, ABS LIGHT, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT TURNED ON AT 90,000 MILES. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED BY 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND TRANSMISSION CODES STILL APPEAR.
2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 78.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Xv 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
130–25K
625–50K
1050–75K
975–100K
13100–150K
1150K+
52 reports with mileage · 44 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.
- Engine. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
3 reportsWHEN I START MY CAR OR RANDOMLY WHILE I AM DRIVING THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL, AND HILL ASSIST TURN ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY GEAR SHIFTER LOCKS UP AND WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES THE REAR LIGHTS DON'T ILLUMINATE WHILE THESE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ACTIVE. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE WA…
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WHEN I START MY CAR OR RANDOMLY WHILE I AM DRIVING THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL, AND HILL ASSIST TURN ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY GEAR SHIFTER LOCKS UP AND WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES THE REAR LIGHTS DON'T ILLUMINATE WHILE THESE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ACTIVE. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATE RANDOMLY, WHETHER I'M STATIONARY OR IN MOTIONS, REGARDLESS OF SETTING.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC CODE READER WHICH SENT THE DETAILS TO MY PHONE DTC P1449 EVAP SYSTEM CLOG DETECTED (AIR FILTER). I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE HOME...WHILE DRIVING HOME IN THE RAIN I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WE…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC CODE READER WHICH SENT THE DETAILS TO MY PHONE DTC P1449 EVAP SYSTEM CLOG DETECTED (AIR FILTER). I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE HOME...WHILE DRIVING HOME IN THE RAIN I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. WHEN I GOT HOME, MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A FAULTY PURGE VALVE WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE A SIMPLE FIX BUT THE ISSUE WAS WELL KNOWN WITH THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOW A SUPERSEDED PART. THE COST WOULD QUADRUPLE BECAUSE THE CHECK ASSEMBLY WAS COMPLETELY REDESIGNED AND SEVERAL PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IF THIS WAS SUCH A KNOWN ISSUE, WHICH REQUIRED A REDESIGN OF THE SYSTEM, WHY ISNT IT ON RECALL!!! ESPECIALLY, IF THE COMPUTER TAKES AWAY THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY FEATURES LIKE TRACTION CONTROL. COME ON SUBARU. I EXPECT BETTER QUALITY AND SERVICE! NHTSA PLEASE ESCALATE THESE MATTERS.
Official recalls
218V772000 · 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.