2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other XV Crosstrek years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek. That is the most of any XV Crosstrek model year in the database (5 years). The most reported problem area is engine (35 complaints, 36%), typically at around 72,000 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 98owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 35 | 36% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 22 | 22% | 65,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 19 | 19% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 14 | 14% | 121,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 9 | 9% | 47,650 | — | — |
| Wheels | 6 | 6% | 75,746 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 5% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 5% | 30,005 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 5% | 10,100 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 4% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 3% | 10,100 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 3% | 10 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 3% | 97,727 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 3% | 60,900 | — | — |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | 49,900 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: 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.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Equipment; electrical system
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
On [XXX], while driving on public roads in West Allis, Wisconsin, the vehicle's dashboard warning lights began flashing and the transmission stopped shifting. The vehicle became stuck in a low/first-gear-type condition and would not drive normally. This was a sudden loss of normal motive power…
Nuna RAVA convertible car seat, model CS05107RFD, manufactured 10/15/2021, purchased Jan 2022. Harness failure after completing the remedy for Recall 24C-002. Both of my seats had never shown any harness problem before the recall notice. In 2025, I received the remedy kit for both and followed the…
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…
When the car is put in park the key will not come out of the ignition. Sometimes to be removed from ignition. Therefore the key will get stuck. The transmission has to be put back in drive and then back into park for the ignition system to recycle and release the key.sometimes it takes about 2 or 3…
Within 10 days of purchasing this vehicle a certified Subaru dealership documented the following safety defects. Both front CV axles failing and clicking on turns creating loss of vehicle control risk. EPS electronic power steering fault codes creating safety critical steering concern. CAN bus…
Other Subaru XV Crosstrek years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 XV Crosstrek | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 XV Crosstrek | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 XV Crosstrek | 79 | 1 |
| 2014 XV Crosstrek | 81 | 0 |
| 2013 | 98 | 2 |
See all Subaru XV Crosstrek problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek?
Owners most often report engine, power train, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 35 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other XV Crosstrek model years, the 2013 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.