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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Subaru Impreza Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2013 Subaru Impreza has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 251 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Subaru dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 Subaru Impreza, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2013 Subaru Impreza owner complaints

Owners have filed 251 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru Impreza, describing incidents dated June 1, 2012 to October 12, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 79 complaints
  • Engine 76 complaints
  • Electrical System 34 complaints
  • Service Brakes 25 complaints
  • Power Train 23 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 21 complaints

Of the 251 complaints on file, 13 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 251 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11772492 · Filed

    There is a plug on wiring harness that fits into speed control for the environmental system. The control is part of this piece 72311fj050. The connection overheated and and burned the plug and the speed control switch The blower motor is now broken. In [XXX] a car without defrosters is mostly…

  • ODI #11771365 · Filed

    I took my car to McCurley Subaru on Wed, [XXX] to have recalls repaired. They were unable to repair the recall due to rusted out brackets and bolts. McCurley contacted Subaru of America and opened a case trying to seek an alternate remedy to this issue. Subaru refused to offer alternate solutions so…

  • ODI #11755639 · Filed

    The brakes failed due to a leak in the brake lines (pedal to the floor). Location of the leak is just after a union on the passenger side rear (just in front of the rear tire). Location is not well protected from corrosion similar to other recalls for the wrx and sti version of the impreza. Image…

Read all 251 complaints

Owner-reported

2013 Subaru Impreza mileage at failure

151 of the 251 complaints on file for the 2013 Subaru Impreza give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
EngineMedian 70,000 milesMiddle half 35,000–95,000 milesBased on 38 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

Brake Lights May Not Illuminate

NHTSA #19V149000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported February 28, 2019 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 1,303,530 vehicles

Repair completion: 78.3% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Subaru campaign WUE-90 · Owners notified April 15, 2019 · Vehicles built April 26, 2007 – October 28, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Engine Valve Spring Failure may cause Engine Stall

NHTSA #18V772000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine · NHTSA notice

Reported November 1, 2018 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 165,534 vehicles

Repair completion: 70.16% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Subaru campaign WTY-84 · Owners notified December 26, 2018

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Power Relay may Fail Allowing Air Pump to Overheat

NHTSA #16V738000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported October 13, 2016 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 100,127 vehicles

Repair completion: 60.9% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Subaru campaign WTM-73 · Owners notified December 16, 2016 · Vehicles built April 26, 2007 – September 13, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Remote Engine Starter Fob Malfunction

NHTSA #13V061000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported February 25, 2013 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 47,419 vehicles

Subaru campaign WQF-42 · Owners notified April 22, 2013 · Vehicles built April 1, 2012 – February 22, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Original equipment keyless entry fobs integrated on the vehicle key are not affected.Subaru's recall campaign number is WQF-42.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Subaru Impreza model years

Check your 2013 Subaru Impreza VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Subaru Impreza at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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