repaired · 2020 Q3
Brake lights: switch
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.
2013 Subaru ImprezaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 251 owner complaints about the 2013 Subaru Impreza, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-738 the manufacturer reports only 61% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 20, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: FotoSleuth, CC BY 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Subaru Impreza has problems
251 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
79Air bags4 crash/fire/injury
75Engine4 crash/fire/injury
34Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
23Power train1 crash/fire/injury
23Service brakes7 crash/fire/injury
14Steering
13Vehicle speed control
9Seats
7Exterior lighting
3112 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 79 | 4 |
| Engine | 75 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 34 | 2 |
| Power train | 23 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 23 | 7 |
| Steering | 14 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 7 |
| Seats | 9 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 1 |
| 12 other systems | 31 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2013 Subaru Impreza recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Electrical system
Risk. If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
62kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 56 air bags complaints. 91% were reported before 100,000 miles.
13under 30k miles51under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other Impreza year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Impreza median. How we score
'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Subaru Impreza safety ratings
2013 Subaru Impreza SW AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (10.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Impreza owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Air bags did not go off after a car accident with a commercial box truck, car seems to be totaled. Insurance is going to inspect vehicle to confirm it being totaled. No warning lights were on at the time. Just passed inspection a month a month ago.
The airbag indicator light on the driver’s dash is illuminated most times that I drive my car. The passenger airbag indicator shows that airbags are OFF, even when someone is seated in the passenger seat. This is a very serious safety concern. What if an accident occurred and the airbags don’t…
During humid days, when a passenger sits in the passenger seat for more than a minute, the airbags will turn off for both the driver and passenger seat. With some further research, this is a somewhat common problem with 2013 Subaru Imprezas. This is a massive safety risk.
Own a 2013 Impreza?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.