2013 Subaru Outback Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Subaru Outback. Part of Generation 4 — 2010–2014.

20122014
Complaints
403
per 10K Sold
34.1
US Sales
118,049
Crashes
34
Fires
7
Injuries
24
Fatalities
2
Recalls
12

Worst 2013 Subaru Outback Problems

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

#167 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:58,469 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#258 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:199,379 mi
#339 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:42,060 mi
Crash-related:8
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Subaru Outback.

Engine Problems
67
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
58,469
Transmission / Drivetrain
58
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
199,379
Airbags
39
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Avg Miles
42,060
Steering Defects
34
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
12,259
Unintended Acceleration
25
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
27,293
Electrical Faults
23
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
79,074
Brakes
23
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
104,476
Suspension Failures
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
9,420
Fuel System
12
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
45,404
Wipers & Visibility
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
43,139
Headlight/Taillight Failures
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
54,949
Seat-Related Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
68,057
Body Structure
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
89,200
Parking-Brake Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,775
Wheel Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
42,992
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

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

Recalls for 2013 Subaru Outback

12 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,061,376 vehicles.

20V001000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~258,813 affected

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.

20V003000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~111,562 affected

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.

20V002000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~127,547 affected

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.

19V297000Electrical System:ignition:switch
~511 affected

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.

19V008000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~330,120 affected

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.

19V007000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~43,394 affected

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.

19V009000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~452,630 affected

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.

18V626000Parking Brake
~27,175 affected

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.

18V012000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~64,179 affected

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.

16V694000Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
~592,647 affected

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.

+ 2 more recalls

Other Subaru Outback Years

2013 Subaru Outback — FAQ

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

Is the 2013 Subaru Outback reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2013 Subaru Outback has 403 NHTSA complaints, 34 crash-related, and 12 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 67 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Subaru Outback?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (67 complaints, avg 58,469 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (58 complaints, avg 199,379 mi); Airbags (39 complaints, avg 42,060 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 Outback?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 76,001 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 Outback?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Subaru Outback include 34 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 24 injuries, and 2 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 Outback have any recalls?
Yes — 12 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,061,376 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 Outback?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

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

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

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