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Subaru · NHTSA safety record

2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

96

Complaints

5

Crashes

2

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek have filed 96 safety complaints with NHTSA between January 2014 and April 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 35 of them (36%). The typical failure was reported at 68,500 miles, the median across the 52 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

18V772000 · November 1, 2018

The defect
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.
The risk
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 165,534 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

13V061000 · February 25, 2013

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 47,419 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 96.

ENGINE 35 36%
POWER TRAIN 21 22%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 15%
STEERING 9 9%
WHEELS 6 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 5 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 5%
AIR BAGS 4 4%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 3 3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 18.

2014 2020 2026
2014 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

I was t-boned on 11/7 on the driver side door of the car. My car is totaled and the airbags, knee and curtain did not deploy and I was hit almost dead on on the B pillar. Unknown if the problem has been reproduced by the dealer.My knee is still hurting from the accident and my head smacked the frame.The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, but has by police, insurance, and others. All said the airbags should have deployed. There were no warning lights or otherwise to notify me that the airbags would not work.

NHTSA complaint 11705923. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 injured · 100,300 miles

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF THE INTERSTATE. SPEED WAS APROX. 70 MPH AND AMBIENT TEMP. APROX. 70 F. FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MAIN WINDOW SHATTERED. NO OBJECT WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE HIT WINDOW PRIOR TO IT SHATTERING.

NHTSA complaint 11354510. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire

On October 31 2020, The AC compressor on my vehicle caught fire while I was driving. This caused a foul odorous smoke to fill the cabin of my vehicle which was cough inducing and limited my vision. The air conditioner was not on at this time because of pleasant ambient temperatures outside. I no longer have this part because it was replaced at the dealership along with the serpentine belt that was damaged due to the fire. There was no warning light or noticeable change in the vehicle driving before the incident. I was unaware that I could report this incident until I found this website today.

NHTSA complaint 11420138. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire

Engine burst into flames during normal highway driving. Vehicle was well-maintained with all scheduled maintenance performed during the life of the vehicle. CEL was lit approximately 1 week before fire but driveability was normal.

NHTSA complaint 11478749. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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 been able to drive it for more than 2 months short distance at a time due to engine, Valve body, major low oil pressure problems, and multiple sensor issues. This vehicle has been very dangerous for us to drive and has left us stranded not to mention paying the bank we financed payments to for a car we have been unable to use since purchasing. Subaru of America and Capital Subaru in San Jose have

NHTSA complaint 11730251, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 times to get the key out. I have had to turn the car on put it in drive then park push the lock switch then turn the car off. I have been told that Subaru knows the problem exists. No recalls have been made.

NHTSA complaint 11730297. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 communication fault U0073 affecting multiple vehicle safety systems simultaneously. CVT transmission fluid critically low at 1 to 2 quarts. These defects were professionally documented by Subaru of Portland certified technicians on [XXX] at 113,494 miles. Repair quote for safety related defects totals $7,516.51. Vehicle was sold by Overland Automotive LLC 2900 SE Cornelius Pass Rd Ste 105 Hillsboro OR

NHTSA complaint 11723030, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The engine stalled unexpectedly during operation. I noticed a sudden loss of power, and the vehicle shut off without warning. This has happened more than once, posing a safety concern.

NHTSA complaint 11684352. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
THE ENGIN MALFUNCTIONED. MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WAS AT RISK BECAUSE WHEN AN ENGIN FAILS WHILE DRIVING IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH. THE VALVE SPRING WHICH IS LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGIN OF THE VEHICLE DID FRACTURE WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGIN STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. AN ENGIN STALL WHILE DRIVING WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH AND SERIOUS INJURY. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY A SUBARU DEALER SERVICE MANAGER.

NHTSA complaint 11664303. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Subaru XV Crosstrek

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2015 77 1 —
2014 81 0 —

Other 2013 Subaru models

Outback 296 Impreza 249 Forester 77 Legacy 66 BRZ 64 Crosstrek 25

Every Subaru on this site — 97 vehicles, 147 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst