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2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 78.

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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

52 reports with mileage · 44 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.

  • Engine. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

21 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2026
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

I have been working with Subaru of America and Capital Subaru service in San Jose, CA for a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek XV 2.0 CVT automatic engine shortly after we bought it used for multiple faulty known engine problems with this specific make and model. Since we have owned the vehicle, we have not been able to drive it for more tha…

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I have been working with Subaru of America and Capital Subaru service in San Jose, CA for a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek XV 2.0 CVT automatic engine shortly after we bought it used for multiple faulty known engine problems with this specific make and model. Since we have owned the vehicle, we have not been able to drive it for more than 2 months short distance at a time due to engine, Valve body, major low oil pressure problems, and multiple sensor issues. This vehicle has been very dangerous for us to drive and has left us stranded not to mention paying the bank we financed payments to for a car we have been unable to use since purchasing. Subaru of America and Capital Subaru in San Jose have been awful, insensitive, and unhuman to our concerns and needs. We had to call them several times and were repeatedly ignore both parties for several days without any answers or any solutions. We have spent many sleepless nights worrying about not having a vehicle to get to work and my daughter who drove the car when she could in Nursing school with the burden of having no transportation and all the stress and worrying. There is a long history of defected engines because of the poor way these were built for our specific year, and we were told repeatedly that it was the lack of maintenance from the previous owner being the cause of the issues when that in fact is a lie as we have several maintenance records routinely. I will never buy or recommend these defected and lemon cars again especially when it involves the safety of your life! Having to tow to and from our home to the dealership service parts was a big waste of time and a joke just to hear, "We are sorry but nothing is covered and your liable for the diagnostic and fixing for your car that will be $5,800 which our car was only worth $5,600 through Kelly blue book and we still owe a remainder of $9,000 to the financing bank.

NHTSA ODI #11730251

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2024
EnginePower Train

The recall Type: Safety Service Campaign:WTY84 NHTSA Campaign: 18V772000 FB20 Valve Spring Replacement was reported completed by the manufacturer Subaru has no record of it being done. My car is now experiencing symptoms of this recall when I had no issues prior and want me to pay to look into the problem further. Now my vehicle…

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The recall Type: Safety Service Campaign:WTY84 NHTSA Campaign: 18V772000 FB20 Valve Spring Replacement was reported completed by the manufacturer Subaru has no record of it being done. My car is now experiencing symptoms of this recall when I had no issues prior and want me to pay to look into the problem further. Now my vehicle has a check engine light for a recall that was potentially not done as I have no proof that it was completed.

NHTSA ODI #11620686

Mileage unknown · May 27, 2022
Power Train

Transmission failure while driving on highway caused it to suddenly stalled. On restarting engine, car kept jerking and stopping, became undrivable. Only 46,700 miles on the clock. No warning lights, no warning of any kind. Subaru issued 10 year extended warranty covering transmission on this car but should have recalled and rep…

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Transmission failure while driving on highway caused it to suddenly stalled. On restarting engine, car kept jerking and stopping, became undrivable. Only 46,700 miles on the clock. No warning lights, no warning of any kind. Subaru issued 10 year extended warranty covering transmission on this car but should have recalled and replaced since failure is catastrophic and dangerous. I took my car to Subaru dealer and they found low transmission fluid. Instead of inspecting the seals, they blamed the problem on oil change by an independent garage, accusing them of erroneously drained out transmission fluid before the car broke down.

NHTSA ODI #11466318

Mileage unknown · May 10, 2021
Electrical SystemPower Train

I PURCHASED 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK I AM 2ND OWNER, I NEVER SEE ANY PROBLEM FOR ENGINE LIGHT CHECK AND END UP CONTROL CURISE BLINKING AND SUBARU WILL NOT PROVIDED ANY RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUE IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVING THEY SAID ONLY WILL WARRANTY UNDER 100K THAT UNFAIR THIS NOT SAFE CAR AND SO MANY COMMON ISSUE TRANSMISSION ON…

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I PURCHASED 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK I AM 2ND OWNER, I NEVER SEE ANY PROBLEM FOR ENGINE LIGHT CHECK AND END UP CONTROL CURISE BLINKING AND SUBARU WILL NOT PROVIDED ANY RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUE IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVING THEY SAID ONLY WILL WARRANTY UNDER 100K THAT UNFAIR THIS NOT SAFE CAR AND SO MANY COMMON ISSUE TRANSMISSION ON SUBARU. IT'S FIRST MAKE 2013 ON CROSSTREK HOW IT'S EXPECT UNDER 100K MILES... SHOULD RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION FIX

NHTSA ODI #11415955

90,000 miles · Apr 8, 2021
Power Train

HILL DESCENT, SWAY CONTROL, ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME ON THE WAY TO WORK, I WAS COMING OF AN EXIT. I HAD THE CODES CHECKED AND NOTHING WAS SHOWING. OVER A MONTH LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TEMP LIGHTS CAME ON MY TO WORK. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND PARKED MY CAR. TRANS TEMP LIGHT WAS BLINKING. A FEW DA…

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HILL DESCENT, SWAY CONTROL, ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME ON THE WAY TO WORK, I WAS COMING OF AN EXIT. I HAD THE CODES CHECKED AND NOTHING WAS SHOWING. OVER A MONTH LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TEMP LIGHTS CAME ON MY TO WORK. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND PARKED MY CAR. TRANS TEMP LIGHT WAS BLINKING. A FEW DAYS LATER I HAD IT TAKEN TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I PAID FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE RESULT WAS A $1600 BILL FOR A VALVE BODY KIT, TRANS COVER GASKET, O-RING, TRANS BODY WIRING HARNESS.

NHTSA ODI #11407085

115,000 miles · Jan 13, 2021
Power Train

I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE, ALWAYS COMPLETE ROUTINE MAINTNENCE AND AS I WAS ON A TRIP, ALL OF MY LIGHTS CAME ON. I FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND THEY CAME BACK ON. I HAVE RESEARCHED MY ISSUE AND IT IS COMMON WITH THIS YEAR. SUBARU EVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THESE YEARS, YET HAS RECALLED ANY OF THE PARTS RELATED TO T…

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I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE, ALWAYS COMPLETE ROUTINE MAINTNENCE AND AS I WAS ON A TRIP, ALL OF MY LIGHTS CAME ON. I FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND THEY CAME BACK ON. I HAVE RESEARCHED MY ISSUE AND IT IS COMMON WITH THIS YEAR. SUBARU EVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THESE YEARS, YET HAS RECALLED ANY OF THE PARTS RELATED TO THE CVT TRANSMISSION. I HAD NO ISSUES, NO WARNING, WAS JUST DRIVING AND EVERYTHING CAME ON.

NHTSA ODI #11387829

122,821 miles · Dec 15, 2020
Power Train

TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY FAILED, SOLENOID 2 FAIL, AFFECTS TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL, ABS, AND HILL START CONTROL. CAUSES TRANSMISSION TEMPTS TO OVERHEAT.

NHTSA ODI #11383589

98,000 miles · Jul 22, 2020
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

SLOW STARTING WHEN TURNING OVER FROM STOP/PARK/COLD/HOT. EXCESSIVE OIL USE AFTER EACH 3,000 MILES. NO LIGHT WARNING FOR LOW OIL DISPLAYS. ENGINE BOGS OR ALMOST STALLS WHEN GIVING GAS. USUALLY WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. THIS STARTED TO OCCUR AFTER I HAD THE VALVE SPRING RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. AND ALL IGNITION COIL…

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SLOW STARTING WHEN TURNING OVER FROM STOP/PARK/COLD/HOT. EXCESSIVE OIL USE AFTER EACH 3,000 MILES. NO LIGHT WARNING FOR LOW OIL DISPLAYS. ENGINE BOGS OR ALMOST STALLS WHEN GIVING GAS. USUALLY WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. THIS STARTED TO OCCUR AFTER I HAD THE VALVE SPRING RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. AND ALL IGNITION COILS REPLACED. THE IGNITION COILS CAUSED EXCESSIVE STALLING DOWNHILL TO UPHILL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS YET USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN APPLYING GAS FROM SLOW TO MID-SPEED WHEN APPLYING GAS. MY THOUGHT WERE IT WAS DUE TO THE RECALL BUT EVIDENTLY HAD NOT RELATION. AS PER SUBARU DEALER ON MAUI. REAR WHEEL BEARING REPEATEDLY REPLACE. 3 TIMES IN ONE 1 AND A HALF YEARS. START WITH WITH WINDING NOISE THEN GETS WORSE VERY QUICKLY. WITHIN 1 TO 2 MONTHS. FELT /FEELS VERY UNSAFE. DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEED OKAY AT THE RANGE OF 45-60 MPH NOISE IS VERY PREDOMINATE. THUS REQUIRING TO DRIVE AT SLOWER SPEEDS THAN REQUIRED, I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED. IN THE COURSE OF LESS THAN 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD ALL THESE ISSUES. ALL THESE ISSUES WHERE IN THE COURSE OF BETWEEN 2018 AND 2020.

NHTSA ODI #11341024

64,400 miles · Nov 24, 2019
Power Train

AT APPROXIMATELY 64K MILES OUR XV CROSSTREK BEGAN EMITTING A LOUD HUM FROM THE REAR AND OUR GAS MILEAGE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY (18 MPG). WHEN WE TOOK IT INTO OUR MECHANIC, HE FOUND THAT THE REAR HUBS WERE DANGEROUSLY DEGRADED AND THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS FAILING. IN HIS OPINION, FAILURE OF THOSE SYSTEMS AT ONLY 64K MILES …

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AT APPROXIMATELY 64K MILES OUR XV CROSSTREK BEGAN EMITTING A LOUD HUM FROM THE REAR AND OUR GAS MILEAGE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY (18 MPG). WHEN WE TOOK IT INTO OUR MECHANIC, HE FOUND THAT THE REAR HUBS WERE DANGEROUSLY DEGRADED AND THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS FAILING. IN HIS OPINION, FAILURE OF THOSE SYSTEMS AT ONLY 64K MILES SUGGESTED A DESIGN OR PART DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #11282056

89,200 miles · Sep 30, 2019
Power Train

I WAS ACCELERATING WHILE MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE RPMS SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THE CAR SLOWED WAY DOWN. FORTUNATELY, THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, AND THE CARS BEHIND ME ON THE ON-RAMP AND ON THE FREEWAY WERE ABLE TO AVOID MY CAR AS I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS A WIDE, CLEAR SHOULDER TO PULL ONTO AS I TRIE…

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I WAS ACCELERATING WHILE MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE RPMS SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THE CAR SLOWED WAY DOWN. FORTUNATELY, THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, AND THE CARS BEHIND ME ON THE ON-RAMP AND ON THE FREEWAY WERE ABLE TO AVOID MY CAR AS I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS A WIDE, CLEAR SHOULDER TO PULL ONTO AS I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I SHIFTED INTO MANUAL MODE AND ATTEMPTED TO UPSHIFT. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAD ANY EFFECT OR IF THE PROBLEM RESOLVED SPONTANEOUSLY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11265217

Official recalls

2

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.

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.