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2013 Subaru Crosstrek

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 43.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 26 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

26 reports
74 miles · Jun 20, 2017
Power Train

THE CAR WOULD LOSE A QUART OF ANTI FREEZE EVERY 7500 MILES.I BROUGHT IT IN AT LEAST 8 TIMES TELLING THEM THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY PRESSURE TESTED THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 8 TIMES AND 2 SERVICE MANAGERS SAID I WAS NUTS THEY ARE BOTH FIRED. MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES FROM NEW YORK TO FLORIDA. I ASKED A SERVICE MANAGER WHEN THE CA…

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THE CAR WOULD LOSE A QUART OF ANTI FREEZE EVERY 7500 MILES.I BROUGHT IT IN AT LEAST 8 TIMES TELLING THEM THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY PRESSURE TESTED THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 8 TIMES AND 2 SERVICE MANAGERS SAID I WAS NUTS THEY ARE BOTH FIRED. MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES FROM NEW YORK TO FLORIDA. I ASKED A SERVICE MANAGER WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROX, 55K TO GIVE THIS CAR TO A MECHANIC, SERVICE WRITER OR HIM SELF TO GO ON VACATION WITH A FREE CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER DECLINED SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND WOULD NOT LET ANYBODY TAKE THE CAR. I WAS IN TOUCH WITH SUBARU CUSTOMER CARE MANY TIMES . FINALLY THE CAR HIT 74K IN VIRGINIA WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD. TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALER IN VIRGINIA AT ABOUT 6AM. THANKFULLY MY OLDEST SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH HER COMING TO FLORIDA. THEY AT THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $8000 TO FIX THE CAR. THE DEALER MUST OF CALLED SUBARU CUSTOMER CARE AND EXPLAINED BECAUSE THEY WOULD COVER $5000 AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE REST. WE GOT THE CAR BACK AND WENT 3500 MILES AND NO ANTI FREEZE LOST. THE ANTI FREEZE WAS ALWAYS CHECKED IN THE MORNING BEFORE STARTING IT UP. I CALLED SUBARU C.C AND THE GUY REVIEWED THE PROBLEM AND GAVE ME ALL MY MONEY BACK. I ALSO SAW ON THE INTERNET ANOTHER CAR WITH 68K HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11000317

83,000 miles · Jun 16, 2017
Visibility/wiper

2 WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS SINCE MAY 2013 DUE TO CHIPS/CRACKS. 21K MILES PER YEAR AVERAGE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS A LARGE CRACK THAT APPEARED ON 6/13/17. THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT 6/12. WHEN I LEFT WORK THE MORNING OF 6/13/17 THERE WAS A 6 INCH CRACK IN THE WIN…

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2 WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS SINCE MAY 2013 DUE TO CHIPS/CRACKS. 21K MILES PER YEAR AVERAGE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS A LARGE CRACK THAT APPEARED ON 6/13/17. THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT 6/12. WHEN I LEFT WORK THE MORNING OF 6/13/17 THERE WAS A 6 INCH CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE TEMP HAD A ROUGHLY 25 DEGREE F SWING FROM HOT TO COLD WITH RAIN OVERNIGHT. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THE CROSSTREK WINDSHIELD BEING MORE FRAGILE IN THIS REGARD THAT OTHER CARS. INCIDENT RATE OF DAMAGE SEEMS MUCH HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD BE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10995484

66,100 miles · Jun 6, 2017
Suspension

LEFT CONSTANT VELOCITY (CV) JOINT HAS FAILED AFTER ONLY 66K MILES. DURING TURNS THE CAR MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE THAT IS DISTRACTING AND I WAS CONCERNED THE CAR MAY INFLICT MORE DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #10993346

32,600 miles · Jan 2, 2017
Electrical System

ECO-WIRING MADE OF MATERIALS THAT ATTRACT ANIMALS. A RODENT CHEWED THROUGH MY WIRING HARNESS. $800 WORTH OF DAMAGE THAT COULD BE PREVENTED. CAR IS INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10939108

105,000 miles · Dec 15, 2016
Exterior Lighting

4TH SEAT OF REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT BULBS SO FAR (LOW BEAMS) SINCE NEW. ORIGINAL OWNERS, NO ACCIDENTS, NO AFTERMARKET ITEMS. THEY BOTH BURN AT THE SAME TIME. YOU ONLY NOTICE IT ONCE ITS DARK OUTSIDE AT YOU TRY TO DRIVE HOME FROM WORK AND NO LOW BEAMS.

NHTSA ODI #10935572

73,000 miles · Sep 30, 2016
Service Brakes

AFTER 73,000 MILES OF MOSTLY NON-PEAK HIGHWAY MILES THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. THIS CAUSED MY BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK UNTIL AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. THE DASH HILL ASSIST, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY DURING DRIVING FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THEN WE…

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AFTER 73,000 MILES OF MOSTLY NON-PEAK HIGHWAY MILES THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. THIS CAUSED MY BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK UNTIL AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. THE DASH HILL ASSIST, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY DURING DRIVING FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THEN WERE CONSTANT WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI #10910864

Official recalls

1

19V149000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 28, 2019

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: 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 number for this recall is WUE-90.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.