2013 Subaru Impreza problems and recalls

Owners have filed 249 complaints on the 2013 Subaru Impreza, and NHTSA has issued 4 recalls. The most cited component is the Air Bags (79 complaints).

249
Complaints
4
Recalls
13
Crash reports
7
Fire reports
4
Injuries
53.6
Severity index

Severity index 53.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 53.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 101 of 145 by severity index among 2013 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 30% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2013 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 79 complaints (31.7%)79 32%EngineEngine: 74 complaints (29.7%)74 30%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 33 complaints (13.3%)33 13%Service BrakesService Brakes: 25 complaints (10.0%)25 10%Power TrainPower Train: 23 complaints (9.2%)23 9%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 21 complaints (8.4%)21 8%SteeringSteering: 14 complaints (5.6%)14 6%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 13 complaints (5.2%)13 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS7931.7%
ENGINE7429.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3313.3%
SERVICE BRAKES2510.0%
POWER TRAIN239.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER218.4%
STEERING145.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL135.2%

Complaints filed per year

034682013: 112014: 92015: 122016: 132017: 192018: 272019: 682020: 292021: 252022: 112023: 122024: 52025: 62026: 2 (partial year)131415161718196820212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201311
20149
201512
201613
201719
201827
201968
202029
202125
202211
202312
20245
20256
2026 (year to date)2
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (23 against 65).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V14900028/02/2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHSubaru 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 malf
16V73800013/10/2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEMSubaru 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 fa
13V06100025/02/2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEMSubaru 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
18V77200001/11/2018ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINESubaru 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 engin

Other Subaru Impreza model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 12 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-14. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.