Owners filed 297 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 12 times.
Avoid One of the Subaru Outback years to avoid: an unusual share of fires, crashes and deaths for a car of its age. Which Subaru Outback years to avoid →
When it fails
04500045,000 milesMedian miles at failure
204 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 0–10,000 miles.
Most common 2013 Subaru Outback problems
58 of the 297 complaints (20%) are about the engine.
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
57
0
1
0
Power Train · transmission
45
0
0
0
Air Bags · airbags
38
7
1
9
Steering
31
0
0
1
Service Brakes · brakes
16
2
0
0
Unknown or Other
15
0
0
0
Electrical System
13
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration
12
3
0
1
Visibility/Wiper · wipers
10
0
1
0
Suspension
9
0
0
0
2013 Subaru Outback engine problems
20% of all complaints
58 of the 297 complaints are about the engine. This is what owners describe:
sets off warning lights on the dash29% · 17
burns oil or loses oil pressure28% · 16
stalls14% · 8
leaks oil or fluid12% · 7
turns on the check engine light7% · 4
hesitates before moving or accelerating5% · 3
Share of the 58 engine complaints whose text describes each symptom. One complaint can describe several.
“Vehicle was at a stop light on a 45mph road at which time the car shook very badly, the engine stalled, and almost every dashboard light illuminated. Vehicle was unable to move putting the passengers at extreme risk of a rear end collision on a major thoroughfare. The situation was safely resolved after shutting down the vehicle for a minutes and restarting it.”
Owner complaint, filed Feb 19, 2022
“While driving near my home on June 5, 2021, the vehicle simply shut off and simultaneously all the warning lights flashed. I was unable to restart the vehicle after two or three tries. I called a tow service. About an hour later, before the tow truck arrived, I turned the key again, and the car restarted.”
Owner complaint, filed Jun 17, 2021
Complaints and recalls over time
By year of filing
All complaintsAbout the engineRecall (red: the engine)
Complaints about the 2013 Outback peaked in 2019, with 56 filed that year. No recall on file covers the engine, the subject of 20% of the complaints. In 2026 owners filed 7 so far.
12 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module20V001000
Filed Jan 2, 2020258,813 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module20V003000
Filed Jan 2, 2020111,562 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module20V002000
Filed Jan 2, 2020127,547 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
Filed Apr 11, 2019511 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Risk. The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module19V008000
Filed Jan 9, 2019330,120 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-19.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module19V007000
Filed Jan 9, 201943,394 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-19.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module19V009000
Filed Jan 9, 2019452,630 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-19.
Filed Sep 13, 201827,175 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.
Risk. A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPB actuator assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTV-81.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module18V012000
Filed Jan 9, 201864,179 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-18.
Filed Sep 27, 2016592,647 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Legacy vehicles manufactured November 26, 2008, to June 7, 2013, and 2010-2014 Outback vehicles manufactured January 9, 2009 to June 7, 2013. Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If an obstruction, such as a buildup of snow or ice prevents the wiper arms from being able to stop in the parked position, the wiper motor may overheat and the bottom cover may melt.
Risk. If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the wiper motor cover may melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor bottom cover assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTK-71. Note: This recall supersedes recall 11V-469. All vehicles that were remedied under that campaign are affected by this campaign, and need to have their wiper motor bottom cover replaced again.
Filed May 13, 20135,379 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru is recalling certain model year 2013 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from February 15, 2012, through June 15, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the inner and outer shafts of the steering column assembly may become disengaged from one another.
Risk. If the shafts become disengaged, the driver would lose the ability to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column assembly with a new one, free of charge. The recall began on May 14, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQI-45.
Filed Feb 25, 201347,419 vehiclesSubaru of America, Inc.
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
All 12 campaigns on file, newest first.
Technical service bulletins
519 on file
Repair instructions the manufacturer sent its dealers for the 2013 Outback. Not recalls: the fix is usually free only while the car is under warranty.
equipment 129engine 105electrical system 83transmission 35steering 21visibility 18body and frame 15brakes 15
In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) assembly used in the above listed models and model years from the original three (3) years or thirty-six thousand (36,000) miles (whichever comes first) to fifteen (15) years / unlimited mileage. …
In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) assembly used in the above listed models and model years from the original three (3) years or thirty-six thousand (36,000) miles (whichever comes first) to fifteen (15) years / unlimited mileage. …
Subaru owner letter. As part of Subaru of America s dedication to customer satisfaction, this letter is to inform you of an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for your vehicle s Electric Parking Brake Assembly (EPB). As the warrantor of Subaru vehicles in the United States, Subaru of America is implementing an EPB Warranty Extension program …
As part of Subaru s dedication to customer satisfaction, SOA is announcing an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) Warranty Extension program, which extends the New Car Basic Limited Warranty coverage of the EPB actuator assembly for 2010-2014 Legacy/Outback vehicles with CVT or 5AT Transmission that were sold or leased in the United States.
This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
In the interest of customer satisfaction Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage in the models listed. The extension will address instances of “phantom braking” or the EyeSight/RAB systems causing unnecessary stoppage/slowing of the vehicle.
Subaru Service TechnicalOtherAug 11, 2025engine
Subaru Service Technical Support Newsletter special edition.
This Service Information Bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines.
Showing the newest 6 of 105 bulletins about the engine, and any warranty extensions or service campaigns.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-star safety ratings
Version tested
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
2013 Subaru Outback SUV AWD
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
17.4%
New Car Assessment Program results for this model year. Ratings compare cars of similar size and weight only.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Sep 18, 2026WA
The CVT transmission in my 2013 Subaru Outback failed at approximately 93,000 miles. Approximately three weeks prior to the failure, I noticed an unusual sound while driving, but no other symptoms were apparent at that time, so I continued monitoring it. On the day of the failure, the rear tires began hopping and I lost acceleration while driving. Fortunately, this occurred while I was on my driveway, so I did not need to continue driving further. I parked the vehicle there and had it towed to my mechanic, and later to Rairdon Subaru of Auburn (WA), where the failure was diagnosed by their service department. The vehicle is available for inspection there. This loss of power and erratic rear-end behavior created a safety risk, as the same failure occurring while driving on a road could have affected the vehicle's ability to accelerate and respond predictably in traffic. This is a known issue: Subaru's own Technical Service Bulletin 16-107-17R acknowledges CVT transmission problems in 2010–2015 model year Outbacks and other models, and extended the powertrain warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles. My vehicle has only about 93,000 miles, but Subaru is denying full warranty coverage because the vehicle is outside the 10-year time limit, despite being well under the mileage limit. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives — this was a mechanical failure, not a collision.
Power Train
Filed Jul 17, 2026NY
Please contact Carvana and make them take that vehicle off the market. I purchased it and by chance found out that bottom parts like subframe and exhaust pipe were inadequately installed . The mechanic said eventually I was going to flip over myself on the highway in that car. He also stated that this repair cost would be around $8000 - more than half of this used car was offered for on Carvana. I returned the car. Half a month later is back on Carvana website for the same price. Please help! I have no alt motive but try and save someone’s life.
Air BagsCrash
Filed Jun 9, 2026NY
Not really sure, I don’t remember. It’s a wooded area , lots of deer etc. But I honestly don’t remember I saw my car It it fully intact , all doors , hood,trunk Open, car starts too Only front drivers wheel is bent in and lowest part of front bumper needs repair
Air Bags
Filed May 4, 2026NC
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after pulling into the driveway, the passenger-side door was opened and the driver-side airbag deployed. The contact stated the airbag had exploded inadvertently. The contact informed their insurance and was waiting for further instructions. The dealer was not informed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed. The failure mileage was 114,000.
Air Bags
Filed Mar 11, 2026OH
The vehicle has had the seat belt replaced twice in one year for it dinging and now Subaru dealer says the ODS sensor is bad and does not detect a passenger in the seat therefore the air bag system is not functioning properly. The dealership strongly recommend that I contact Subaru and they will most likely fix it being a Subaru and a huge safety issue. I have found a recall for this but they say not this vin number but yes it is on 2013 outbacks! They will not provide any assistance with this very costly safety issue even knowing the dealership told me to contact them.
Structure › BodyFire
Filed Jan 28, 2026IL
The vehicle caught fire while driving along the interstate. It's a total loss.
Power Train
Filed Jan 6, 2026GA
I purchased this car may 28th 2025 and had it over the weekend and check engine light came on and took it Monday once shop opened and came back for catalytic converter and o2 sensor I letted the dealership know about it and said its not much that i can fix it but I figured would say that since was a as is car and just had to come up with money... only thing month later it stalled on me and had to take to a shop to see what it is and came back for transmission but that shop told me the car never should have been sold I never try to let them know about that its been sitting since July when that happened I been trying to talk to consumer protection services but Noone willed to help but since last year was so rough I just wanted to try again once year is up
Suspension
Filed Sep 4, 2025CT
I purchased a car from Middletown Nissan on May 24, 2025. The car was assured to have all these different safety checks so far it had to have the power steering pump replaced twice the power steering lines replaced all new control arms a new bearing brand new back brakes which include rotors and pads, and four new tires When the tires were put on they found that the car had significant damage in the subframe from rotting there are holes in it. The car was at the dealership several times for different problems and they never disclose this problem. They basically told me it was my fault when I’ve had the car for two months that the frame is completely rotted. The car is clunking and not driving mechanically the way it should
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 25, 2025OR
I was pulling into a parking spot, without any warning the car accelerated through a fence and hit a tree. There were no injuries and the airbags did not deploy. A man was waving me to stop and I could not. Fortunately the small tree stopped the car. At first I thought maybe the gas pedal stuck or in human error I hit the gas to hard. But that was not the case. I could not control the car and my thought "what is happening"!
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Dec 19, 202472,000 milesPA
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes failed to engage. The contact stated that eventually, the brakes would return to normal operation. No warning light was illuminated. The contact researched and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V562000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 2024NY
According to my mechanic, the Engine Cradle is severly corroded and needs to be replaced. According to Subaru, today December 4, 2024, Subaru inspected my vehicle and determined it was badly corroded. I have pictures to show this and the report from Subaru showing they did look at this corrosion. I had wanted Subaru to replace the Engine Cradle because of the damage. They claimed the car was out of Warranty and was 12 years old. Even so, that much corrosion should not have happened.
Structure › Body
Filed Nov 6, 2024CT
The subframe has deteriorated beyond repair. This is our sixth Subaru Outback, either owned or leased, all in the same geographic area, housed 90% of the time in a covered garage. This is not normal wear and tear. The vehicle is dangerous, as inspected by a local independent service center that has serviced the car regularly for years. I have reported this to Subaru Corporate, citing that the substandard quality of the subframe has been a known issue on Subaru Outback earlier models and received a reply that Subaru would assume no responsibility whatsoever. There was no warning whatsoever. The issue was discovered during a routine service visit. The problem appeared in late July 2024. I attempted to contact Subaru two times with no response. I finally received a response in late October 2024.
Air Bags › Air Bag/Restraint Control ModuleCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 31, 202480,000 milesAZ
The contact owned a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a metal guard rail on the driver's side along the length of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle had bounced off of the rail and the front end on the passenger side had crashed into a metal post on the right side of the road. The contact stated that the force of the crash ejected him through the windshield. The contact stated that EMS and firemen were on scene but there was no police. The contact stated he had not lost consciousness. The contact was transported by ambulance to the emergency room. The contact had lacerations on his forehead, scalp, nose and chin. The contact had bruises on his chest, shoulders, both arms, and both legs. The contact stated that he was diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury. The contact stated that his insurance provider declared the vehicle a total loss. The contact was advised by his insurance provider that the air bags and the seat belt had failed to function. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Parking Brake
Filed Sep 16, 2024154,500 milesIL
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the parking brake warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that several other unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the parking brake had seized. The parking brake was released, and the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer declined to inspect the vehicle due to a title alert for a total loss report. In addition, the contact stated that he had owned the vehicle for eight years, and the vehicle had been serviced at the same dealer for routine service. The contact was informed of an unknown recall repair; however, the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,500.
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2024SC
We bought this around June 2018 with ~96,000 miles. I change oil every 6 months or 6,000 miles with OEM filters and Mobil 1 0w-30 oil. This car has burned 1/2 to 3/4 of oil initially. After 140,000 miles it climbed to over 1 1/2 quarts between changes. I had repeated O2 sensor codes and sensor replacements and finally catalytic converter codes. Replaced the converter around 160,000 miles. I took off the intake manifold after seeing excessive oil deposits under the throttle body. There's was over 1/8" of caked oil inside the manifold and butterfly valves. I'm very confused as to why the class action lawsuit didn't cover my Serial number. I checked this before buying the car and incorrectly assumed all the affected cars were included in the recall/repair process.
EngineFire
Filed Jul 1, 2024ID
The contact owned a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the contact's residential driveway, the contact noticed the smoke exiting from the hood area of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was on fire. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The vehicle remained at the contact's residence. The vehicle was condemned to total loss. The contact stated that as a result of the fire, the contact's residential driveway was damaged and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Steering
Filed May 29, 2024PA
* I detected a noise in the front end and an instability in the handling. My independent service mechanic found the cradle on the right front severely rusted out at the point where the control arm attaches. He had to condemn the vehicle. * My mechanic says that it could have resulted in a total loss of ability to steer. He says that he is unable to order the part from the manufacturer because so many are on back order. He is also unable to find any used ones. Finally, he says that in the last 3 months he has had to condemn 3 other Outbacks due to the same problem. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. *Problem confirmed by my independent service center *No *No
Engine
Filed May 16, 2024NJ
Piston rings are defective heavy oil consumption caused my engine to seize with only 150,000 miles
Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 4, 2024NJ
Strapped kayak to roof rack. Roof rack ripped off car while in traffic. Kayak went flying and was hit by a truck.
Power Train
Filed Jan 8, 2024FL
I was driving on a highway when my car started to suddenly stutter, hesitate, and jerk after about an hour on the road. I pulled over on the shoulder immediately and tried to better position the car further off the highway with the same vehicle behavior. Initially I thought a tire had blown so sudden was the impact but after exterior inspection I realized the tires were fine and the problem was probably under the hood. The CVT transmission and TCM malfunctioned, and electric parking brake engaged creating a noise. My ability to steer the vehicle in a predictable direction was gone creating a safety hazard on the highway or any road. The car had to be long-distance towed back to where I live; it could not be safely driven. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by two independent service centers, one a general service center and the other a foreign car expert service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone else. There were dashboard warning lights that came on at the time the vehicle started to shake. The lights were the vehicle dynamics control warning light and the check engine warning light. A " boat load" of transmission codes that lead to the vehicle being assessed at the foreign car service center. I am asking for Subaru’s assistance in resolving this matter. I purchased a Subaru based on recommendations from other family members and their experience of having multiple Subaru vehicles some of which lasted 300,00 miles. If this is a manufacturing probl
Seats
Filed Dec 26, 2023OR
Electronic seat recliner motor (outer bushing) noise when reclining, but Kendall Subaru in Eugene saying motor can not be fixed (defective design), only replaced with another (defective) motor @ cost near $1,000. Seat then stuck all the way back; even with seat headrest behind my back (w/sweaters on top of it even) driving comfort/visibility are not as good. [This entire electronic seat recliner motor system is inferior/defective to begin with vs. a typical manual seat reclining lever design, for at least the following reasons: 1) much slower/less easy to operate 2) plastic activation buttons easily break off 3) much less reliable, where manual lever system safety & other problems are almost unheard of 4) much more costly].
Power Train
Filed Nov 28, 2023AL
At all speeds vehicle shudders when letting off accelerator then nearly stalls. This is extremely dangerous when entering expressways or crossing oncoming vehicles. Dealer identified transmission as the problem and could reproduce, but not determine reason. Said drive until Check Engine light comes on then bring back. Light has never lit up. Dealer says Subaru stopped using this transmission because of problems, but is not allowed to rebuild or repair transmission. Says it cannot get new or rebuilt transmission from Subaru or anyone else just from totaled car auction. Dealership is offering $2500 trade in. This problem is well documented online regarding 2013 Subaru Outback’s with 2.5L engine.
Seat Belts
Filed Oct 25, 2023OR
Middle seatbelt continues to tear in multiple placed . very disturbing
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 4, 2023RI
I was pulling into a parking space very slowly when the car went into overdrive and suddenly accelerated at a high speed. It plunged down a slight decline and hit a large tree. My airbag failed to deploy although I was thrown violently forward, and the car sustained severe front end damage. The car is considered a total loss and I spent a day at a hospital emergency room. The sudden unexpected acceleration and the lack of airbag inflation is going to be assessed by Subaru on 10/24/23. I understand that there are two class action lawsuits against Subaru (in NJ & CA) for this same unanticipated acceleration issue.
Service Brakes
Filed Sep 8, 2023PA
Over time, brake pedal travel has increased and brakes have a ‘soft’ or ‘mushy’ feel. Unable to ‘lock up’ the brakes, and can frequently hit the end of travel on the brakes. Cannot stop quickly. Rotors, pads and calipers have been replaced and passed state inspection, but still unable to stop quickly in an emergency situation.
Service Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2023NH
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? ACTUATOR ASSY-EPB, part number 26002aj02c (from technical service bulletin), part is not available How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Brake light and iSight warning light comes on. Safety systems will not operate properly when these lights are on Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Brake light and iSight warning light comes on, this started several months ago After driving this car for about an hour, shutting it off then starting it back up after short amount of time, like 20 minutes, the brake warning light and iSight light (safety system/adaptive cruise control/automatic braking) will come on immediately, they will stay on until the car has been allowed to cool down for several hours. This happens more often in hot weather. This has happened about a couple dozen times already. Took the car to Eurasian Autoworks in Tilton NH, the mechanic, who i'm told is a former Subaru master tech says this is a common problem and is usually fixed by replacing the emergency brake actuator under Technical Service Bulletin 06-58-17R. I called the local dealership and they do not have
Engine
Filed Jul 22, 2023MO
I had 2 dealerships look at my vehicle and both gave me an answer that is blowing me off. As now I have seen it’s a major issue with a lot of people. Oil consumption progressively increased until it was 2 burning 2 quarts of oil for every fill up. That’s ridiculous especially when I was very religious about taking care of my vehicle. I cannot understand how a manufacturer can get away with not issuing a recall to fix their major known problem. It took me awhile to complain and the vehicle has been sitting for awhile now. It only has 145,000 miles on it. I bought a Subaru with taking care of it, keeping up with maintenance and it should have lasted in my opinion at least 200,000 miles. When you pay good money for a product and take care of it you certainly hope it lasts longer than it did. I hope others complain enough that they are forced to do something about it. I am not going to hold my breath. I am sure will not be made to take care of their issues. Know this, I’ll NEVER waste my money on another subraru EVER again! Thanks for letting me vent.
Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 22, 2023CT
Key gets stuck in the ignition. There was a recall on multiple models/years due to ignition switch failure. Mine included, but apparently not my particular car. Have read that car engine can cut off, causing a major safety issue. Brought to dealer, they say they found nothing wrong.This issue has been ongoing since January.
Power Train
Filed Jun 28, 2023TX
Like many other Subaru Outback owners, the torque converter, valve body tied to the transmission has put my Subaru out of commission at only 127k miles. There are many listservs and threads of Subaru owners who were duped by Subarus marketing of Subarus lasting into 200k miles who only reached half that because of these faulty transmissions and like myself have experienced car shuttering, stalling, and having to tow and chunk their allegedly safe cars that died half into their marketed lifespan. These cars are unsafe, have left my stranded and needing a tow and with many costly repairs https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t37876_ds770713
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Apr 7, 2023117,000 milesTX
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that on two separate occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that after several attempts of applying pressure to the brake pedal, the vehicle stopped. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The contact then stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, she depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact then stated that the after approximately thirty seconds of applying pressure to the brake pedal, the vehicle stopped. Additionally, the cruise control warning light intermittently illuminated, and the contact heard the engine revving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed but no cause for the failure was determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for the following day. The vehicle had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.
Service Brakes
Filed Mar 30, 2023MD
The electronic parking brake warning light keeps flashing indicating a failure in the off-on mechanism. The brake could go on while the car is in motion, causing loss of control. Or the brake could fail while in park, and the car could roll. Subaru mechanic has been telling me they are waiting for a part, which is on back order nationwide. This has been going on with my car for months, literally. I deal with Subaru of Rockville, MD, (240)903-9338.
Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 1, 2023CA
The hood latch released while I driving on the 101 freeway at about 70 MPH. The secondary lock held and I was able to get off the freeway. The hood would not latch after this occurred. I took the vehicle to Kirby Subaru of Ventura and had the latch replaced. I am from a medical background, where we have certain "never" events. I would consider this to be one of those never events. If the secondary latch had failed I likely would have had a catastrophic event.
Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 19, 2023MA
My horn became intermittent, and stopped working. The car will not pass state inspection. It was diagnosed as a faulty clock spring. The dealership stated that this was a common failure on Subaru's, especially those that had the Takata airbag replacement recall. They said there was no TSB or recall for the part. I reached out to Subaru customer service who said that due to the age and mileage on my car, there was nothing they could do to assist replacing the part.
Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 11, 2023VA
Driving down interstate and the sunroof suddenly explodes. Thank goodness the shade was closed. In photo below we have covered it with plastic until I find someone to repair. Auto glass companies said they do not replace sunroofs. I am taking to dealer tomorrow.
Power Train
Filed Jan 3, 2023CO
Valve body on transmission is bad. Apparently this is a common occurrence, unfortunately I’m over the extended warranty they put on the car when they new they had a problem. Why wasn’t this a recall
Electrical System
Filed Jan 3, 2023VT
BACK UP CAMERA FAILURE! The camera in the lift gate get corrosion and stops working! the safety of people walking behind the vehicle.
Engine
Filed Dec 15, 2022CT
I experienced a sudden unintended acceleration of my 2013 Subaru Outback while braking to make a left hand turn at a stoplight on Federal Road in Brookfield, CT. I was able to squeeze the brake hard while shifting into neutral to avoid slamming into the car in front of me while the engine raced. The car would have gone out of control had I not been able to press very hard on the brake pedal. This incident was not the first time this unintended acceleration of the vehicle occurred. About a month ago, I was in a similar situation on the road when I was decelerating and applying the brake that the car had a rapid unintended acceleration that caused me to press very hard on the brake pedal to keep the car from lurching forward. I’ve owned the vehicle since December 2012 and this situation has probably occurred less than 5 times over the 10 years of operation. Each time I thought it was perhaps my error for somehow touching the accelerator with my foot while the brake was applied. After the recent November 22 incident, I now realize that there is likely a systemic problem with the accelerator. I plan to have accelerator inspected by the dealer.
Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 23, 2022NY
Driving back to work, the seat belt alarm started chiming. I noticed the airbag light was on for the passenger side along with this chime. Looking it up, I see recalls for the ODS system in later years than my vehicle, but not yet for the year of mine. No incident occurred.
Engine
Filed Sep 22, 2022TX
Engine failure due to oil leakage. No “oil light” warning light ever turned on. Engine confirmed failed by repair shop and replaced.
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 2022VA
The engine was hesitating, loosing power on incline, and shaking when stopping. I had the engine replaced and the a few months later the transmission went down. The car does start but it will not go into any gear other than Park and Neutral. The car is now not drivable.
Engine
Filed Jul 21, 2022CA
Head gasket leak with 87,000 miles. All recommended service with the dealer except for routine oil changes. This is a safety issue due to the rapid overheating. Luckily for me it happened a few blocks from the dealership, but this could be deadly if I was driving in the desert.
Electrical System
Filed Jul 4, 2022ID
Vehicle horn has failed to function.
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Jul 4, 2022NV
The sun roof exploded. There was not prior damage (at least not visible to the naked eye). When it happened there was a very loud popping noise, which could be jarring enough to cause an accident. My sunroof cover was closed when the glass broke, but if it was open I could have been covered in shards of glass. I’m not sure if the sunroof has been inspected by the manufacturer. I have seen that other Subaru owners have experience the same issue. There was no warning the the sunroof is fragile and will potentially explode.
Power Train
Filed May 17, 2022114,000 milesMA
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, she heard an error alert with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 13, 2022PA
When backing out of garage, car seemed to rev up and increase speed. I was unable to stop the car while applying the brakes. Car went down over an embankment and stopped only after I put transmission into Park and car was slowed down by running over a large shrub. Luckily, I was unhurt, but easily could have been. This is the second time a similar incident has happened. I have not reported the incident previously nor had the car inspected yet.
Power Train
Filed Mar 5, 2022TN
I bought this car on 3/1/22 from a dealer, and took it for several test drives - everything was great. Carfax report is clean. On 3/3/22, I was driving on a windy road with cliffs and ledges, 45 mph when all of a sudden the brakes slammed, the tires screeched, and I heard grinding. Every alarm went off and the car fishtailed and skidded over to the side - almost going off the side of the road. Every light was blinking and alarms going off. Once I came to a stop, I tried turning the key off and turning it back on. It turned on fine - but it would not go into drive or accelerate, and all the alarms and lights were still going off. I was stranded on the side of a curvy country road where it was not easy to be seen, and easy to be hit. I had to walk 30 min, leaving the car in the middle of the road to the closest store, at which I looked up a tow truck and service station. I had it towed to a service station, and the gentleman ran diagnostics and said that his machine is coming back showing transmission issues. I literally just bought this car - and paid good money for it - I am shocked that this is a known issue and Subaru won't do a general recall to fix this! This is dangerous - because the car LITERALLY went out WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I am calling Subaru dealers today and seeing what they plan to do to fix this, or if I am going to be stuck with paying for it
Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2022IN
Vehicle was at a stop light on a 45mph road at which time the car shook very badly, the engine stalled, and almost every dashboard light illuminated. Vehicle was unable to move putting the passengers at extreme risk of a rear end collision on a major thoroughfare. The situation was safely resolved after shutting down the vehicle for a minutes and restarting it. Following the incident, the vehicle shudders often, and the car shakes very badly again if the transmission approaches 4000RPM. Vehicle will be taken in for service next week and it is suspected that Subaru will be required to replace the transmission under the extended warranty offered to all customers because of high transmission failure rates observed on this make/model of car. The NHTSA needs to require a recall on all Subaru CVTs due to unreliability and stalling putting passengers and the public at risk.
SeatsFire
Filed Feb 15, 2022173,400 milesOR
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after driving for about two hours, she switched seats with her boyfriend. While her boyfriend was driving, there was an abnormal odor present. The contact noticed smoke under the front passenger seat. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The driver attempted to put out the fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire and disconnect the battery. The contact removed the passenger seat fuse. The passenger seat was jammed. A police report was filed. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 173,400.
Wheels
Filed Jan 24, 2022IN
Driver side rear wheel bearing speed sensor experienced a spontaneous failure, leading to ABS failure and nearly lost control when rapidly decelerating from 45mph to 0mph in a short left turning lane. Failure occurred in well maintained 2013 Subaru Outback with less than 70,000 miles on it. Vehicle immediately lit up several dashboard lights (CHECK ENGINE, CRUISE CONTROL, ABS, and BREAK lights) indicating the car was unsafe to drive at moderate/high speed following the incident. ABS failure could have led to an accident in inclement weather. Wheel bearing is being replaced by mechanic.
Engine
Filed Jan 6, 2022CO
Valve spring broke dropping a valve into the engine and causing engine to seize. This is the same problem as the recall that was issued for other 2013 Subaru models, but it doesn't cover the Outback at this time. Instead, there's only a TSB (#10154425) that they've changed specifications for the valve springs.
Complaints 1-50 of 297, newest first, reproduced as filed.
Going by the federal record, it is one of the Outback years to avoid: an unusual share of its 297 complaints describe fires, crashes or deaths for a car of its age. The most common complaint is about the engine (20%). In NHTSA crash tests it scored 5 stars overall.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Subaru Outback?
The engine: 58 of the 297 complaints (20%) are about it. Owners most often say it sets off warning lights on the dash (29%), burns oil or loses oil pressure (28%) and stalls (14%). The typical report comes at 52,000 miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Subaru Outback have?
12 safety recalls on file with NHTSA, the most recent filed Jan 2, 2020. The largest, 16V694000, covered 592,647 vehicles. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
At what mileage do 2013 Subaru Outback problems start?
Half of the complaints that record an odometer reading came in before 45,000 miles. For the engine the midpoint is 52,000 miles.
Are there service bulletins for the 2013 Subaru Outback?
The manufacturer filed 519 technical service bulletins and other notices for it with NHTSA, most of them about the engine (105), the electrical system (83) and the transmission (35). They include a warranty extension, 06-71-19R, filed Oct 4, 2019. A bulletin is a repair instruction to dealers, not a recall: the fix is usually free only under warranty.
Reading this record
1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Jan 2, 2020. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.