What are the most common 2013 Crosstrek problems?

Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (27%), the engine (15%) and the steering (15%). A complaint can name more than one area.

Has the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek been recalled?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek, the most recent in February 2019 (exterior lighting). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

2013 Subaru Crosstrek: Solid

Owners filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek in its first five years on the road, about 62 for every 100,000 sold: 0.8× the rate of a typical Crosstrek year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (27% of complaints, median 44,000 miles).

Complaint index: 0.8×; per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Crosstrek year
Rank: 2nd of 9; 1st = fewest complaints
Complaints: 26; first five years; 62 per 100,000 sold
Recalls: 3; campaigns

1st generation, 2013–2017 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate

Photo: 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles

Powertrain27% · 7 complaints · median 44,000 miles
Engine15% · 4 complaints
Steering15% · 4 complaints
Air bags4% · 1 complaints
Visibility12% · 3 complaints
Brakes8% · 2 complaints
Speed control8% · 2 complaints
Electrical8% · 2 complaints
Lights4% · 1 complaints
Suspension4% · 1 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Engine

Owners commonly report their Crosstrek burning oil quickly between changes, and many describe engine stalling or rough running tied to a valve spring recall repair. Some say dealers couldn't get parts for months, leaving them driving a car they worried would stall or need a new engine.

Warning signs:: Many report low oil warning lights, engine tapping or knocking noises, rough starting, stalling, hesitation, sputtering, or check engine and stability/traction control lights before or during the failure.
What shops did:: Dealers often diagnosed low oil pressure or valve spring fracture, replaced valve springs under recall, and some owners report needing engine disassembly or full engine replacement; several say parts were unavailable or wait lists were long.
Mileage:: most between 30,000 and 100,000 miles, among 18 complaints that give it

“Slow starting when turning over from stop/park/cold/hot. Excessive oil use after each 3,000 miles.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, No. 11341024 · View complaints on NHTSA

“Engine sputters and hesitates at stop lights and in slow moving traffic, and engine consumes 800% since the repair.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, No. 11328065 · View complaints on NHTSA

Powertrain

Owners of this Crosstrek report repeated front axle/CV joint replacements, often starting with a clicking sound when turning, along with CVT transmission trouble like stalling, slipping, or warning lights. Repairs ranged from axle swaps to full transmission replacement, with some covered by extended warranty and others not.

Warning signs:: Many report a clicking noise when turning that preceded axle failure, and some describe warning lights, jerking, RPM drops, or sudden slowing/stalling before transmission issues.
What shops did:: Dealers commonly replaced axles or CV joints, and in transmission cases replaced valve bodies, solenoids, or the whole transmission, sometimes under extended warranty.
Mileage:: most between 60,000 and 90,000 miles, among 17 complaints that give it

“Both times I diagnosed the issue when I heard a clicking noise on sharp turns”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, No. 11071994 · View complaints on NHTSA

“the transmission seized, causing the vehicle to come to a sudden stop”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, No. 11762874 · View complaints on NHTSA

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (3)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›

NHTSA 19V149000February 20191,303,530 vehicles
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
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.
Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge.
NHTSA 18V772000November 2018165,534 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling: engine
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.
NHTSA 13V061000February 201347,419 vehicles
Equipment · 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.
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.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Subaru sent NHTSA 446 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2013 Crosstrek. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

16-156-25R · August 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body.
SubaruNet Announcement (R · May 2026This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
03-97-26 · April 2026This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
05-97-26 · April 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is…
15-300-22R · January 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
18-226-25R · December 2025This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
16-156-25 · September 2025This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body.
Subaru Service Technical · August 2025Subaru Service Technical Support Newsletter special edition.

All 2013 Crosstrek bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?: Owners filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek in its first five years on the road, about 62 for every 100,000 sold: 0.8× the rate of a typical Crosstrek year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Crosstrek years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2013 Crosstrek problems?: Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (27%), the engine (15%) and the steering (15%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek been recalled?: Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek, the most recent in February 2019 (exterior lighting). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. The 2013 Subaru Crosstrek on NHTSA.gov · How we rate