2013 Subaru Crosstrek Problems, Recalls & Reliability
175 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 54/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 73,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2013 sits among all Crosstrek years
What owners report
“The engine burns oil too fast. Every 800 to 1000 miles the car requires 1or 2 quarts of oil”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Crosstrek
“The key will not come out of the ignition when turned off and in park. The battery runs with no way to turn it off. This is a known issue with a defective part. Subaru will not cover the repair.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Crosstrek
“When the car is put in park the key will not come out of the ignition. Sometimes to be removed from ignition. Therefore the key will get stuck. The transmission has to be put back in drive and then back into park for the ignition system to recycle and release the key.sometimes it takes about 2 or 3…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Crosstrek
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 87 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 42,000 and 98,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
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…
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's…
Technical service bulletins
441 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2013 Crosstrek TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
The 2013 Subaru Crosstrek drew 175 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 54/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2013 Subaru Crosstrek problems?
The top reported problems for the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek are engine (46 complaints), other (25), and electrical (25).
At what mileage do 2013 Subaru Crosstrek problems show up?
Owners most often report 2013 Subaru Crosstrek problems around 70,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 42,000 and 98,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.