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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

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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

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

19 reports
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98,000 miles · Jul 22, 2020
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

SLOW STARTING WHEN TURNING OVER FROM STOP/PARK/COLD/HOT. EXCESSIVE OIL USE AFTER EACH 3,000 MILES. NO LIGHT WARNING FOR LOW OIL DISPLAYS. ENGINE BOGS OR ALMOST STALLS WHEN GIVING GAS. USUALLY WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. THIS STARTED TO OCCUR AFTER I HAD THE VALVE SPRING RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. AND ALL IGNITION COIL…

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SLOW STARTING WHEN TURNING OVER FROM STOP/PARK/COLD/HOT. EXCESSIVE OIL USE AFTER EACH 3,000 MILES. NO LIGHT WARNING FOR LOW OIL DISPLAYS. ENGINE BOGS OR ALMOST STALLS WHEN GIVING GAS. USUALLY WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. THIS STARTED TO OCCUR AFTER I HAD THE VALVE SPRING RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. AND ALL IGNITION COILS REPLACED. THE IGNITION COILS CAUSED EXCESSIVE STALLING DOWNHILL TO UPHILL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS YET USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN APPLYING GAS FROM SLOW TO MID-SPEED WHEN APPLYING GAS. MY THOUGHT WERE IT WAS DUE TO THE RECALL BUT EVIDENTLY HAD NOT RELATION. AS PER SUBARU DEALER ON MAUI. REAR WHEEL BEARING REPEATEDLY REPLACE. 3 TIMES IN ONE 1 AND A HALF YEARS. START WITH WITH WINDING NOISE THEN GETS WORSE VERY QUICKLY. WITHIN 1 TO 2 MONTHS. FELT /FEELS VERY UNSAFE. DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEED OKAY AT THE RANGE OF 45-60 MPH NOISE IS VERY PREDOMINATE. THUS REQUIRING TO DRIVE AT SLOWER SPEEDS THAN REQUIRED, I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED. IN THE COURSE OF LESS THAN 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD ALL THESE ISSUES. ALL THESE ISSUES WHERE IN THE COURSE OF BETWEEN 2018 AND 2020.

NHTSA ODI #11341024

73,000 miles · Sep 28, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other

THE ENGINE BURNS OIL TOO FAST. EVERY 800 TO 1000 MILES THE CAR REQUIRES 1OR 2 QUARTS OF OIL

NHTSA ODI #11258670

93,000 miles · Aug 12, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other

MY SUBARU DEALER COMPLETED 2 RECALL ITEMS ON 7/24/2019 - 8/1/2019 ON MY 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK.THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS AND BREAK LIGHT SWITCH. AFTER WORK WAS COMPLETED, ON 8/1/2019 I HAD MY BUMPER REPLACED FROM A REAR-END ACCIDENT I EXPERIENCED ON 7/16 (POSSIBLE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION-- IT WAS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE BEEN …

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MY SUBARU DEALER COMPLETED 2 RECALL ITEMS ON 7/24/2019 - 8/1/2019 ON MY 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK.THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS AND BREAK LIGHT SWITCH. AFTER WORK WAS COMPLETED, ON 8/1/2019 I HAD MY BUMPER REPLACED FROM A REAR-END ACCIDENT I EXPERIENCED ON 7/16 (POSSIBLE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION-- IT WAS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED IN THIS CAR SINCE PURCHASE). 8/7/2019 I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM THE AUTOBODY SHOP AND DROVE 2 MI. HOME AND PARKED WITH NO ISSUE. 8/8/2019 I DROVE 35 MI. ONE WAY TO WORK WITHOUT INCIDENT... **RETURNING HOME, I DROVE ROUGHLY 25-MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 45-70MPH, AND 5-MILES IN LIGHT, STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. 30-MILES INTO MY TRIP AT AROUND 5-15MPH MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, TRAVELING SLOWLY, TRYING TO DISCERN IF THE SHAKING WAS COMING FROM MY CAR OR FROM ONE OF MY TIRES. ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL OF MY ERROR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD AND MY ENGINE LOST POWER AND STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY (THE LIGHTS AND STEREO WERE STILL ON). WITH NO OTHER OPTIONS, I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE SO I COULD PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON DRIVING, MY CAR CONTINUED TO SHUDDER AND VERY LITTLE POWER TO ACCELERATE. IT STALLED AGAIN WITH 30 SEC. OF DRIVING. I WAS ALONE AND SCARED AND DIDN'T WANT TO SIT ON THE HIGHWAY, SO I RESTARTED MY ENGINE AND DROVE THE SHOULDER TO TRY TO REACH THE DEALERSHIP (.5 MI. AWAY) MY CAR CONTINUED TO SHAKE, HAVE NO POWER AND STALLED ANOTHER THREE TIMES AS DROVE TO REACH IT. THE DEALERSHIP DID A DIAGNOSTIC BLAMED THE "ENGINE STALL-OUT" I EXPERIENCED ON MY BUMPER REPLACEMENT, AND GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $889.00 TO FIX, WHICH IS [XXX]! THIS ENGINE STALL FROM THE RECALL REPAIR PUT ME IN EXTREME DANGER, I WAS ALONE AND TERRIFIED WHEN IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, AND NOW I AM BEING RIPPED OFF BY THE COMPANY IN CHARGE OF FIXING IT. ITS NOT RIGHT. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11243427

49,000 miles · Mar 17, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THIS CAR HAS HAD ISSUES SINCE THE 1ST WEEK, RECALLS, BROKEN PARTS, WARNING LIGHTS ON AND BAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THERE ARE 2 CURRENT RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, 1 OF WHICH SUBARU DOESN'T HAVE A FIX FOR. I TRIED TO BE NICE, BUT THEY SAID IT WILL TAKE 2-3 MONTHS TO FIX THE VALVE SPRINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEHIND. THEY OFFERED A ENTERPR…

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THIS CAR HAS HAD ISSUES SINCE THE 1ST WEEK, RECALLS, BROKEN PARTS, WARNING LIGHTS ON AND BAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THERE ARE 2 CURRENT RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, 1 OF WHICH SUBARU DOESN'T HAVE A FIX FOR. I TRIED TO BE NICE, BUT THEY SAID IT WILL TAKE 2-3 MONTHS TO FIX THE VALVE SPRINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEHIND. THEY OFFERED A ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR WHICH IS KIND, BUT THE DRIVER OF THIS CAR IS 21 AND CAN'T USE THE RENTAL. THEY SAID THAT IS MY PROBLEM. LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT, I BOUGHT A CAR IN GOOD FAITH, PAID THE BANK AND GOT THE CAR SERVICED AS SUGGESTED AND NOW THIS IS MY PROBLEM. THIS IS WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS. I ASKED FOR A LOANER THAT MY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CAN DRIVE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NONE. THEY SAID THEY ARE 50-60 CARS BEHIND IN THE CUE FOR THIS RECALL. IT'S A HUGE PROJECT AND VERY FEW MECHANICS CAN DO IT. SO I AM FACED WITH THE DILEMMA OF HAVING MY DAUGHTER DRIVE THIS RECALLED DANGEROUS VEHICLE FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS UNTIL SUBARU GETS THEIR ACT TOGETHER, OR HAVE HER DRIVE RENTAL ILLEGALLY, OR SELL IT. SUBARU HAS OFFERED $1000 OFF A NEW CROSSTREK IF WE TRADE THIS IN. $1000 IS A JOKE IN MY OPINION. THIS FEELS LIKE A SCAM. PLEASE LMK IF I HAVE ANY COURSE OF ACTION OTHER THAN THE TERRIBLE OPTIONS I CURRENTLY FACE. THANKS, RANDY

NHTSA ODI #11187402

141,000 miles · Oct 25, 2017
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALIGNED STRAIGHT WITH THE WHEELS AND THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING HOWEVER WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE HORN WILL FUNCTION. "SUBARU HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL IN AUSTRALIA FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT COUL…

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THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALIGNED STRAIGHT WITH THE WHEELS AND THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING HOWEVER WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE HORN WILL FUNCTION. "SUBARU HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL IN AUSTRALIA FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT COULD LEAD TO A SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH WOULD DISABLE CONTROL OF THE WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, HORN, DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND FEATURES ACTUATED THROUGH THE MULTI-FUNCTION STEERING WHEEL, SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, AUDIO SYSTEM AND MOBILE PHONE CONNECTIVITY". MODELS AFFECTED IN THIS RECALL INCLUDED IMPREZA AND CROSSTREK XV YEARS 2012-2014, AND FORESTER MODELS BUILT IN 2013 AND 2014. NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN THE U.S RELATED TO THE STEERING AND/OR CONTROLS (APART FROM THE TAKATA RECALLS) *TR

NHTSA ODI #11039788

23,000 miles · Feb 13, 2016
Unknown Or Other

I PARK OUTSIDE (NO GARAGE OR CARPORT) AND TEMPS HAVE BEEN VERY COLD. TODAY, I LEFT HOME AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THIS WAS THE SAME TIME THE CAR INTERIOR HAD FULLY WARMED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE CONNECTOR. HAD I BEEN AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS…

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I PARK OUTSIDE (NO GARAGE OR CARPORT) AND TEMPS HAVE BEEN VERY COLD. TODAY, I LEFT HOME AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THIS WAS THE SAME TIME THE CAR INTERIOR HAD FULLY WARMED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE CONNECTOR. HAD I BEEN AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. FORTUNATELY I HAD THE INTERIOR SUNROOF COVER CLOSED. THE REMAINING GLASS CURVES UP, NOT DOWN (AS ONE MIGHT EXPECT FROM AN IMPACT). THERE WAS NO IMPACT WITH ANYTHING--JUST DRIVING ALONG AND THEN THE EXPLOSION.

NHTSA ODI #10825968

23,000 miles · Sep 14, 2015
Unknown Or Other

TWO TIMES MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM RELEASING MY IGNITION KEY. I END UP HAVING TO WIGGLE THE KEY, PUT BACK IN DRIVE, PARK, DRIVE, PARK, AND IT FINALLY RELEASES THE KEY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AS I SEE THIS HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10763533

21,500 miles · Sep 7, 2015
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE MOONROOF/SUNROOF HAS EXPLODED. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE OUTWARD BREAK PATTERN.

NHTSA ODI #10761963

71,000 miles · Aug 12, 2015
Unknown Or Other

TWO CONCERNS. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW MARCH 2013. 5000 MILES LATER CHECK OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HAD TO ADD 1 QT. OIL. WENT TO DEALER TO INQUIRE. SAID THEY HAD TO MONITOR. CONTINUALLY HAPPENED AT 5000. FIRST SAID I HAD A FAULTY OIL SENSOR (RECALL). THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD SINCE IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE OIL WAS LOW. THEN AFTER MONITOR…

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TWO CONCERNS. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW MARCH 2013. 5000 MILES LATER CHECK OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HAD TO ADD 1 QT. OIL. WENT TO DEALER TO INQUIRE. SAID THEY HAD TO MONITOR. CONTINUALLY HAPPENED AT 5000. FIRST SAID I HAD A FAULTY OIL SENSOR (RECALL). THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD SINCE IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE OIL WAS LOW. THEN AFTER MONITORING DEALER SAID OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NORMAL. SECOND PROBLEM. AT 71000 MILES HEARD TICKING NOISE IN FRONT LEFT. DEALER SAID NEEDED TO REPLACE LEFT AXLE. POSSIBLE CAUSE ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS. AT 75000 MILES HEARD SAME NOISE ON RIGHT SIDE. DEALER MECHANIC SAID DUE TO HIGH MILEAGE IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE AXLE TO LOSE GREASE AND FAIL. FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR BOTH AXLES TO FAIL AT 71000-75000 MILES. I WOULDN'T CONSIDER THAT HIGH MILEAGE NOR WOULD I CONSIDER IT NORMAL FOR AXLES TO FAIL. SPOKE WITH THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONS 1-800-SUBARU3 CASE #1-10733639056. I PAID $628.00 TO REPLACE FIRST AXLE. THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR SECOND AXLE. THEY SAID THEY WERE ONLY REPLACING IT BECAUSE I WAS A GOOD CUSTOMER AND A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL. NOT BECAUSE THE AXLES WERE FAULTY. I WOULDN'T CONSIDER MYSELF A GOOD CUSTOMER SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY SUBARU I HAVE EVER PURCHASED AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10748272

Official recalls

2

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.

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.