2013 Subaru XV CROSSTREK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
66,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 96 complaints (36.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 14.6% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 14.6% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 10.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 7.3% |
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 | 35 |
| Power Train | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Wheels | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
Engine: 35; Power Train: 21; Unknown Or Other: 19; Electrical System: 14; Steering: 9; Wheels: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Service Brakes: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 45 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2014: 4; 2015: 11; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 7; 2019: 17; 2020: 18; 2021: 8; 2022: 9; 2023: 3; 2024: 7; 2025: 4; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10558457 · 2014-01-04 (January 4, 2014)
AFTER PARKING THE CAR IN -18 DEGREE AIR TEMPERATURE, FOR ONLY 20 MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHERE I BOUGHT THE NEW CAR 2 MONTHS EARLIER, TO ASK FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CHARLIE'S MOTOR MALL IN AUGUSTA, MAINE SAID THAT THEY HAD THREE INCIDENCES OF THIS HAPPENING THE DAY BEFORE AND THAT IS WEATHER RELATED. SHE TOLD ME THAT ALL THEY DO IS PARK THE CAR INSIDE, LET IT WARM UP, THEN RETURN IT TO THE OWNER. I FIND THAT "SOLUTION" UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN AS THE STEERI…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,070 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10558479 · 2014-01-04 (January 4, 2014)
MY WIFE AND I USED TO LOVE THIS CAR BUT......WHILE DRIVING MY RELATIVELY NEW 2013 CROSSTREK 11,000 MILES FROM WISCONSIN TO DETROIT TO ATTEND THE WINTER HOCKEY CLASSIC HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH GHOSTWALKING. (THIS IS MY 4TH SUBARU AND MY 36TH WINTER DRIVING SEASON SO NOT AN INEXPERIENCE PROBLEM.) IT WAS SNOWING BUT THE ROADS WERE CLEAR OF THICK SNOW BUT HAD A THIN GREASY SHEEN. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP A STRAIGHT LINE AND THE REAR END FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO SPIN OUT (THE OLD REAR WHEEL DRIVE FEEL) ESPECIALLY IF THE WIND BLEW. MOST CARS WERE PAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558479 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560378 · 2014-01-17 (January 17, 2014)
THE VEHICLE HAS A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S REACH AROUND 1400 RPM THE VEHICLE QUITS SLOWING DOWN AND CONTINUES FORWARD AT WHAT EVER SPEED IT IS AT. THE CAR MAY NOT BE ACCELERATING BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT IS BECAUSE IT QUITS SLOWING DOWN. IF I TOUCH THE BRAKE A BIT THE ENGINE AGAIN SLOWS DOWN UNTIL IT REACHES THE IDLE RPM OF ABOUT 750. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD TO QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKES …
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10616725 · 2014-07-28 (July 28, 2014)
RIGHT REAR TIRE IS WORN DOWN TO WEAR INDICATORS AFTER 13000 MILES. DEALER TOLD ME TO GO TO YOKOHAMA, WHO IS WILLING TO GIVE ME 1/2 OFF 2 TIRES WHICH COST $220 EACH. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10616725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10659578 · 2015-01-21 (January 21, 2015)
2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. CUSTOMER SAYS VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES AND CAN'T GET THEM FIXED BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LACKED POWER, THE STEERING PULLED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT, THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AND IT OFTEN FELT AS THOUGH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON, THE BRAKES VIBRATED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10659578 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10676889 · 2015-01-21 (January 21, 2015)
WHILE COMING TO A YIELD SIGN TO ENTER A MAJOR ROADWAY I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND NO RESPONSE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS CAR BOGGED AND STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS A LOT EVEN WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A LIGHT. WHEN TO DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG AND THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO FLASH THE COMPUTER WHATEVER THAT MEANS. I LOVE MY SUBARU BUT THIS IS BECOMING A BIT OF A PROBLEM ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO ENTER A BUSY HIGHWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10676889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10689835 · 2015-02-22 (February 22, 2015)
THIS CAR IS ABSOLUTELY SCARY ON ICE OR SNOW. IT MAY HAVE A DESIGN FLAW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE ON ICE OR SNOW. WHEN YOU HIT A PATCH OF ICE, THE AWD SYSTEM PUSHES THE TAIL OUT AND MAKES THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT WILL SPIN OUT. ON ROADS WHERE OTHERS ARE PROGRESSING IN COMPLETE CONTROL, THIS CAR IS GOING 40 WITH FLASHERS ON WITH THE DRIVER HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 29,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10689835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10690162 · 2015-02-23 (February 23, 2015)
WE WENT SKIING WITH OUR KIDS LAST SATURDAY. THERE WAS AN ICE STORM THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE ROADS WERE BAD. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN ICY ROADS MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE OWNED SEVERAL SUBARUS. AT ANY SPEED OVER 45 MPH THE BACK END WOULD KICK SIDEWAYS. I COULD TELL BY THE OTHER CAR'S ON THE ROAD THAT DAY THAT MY PROBLEM WAS UNIQUE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH DRIVERS THAT ARE NOT USED TO WINTER DRIVING. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THEY TOLD ME TO ROTATE THE TIRES AT THE CORRECT INTERVALS BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WILL ADJU…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10690162 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V061000 · Equipment | Electrical System
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V772000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗