2013 Subaru Crosstrek problems & reliability
26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek, alongside 1 safety recall campaign. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine → | 11 | 42% |
| Electrical System | 5 | 19% |
| Power Train | 4 | 15% |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 12% |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 8% |
| Unknown / Other | 2 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 1 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 4% |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 4% |
| Seats | 1 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 14 reported components →Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving, the transmission seized, causing the vehicle to come to a sudden stop. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to a…”
Power Train · filed Sep 8, 2026
“The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that after refueling with the fuel tank at 3/4 tank full, the fuel gauge failed to provide the correct fuel level. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the fuel sending tank, but the failure continued to occur. The contact indicated that…”
Electrical System · filed Oct 13, 2021
“Car parked and some electrical wire? Caused car to catch fire? The back drivers side of the hatchback/trunk area was burnt/ melted through to the metal and the wires around the back window on inside were hanging down and hot plastic dripped down onto a box of papers that were in the hatchback. The papers had black…”
Electrical System · filed Jul 26, 2019
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
272 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. The 10 most recent:
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
16-156-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 20, 2026
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or…
15-308-23R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 20, 2026
This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
15-304-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 13, 2026
Techtips newsletter locator index.
Article Locator · Other · issued Aug 5, 2026
This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin
15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 1, 2026
This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.
SubaruNet Annoucement (E · Other · issued Jun 12, 2026
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
16-156-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 2, 2026
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
01-167-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 18, 2026
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
16-156-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 13, 2026
This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
SubaruNet Announcement (R · Other · issued May 4, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2013 Subaru Crosstrek has 1 NHTSA recall campaign — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2013 Subaru Crosstrek?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.