2013 Subaru IMPREZA: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF ATTEMPTS. APPEARS TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED (EITHER INDOORS OR OUTSIDE) FOR MORE THAN SEVERAL HOURS. CAR WILL CRANK OVER FOR 10+ SECONDS AND WILL NOT START. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, CAR HAS STARTED EVENTUALLY. HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH DEALER AND SIA OFFICES THAT I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR WILL MAKE WHIRRING NOISES THAT COME FROM THE BACK RH SIDE OF VEHICLE - AND ALSO A CLICKING NOISE NEAR CENTER OF DASH WHEN TURNED OFF AND SITTING. THIS WILL GO ON FOR OVER 5 MINUTES AT A TIME…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502043 at NHTSA ↗

2013 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM. *SMD ACCORDING TO THE SUBARU MANUAL, THE BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM ASSISTED THE BRAKE POWER WHEN THE DRIVER CANNOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL STRONGLY AND THE BRAKE POWER WAS INSUFFICIENT. BRAKE ASSIST GENERATED THE BRAKE POWER ACCORDING TO THE SPEED AT WHICH THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE, ON A RURAL INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WITH VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC. WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH, HE IMMEDIATELY HAD TO HIT THE BRAKE, …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10506096 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY RECENTLY ACQUIRED 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA, WHERE ANOTHER DRIVER HIT MY VEHICLE IN A SIDE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AND DRIVER DOOR (I CAN SEND THE PICTURES VIA EMAIL). THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THIS WAS ALSO NOTED BY THE EMERGENCY CREW WHO ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE A DESIGN FLAW OR DEFECT THAT SUBARU ENGINEERS NEED TO HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512512 at NHTSA ↗

WAS AT A RED LIGHT, STOPPED. LIGHT TURNED GREEN STARTED TO GO, WENT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE CAR WOULDN'T GO ANY MORE. HAD IT TOWED TO GERALD JONES SUBARU DEALER, WHERE I BOUGHT IT. WAS TOLD IT WAS DRIVER ERROR AND THE CLUTCH WENT OUT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID HE'S SEEN IT PLENTY OF TIMES IN THE WRX GOING BACK TO 2008 AND THAT SUBARU HAS DEFECTIVE WELDS ON THE VEHICLES' FIREWALL, WHICH RESULTS IN CLUTCH AND/OR BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,925 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519856 at NHTSA ↗

THE MALFUNCTION DESCRIBED IN THE FOLLOWING ALWAYS OCCURS UNDER THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING MALFUNCTION THAT IN MANY CASES WOULD RESULT IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. 1. CAR IS PARKED, WITH THE ENGINE OFF. 2. DRIVER ENTERS CAR, DEPRESSES CLUTCH PEDAL, AND RELEASES PARKING BRAKE. 3. VEHICLE ROLLS (EVEN SLIGHTLY) BEFORE ENGINE IGNITION IS TURNED ON AND ENGINE STARTS. 4. ENGINE STARTS AND THE STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536607 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT MY 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA AND WITH APPROX 10,000 MILES I GOT A LOW OIL LIGHT ON. I FOUND OUT MY SUBARU BURNS A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2500-3000 MILES. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A BRAND NEW CAR. SUBARU IS SELLING A LEMON. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536829 at NHTSA ↗

WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, TURNING THE WHEEL AND THE CAR UNEXPECTED LEAPED FORWARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED NOW 5 TIMES--ALL TIMES MOVING SLOWLY FORWARD, TURNING THE WHEEL AS WE TRIED TO PARK. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH BOTH MY PARTNER DRIVING, AND WITH MYSELF DRIVING. SO FAR WE HAVE MANAGED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES IN TIME--AND THEY STOPPED THE CAR. BUT WE FEAR CRASHING OR ACCIDENTALLY HURTING SOMEONE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546915 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE TRACTION CONTROL INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER FOUND CERTAIN SPIDER SPECIES HAD CRAWLED INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM, CREATING A WEB THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL TO FAIL. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,200. . UPDATED 03/12/14*LJ

Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548413 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-02-25 (February 25, 2013)

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.

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.

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.

Reported: 2016-10-13 (October 13, 2016)

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.

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

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.

Reported: 2018-11-01 (November 1, 2018)

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.

Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

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.

Reported: 2019-02-28 (February 28, 2019)

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.

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.

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.