NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Subaru WRX STI Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 Subaru WRX STI has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 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 WRX STI. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2013 Subaru WRX STI owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru WRX STI, describing incidents dated September 1, 2017 to March 8, 2018.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11223011 · Filed June 27, 2019
WHILE DRIVING, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THREE OTHER LIGHTS TURNED ON. MY CRUISE CONTROL STARTED BLINKING AND ANOTHER LIGHT WHICH MEANT I WASN'T ABLE TO USE IT OR SWITCH MY CAR INTO SPORT MODE. THESE LIGHTS NEVER WENT OUT. I WENT TO THE DEALERS AND TRIED TO DO A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT IT'S A…
ODI #11084866 · Filed April 13, 2018
WHILE DRIVING ON 1-95 THE CAR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS THE STEERING AND BRAKE PEDAL GOT VERY STIFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME, AND AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED IT HAD A ENGINE…

Read all 2 complaints

Brake Line Corrosion at Four-Way Connector

NHTSA #14V830000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA notice

Reported December 31, 2014 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 200,064 vehicles

Repair completion: 79.36% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Subaru campaign WQQ-52 · Owners notified January 27, 2015

Defect description

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia that were remedied under recall 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. The brake lines may experience brake line corrosion due to salt water splashing on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector.

Safety consequence

Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQQ-52. Notes: This recall is specific to affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI customers who had their car remedied under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. Subaru has determined that this remedy was inadequate due to incomplete repair instructions provided to dealers. Affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI vehicles that were not repaired under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014 will continue to be processed under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311. Affected vehicles not currently, or formerly, registered in the salt belt states identified in this recall are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.

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.

Brake Lines may Fail due to Corrosion

NHTSA #14V311000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings · NHTSA notice

Reported June 10, 2014 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 461,338 vehicles

Repair completion: 44.84% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Subaru campaign WQK-47 · Owners notified July 23, 2014

Defect description

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.

Safety consequence

Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.

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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2013 Subaru WRX STI. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Subaru WRX STI.

Unknown or Other; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11223011

Incident: March 8, 2018 · Filed: June 27, 2019

WHILE DRIVING, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THREE OTHER LIGHTS TURNED ON. MY CRUISE CONTROL STARTED BLINKING AND ANOTHER LIGHT WHICH MEANT I WASN'T ABLE TO USE IT OR SWITCH MY CAR INTO SPORT MODE. THESE LIGHTS NEVER WENT OUT. I WENT TO THE DEALERS AND TRIED TO DO A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR PUMP RUSTING AND GETTING STUCK EITHER OPEN OR CLOSED. THE DEALERS QUOTED ME ANYWHERE FROM 2000-3500 TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. I HAD THE CAR FOR OVER A YEAR AND FOR THAT ENTIRE TIME THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PASS EMISSIONS TESTING, USE CRUISE CONTROL, OR SWITCH MODES IN THE CAR. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIR INJECTION SYSTEM PUMP WAS STUCK AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY UPON THE STARTUP OF THE CAR. TALKING TO OTHER SUBARU OWNERS, I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR COUNTLESS OWNERS EVER SINCE THE SYSTEM WAS INTRODUCED INTO SUBARU CARS IN 2006 OR 2007. THIS IS A RIDICULOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY SUBARU, NOT BY OWNERS WHO FALL VICTIM OF THIS POORLY STRUCTURED SYSTEM. SOMETIMES, WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON, THE CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING AND WOULD STALL THE FIRST TIME UPON STARTUP. POTENTIALLY, THIS COULD START A FIRE OR ANOTHER PROBLEM. I HAD A SAFETY RECALL DONE ON MY CAR FROM 2016 FOR THE AIR PUMP, BUT THAT DID NOT AFFECT THIS ISSUE AT ALL AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

Engine

ODI #11084866

Incident: September 1, 2017 · Filed: April 13, 2018

WHILE DRIVING ON 1-95 THE CAR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS THE STEERING AND BRAKE PEDAL GOT VERY STIFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME, AND AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED IT HAD A ENGINE KNOCK AND WOULD NEED A NEW SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT. I HAVE COME TO LEARN THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAULT WITH THESE VEHICLES AND BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR A FAULTY AND DANGEROUS PRODUCT.

Other Subaru WRX STI model years

Check your 2013 Subaru WRX STI VIN

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

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