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2013 Subaru Impreza

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Impreza years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Subaru Impreza are substantially higher than the model-year median of 56.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

154 reports with mileage · 95 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports7 fire reports3 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

23 reports
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7,000 miles · Jan 28, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARA IMPREZA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARA IMPREZA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ODI #10561763

13,700 miles · Dec 30, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW SPEED COMING TO STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON,BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. RETURNED TO DEALER TO REPAIR. DEALER TOOK 2 DAYS TO REPAIR . AT WITCH IT LASTED TILL TODAY(12/30/2013). THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. VERY SCARY YOU WONDER IF THE CAR IS RELIABLE AND AL…

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BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW SPEED COMING TO STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON,BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. RETURNED TO DEALER TO REPAIR. DEALER TOOK 2 DAYS TO REPAIR . AT WITCH IT LASTED TILL TODAY(12/30/2013). THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. VERY SCARY YOU WONDER IF THE CAR IS RELIABLE AND ALWAYS AFRAID TO TRAVEL NOW. HAVE GRANDCHILDREN AND CANNOT TRUST THIS CAR. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP. HAVE TO RETURN TO DEALER (AGAIN) TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT (AGAIN). WONDER IF THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557906

8,000 miles · Oct 27, 2013
Service Brakes

IN AN OUTSIDE PARKING LOT WITH PARKING BLOCKS STARTED THE CAR AND MOVED FORWARD TOWARD AND OVER THE PARKING BLOCK AT STARTING SPEED. THE CAR LEAPED FORWARD AND LOST BRAKING POWER, WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. CAR LEAPED AHEAD ACROSS THE ASPHALT ROAD TO NEXT PARKING ROW ON GRAVEL WITH DRIVER TURNING RIGHT, TO AVOID A …

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IN AN OUTSIDE PARKING LOT WITH PARKING BLOCKS STARTED THE CAR AND MOVED FORWARD TOWARD AND OVER THE PARKING BLOCK AT STARTING SPEED. THE CAR LEAPED FORWARD AND LOST BRAKING POWER, WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. CAR LEAPED AHEAD ACROSS THE ASPHALT ROAD TO NEXT PARKING ROW ON GRAVEL WITH DRIVER TURNING RIGHT, TO AVOID A POLE AND STANDING CARS AHEAD, AND NON-ACCELERATING STEADY-SPEED MOVEMENT CONTINUED OVER SEVERAL PARKING BLOCKS ON GRAVEL WITHOUT ABILITY FOR THE DRIVER TO STOP USING BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED, WITH BRAKES DROPPING, EVEN WHEN BACK ON ASPHALT ROAD. MOVEMENT ONLY STOPPED WHEN SHIFT PUT IN PARKING POSITION. IN TOTAL THE BRAKING POWER WAS LOST FOR AT LEAST 5 SECONDS. THE TRIGGER FOR EVIDENCED BRAKE DISFUNCTION WAS LOW-SPEED FRONT-WHEEL COLLISION WITH THE CONCRETE BELOW-BUMPER PARKING BLOCK, OR PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN GOING OVER THE BLOCK, OR A COMBINATION OF THESE AND POSSIBLY OTHER FACTORS. DEALER STATED NO BRAKE FAILURE, NO FLUID LEAK, NO ERROR CODES. DRIVER HOLD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE > $2400 COST TO REPLACE DAMAGED EXHAUST SYSTEM AND SCRATCHED DRIVER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED NOT BY THE INITIAL COLLISION WITH THE PARKING BLOCK, BUT THE SUBSEQUENT UNCONTROLLABLE MOVEMENT OVER SEVERAL (4-6) PARKING BLOCKS DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL FUNCTION. HAD THERE BEEN PEOPLE, CARS OR BIGGER OBJECTS AHEAD OF THE CAR, THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE HEIGHT OF THE PARKING BLOCK WAS JUST SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE HEIGHT OF A STANDARD SPEED BUMP. WE ENCOURAGE INVESTIGATION ON SUBARU IMPREZA 2013 BRAKE AND ABS FUNCTION WHEN BRAKING OVER SPEED BUMPS, CURBS AND OTHER LOW OBSTACLES OR FOLLOWING A LOW-SPEED, LOW-OBSTACLE FRONT-WHEEL COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549683

Official recalls

4

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.

18V772000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Nov 1, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.

16V738000 · Electrical System

Oct 13, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.

13V061000 · Electrical System; Equipment

Feb 25, 2013

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Equipment

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.

Consequence: The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.

Electrical System

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.

Consequence: The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.

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.