repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2013 Subaru OutbackProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 297 owner complaints about the 2013 Subaru Outback, most often about the engine. It is covered by 12 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-297 the manufacturer reports only 62% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 18, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Subaru Outback has problems
297 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
67Engine2 crash/fire/injury
60Power train
42Air bags10 crash/fire/injury
34Steering2 crash/fire/injury
26Vehicle speed control7 crash/fire/injury
23Service brakes2 crash/fire/injury
23Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
15Suspension
12Fuel/propulsion system
8019 other systems11 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 67 | 2 |
| Power train | 60 | 0 |
| Air bags | 42 | 10 |
| Steering | 34 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 26 | 7 |
| Service brakes | 23 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 23 | 1 |
| Suspension | 15 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 4 |
| 19 other systems | 80 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
12 recalls
2013 Subaru Outback 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 · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Ignition: switch
Risk. The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash.
Show 8 more recalls
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2020 Q4
Parking brake
Risk. A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2018 Q1
Windshield wiper/washer: motor
Risk. If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Steering
Risk. If the shafts become disengaged, the driver would lose the ability to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 engine problems start?
48kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 45 engine complaints. 82% were reported before 100,000 miles.
18under 30k miles37under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other Outback 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 Outback median. How we score
'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 Outback safety ratings
2013 Subaru Outback SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Outback owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I purchased this car may 28th 2025 and had it over the weekend and check engine light came on and took it Monday once shop opened and came back for catalytic converter and o2 sensor I letted the dealership know about it and said its not much that i can fix it but I figured would say that since was…
According to my mechanic, the Engine Cradle is severly corroded and needs to be replaced. According to Subaru, today December 4, 2024, Subaru inspected my vehicle and determined it was badly corroded. I have pictures to show this and the report from Subaru showing they did look at this corrosion. I…
We bought this around June 2018 with ~96,000 miles. I change oil every 6 months or 6,000 miles with OEM filters and Mobil 1 0w-30 oil. This car has burned 1/2 to 3/4 of oil initially. After 140,000 miles it climbed to over 1 1/2 quarts between changes. I had repeated O2 sensor codes and sensor…
Own a 2013 Outback?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.