2013 Subaru Impreza Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Subaru Impreza.

20122014
Complaints
343
Crashes
23
Fires
10
Injuries
6
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2013 Subaru Impreza Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#179 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:54,628 mi
Crash-related:4
#274 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:64,012 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:3
#331 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:80,947 mi
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Subaru Impreza.

Airbags
79
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
54,628
Engine Problems
74
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
64,012
Electrical Faults
31
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
80,947
Transmission / Drivetrain
23
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
89,829
Brakes
22
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Avg Miles
42,687
Steering Defects
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
40,925
Unintended Acceleration
13
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
43,908
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
65,140
Seat-Related Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
58,333
Headlight/Taillight Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
86,154
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
87,022
Seat Belt Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,672
Body Structure
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
48,000
Electronic Stability Control
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Subaru Impreza. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Subaru Impreza

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,616,610 vehicles.

19V149000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
~1,303,530 affected

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.

18V772000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~165,534 affected

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.

16V738000Electrical System
~100,127 affected

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.

13V061000Other Equipment · Electrical System
~47,419 affected

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.

Other Subaru Impreza Years

2013 Subaru Impreza — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Subaru Impreza reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2013 Subaru Impreza has 343 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 79 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Subaru Impreza?
Top reported problems: Airbags (79 complaints, avg 54,628 mi); Engine Problems (74 complaints, avg 64,012 mi); Electrical Faults (31 complaints, avg 80,947 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Subaru Impreza?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 61,836 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Subaru Impreza?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Subaru Impreza include 23 crash-related reports, 10 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Subaru Impreza have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,616,610 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Subaru Impreza?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2013 Subaru Impreza shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Subaru Impreza reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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