2013 Subaru FORESTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
77 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 55 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 77 complaints (33.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 15.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 26 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
Engine: 26; Air Bags: 13; Service Brakes: 9; Unknown Or Other: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Power Train: 5; Exterior Lighting: 3; Seat Belts: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 22 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 7; 2015: 9; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2018: 9; 2019: 16; 2020: 6; 2021: 6; 2022: 4; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10626173 · 2014-08-18 (August 18, 2014)
2013 SUBARU FORESTER. 07/25/14 CAR HAD DIFFICULTY TIME ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY.REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING AND GETTING VERY HOT. DEALER INSPECTED R/F WHEEL, ROTOR WAS BLUE AND HARD TO TURN. INSPECTED BRAKES AND FOUND PADS STUCK IN BRACKET. CLEANED AND LUBED PAD SLIDES, CHECKED CALIPER WHICH WAS OK. REPLACED R/F ROTOR DUE TO RUNOUT CAUSED BY HEAT, HAD .007 RUN ROADTEST OK.) THE CALIPER WAS NOT REPLACED ON 07/25/2014. ON 08/18/2014 THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED CAR HAD DIFFICULT TIME ACCELERATING. BOTH FRONT RI…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,206 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10632420 · 2014-09-11 (September 11, 2014)
I WAS DOING ROUGHLY 25/30 MILES AND MY CAR ACCELERATED TO A MUCH FASTER SPEED AND HIGHER RPM'S CAUSING ME TO JAM ON THE BRAKES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10573062 · 2014-03-18 (March 18, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN A BURNING ODOR BECAME PRESENT. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A IMPOUND LOT AND WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIM…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10702935 · 2015-03-31 (March 31, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY UP GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOORMAT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WOULD CATCH ON THE CLUTCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10702935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11207747 · 2019-05-15 (May 15, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. *TR CONSUMER STATED MY SAFETY AND OF THOSE AROUND ME WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH ON LIKE MODELS FOR JUST THIS TYPE OF OCCURRENCE, BUT NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11207747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11387558 · 2021-01-11 (January 11, 2021)
THE CAR ENGINE WANTS TO STALL OUT WHEN CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHILE PULLING ONTO THE STREET. IT USUALLY DOES THIS WITHIN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. IT ALSO WANTS TO STALL OUT WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP-IT WILL SHUDDER AND SHAKE AND CATCH ITSELF AT TIMES BUT IT USUALLY STALLS OUT. IT WILL STALL OUT IN TRAFFIC WHEN I AM STOPPING AT A LIGHT. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND CONTINUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDS REPLACED FOR 1200.00.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11387558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10531708 · 2013-07-24 (July 24, 2013)
THE MIRROR ON MY CAR FELL OFF WHEN I WENT TO ADJUST IT. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED HOW TO REATTACH IT, THE SERVICE CENTER WAS EVASIVE, I WAS ASKED TO BRING THE CAR IN. ONCE I ARRIVED I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT A RETRO FITTED BRACKET WOULD BE INSTALLED. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS TOLD NO. THIS IS A SERIOUS KNOWN PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. THE MIRROR IS ATTACHED BY A BRACKET THAT CONTAINS AN ELECTRICAL CORD FOR A LIGHT. THERE IS NO WAY TO DETACH THE MIRROR FROM THE ELECTRICAL CORD. ONCE THE BRA…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,988 miles reported. Look up ODI 10531708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11055843 · 2017-12-21 (December 21, 2017)
SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WE HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT 6 TIMES. IN THIS SAME TIME PERIOD WE HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ONLY ONCE. THIS CONCERNS ME, AS IT MAKES ME THINK THERE IS A WIRING PROBLEM & A POSSIBILITY OF A MORE SEVERE PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10924905 · 2016-11-07 (November 7, 2016)
I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE, PUT CAR IN PARK BUT LEFT IGNITION RUNNING AND HEADLIGHTS ON. I HAVE PARKED IN THIS SPACE SEVEN YEARS AND WAS NOT IN HABIT OF PULLING THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAD A VISITOR WHO NEEDED TO SEE DECK STEPS AS IT WAS NIGHTTIME. WE BOTH GOT OUT, WENT UP THE STEPS AND I RETURNED TO TURN OFF CAR. WHEN I LEAVE KEYS IN IGNITION I KEEP DRIVER'S DOOR AJAR TO PREVENT UNWANTED LOCKING. I OPEN DOOR, LEAN IN TO TURN OFF KEY. BEFORE I CAN REACH THE KEY, THE CAR STARTS ROLLING BACKWARDS. I THROW MYSELF SIDEWAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10924905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11519432 · 2023-04-28 (April 28, 2023)
When the clutch is depressed the engine kills without indication anything is happening. All the dash lights come on and the power steering goes out. It has been happening repeatedly since last June. More frequently over time. If it happens on an off ramp or at an intersection the engine will not start for up to 5 minutes creating a safety hazard.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11519432 at NHTSA ↗