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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

Service Brakes complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2024
Electrical SystemService Brakes

At various times of day or night, the brake lights turn on, while there is no one in the vehicle. The vehicle sits parked and is locked with the security on, and the lights just randomly turn on by themselves. The only way to turn the lights off is to go into the vehicle and step on the brake and then the lights are off after re…

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At various times of day or night, the brake lights turn on, while there is no one in the vehicle. The vehicle sits parked and is locked with the security on, and the lights just randomly turn on by themselves. The only way to turn the lights off is to go into the vehicle and step on the brake and then the lights are off after releasing the brake pedal. If the lights stay on, because it’s not noticed, then the battery drains and then needs to be jumped. It is concerning for vehicles traveling behind, because one wouldn’t know if there is an issue happening while traveling and could cause someone to be rear ended.

NHTSA ODI #11629691

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2022
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

Whilst driving down Highway 101 near Sequim WA, I was on cruise control doing 55 MPH going up a steep hill which I have done numerous times before without issue. When all of a sudden the car suddenly slowed down, for me to hear honking from a Semi behind me who had to suddenly swerve to go around us to stop him from rear ending…

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Whilst driving down Highway 101 near Sequim WA, I was on cruise control doing 55 MPH going up a steep hill which I have done numerous times before without issue. When all of a sudden the car suddenly slowed down, for me to hear honking from a Semi behind me who had to suddenly swerve to go around us to stop him from rear ending me (luckily that part of the road on the hill had a second lane for the truck to use, if not then me and my son would probably be seriously injured or dead.) I looked at the dashboard to find the engine warning light on, and the cruise control flashing, but the car was still running and drove fine with the accelerator pressed. Later on I found out this error code was P0024. When that issue happened, not only had the engine warning light illuminated, it caused not only the cruise control to disengage (without my input) but also for the vehicle stability control to stop working. Once again though the engine was still running file and in my opinion it disabling the cruise and stability control gravely endangered the occupants when it had no reason to disable them. Since then I have had other similar error codes such as P000D which have cause the same thing, but they happened on level ground so the car did not slow down so suddenly. I believe the issue is low or used engine oil, as when I got an oil change (within service life) the issues seems to have gone away; this has happened many times before. These PZEV vehicles not only in my opinion break EPA laws on emissions as they make the car burn through many quarts of oil in the service life, so how Subaru can claim PZEV when exchanging high RPS and a boat load of oil for some if any PZEV's I do not know. My car has two recalls, I have been urgently trying to get these fixed, but my two local dealerships (both 50 miles away) refuse to do the recalls as I filed a lemon complaint, and BBB complaint as one refused to honor a price match for thousands to me. I am a disabled Veteran and need car.

NHTSA ODI #11470699

60,000 miles · Dec 10, 2020
Service Brakes

THERE IS A LITTLE SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH AND BRAKE THAT HAS MY BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY ON. WHILE I AM DRIVING IF I DON'T KEEP MY LEFT FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUSHING IT UP THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL CONSTANTLY BE ON. IF I DON'T KEEP MY FOOT THERE THEN SOMETIMES WHEN I AM GOING UP A HILL OR DRIVING THE CAR WIL…

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THERE IS A LITTLE SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH AND BRAKE THAT HAS MY BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY ON. WHILE I AM DRIVING IF I DON'T KEEP MY LEFT FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUSHING IT UP THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL CONSTANTLY BE ON. IF I DON'T KEEP MY FOOT THERE THEN SOMETIMES WHEN I AM GOING UP A HILL OR DRIVING THE CAR WILL DROP RPMS AND THEN I HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE AND PUSH IT UP AGAIN. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING THE HILL ASSIST LIGHT, ON THE DASHBOARD WILL TURN ON AND THE CAR WILL ROLL DOWN THE HILL ANY DIRECTION WHEN IN REVERSE OR DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE SWITCH. I HAD GONE TO SUBARU TO DO THE RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH AND THEN A FEW WEEKS AFTER THIS ISSUE BEGAN TO OCCUR.

NHTSA ODI #11382857

10 miles · Nov 12, 2020
Exterior LightingService Brakes

BREAK LIGHTS TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WHEN CAR IS OFF. ALSO HAS IT DONE IT TWICE WERE I TOOK A SECOND TO RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL

NHTSA ODI #11374394

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2019
Service Brakes

I HAD THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH RECALL PERFORMED IN MAY OF 2019 AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE TURNING ON ALL OF A SUDDEN BY THEMSELVES AT NIGHT TIME. THE CAR IS PARKED, NOT RUNNING AND LOCKED. I THINK I HAVE RECEIVED A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. WHEN I NOTICE THIS I MUST GO OUTSIDE AND STEP ON THE BRAKE TO TURN THEM OFF. THI…

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I HAD THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH RECALL PERFORMED IN MAY OF 2019 AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE TURNING ON ALL OF A SUDDEN BY THEMSELVES AT NIGHT TIME. THE CAR IS PARKED, NOT RUNNING AND LOCKED. I THINK I HAVE RECEIVED A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. WHEN I NOTICE THIS I MUST GO OUTSIDE AND STEP ON THE BRAKE TO TURN THEM OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES THIS MONTH.

NHTSA ODI #11290645

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.