2013 Subaru Impreza Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 Impreza most often describe a passenger-seat sensor that switches the front airbag off while someone is sitting there, and engine problems that range from stalling and loss of power to oil leaking onto the wiring. Many reports come in between 40,000 and 100,000 miles, and a number of complaints cite the vehicle being in motion on the highway when the trouble appeared.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag turns off with someone in the seat

   • 72 complaints (29%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (51 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,140 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2024

   Owners describe the passenger airbag indicator switching to off while an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, sometimes with the red airbag warning light coming on at the same time. Reports say it happens while driving on city streets or the highway, and that restarting the car or repositioning the seat does not reliably bring the airbag back on. Several owners say a dealer attributed it to moisture or told them the sensor could not be checked unless the light was on at the time, and some note the cost of an occupancy sensor replacement. Usually reported between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, and several owners mention it appearing on longer drives or in hot or wet weather.

   What to check: With the ignition on, watch the passenger airbag indicator with an adult seated in the front passenger seat, and ask whether the occupancy sensor has ever been replaced or diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Every time it rains or is wet outside my air bag light comes on and acts as if I dont have a passenger next to me, but I do. They are sitting with seat belt on in passenger seat. But the lights on my dash say otherwise. This issue only happens when its wet out. And it shows the light on dash when im driving, not when I first start the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11074657, filed 2018-02, 98,000 miles

   “The passenger's seat ocs malfunctions with terrifying frequency. The car will be in motion with the passenger's seat occupied and the airbag light will illuminate on the dashboard. Once again while the car is in motion. I have seen many posts detailing the same experience. Subaru has recalled other cars for this problem. My 2013 Impreza needs to be included as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #11338652, filed 2020-07, 91,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalling, loss of power and valve spring failure

   • 52 complaints (21%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe the engine losing power or stalling without warning, sometimes on the highway with the check engine light and a rattling noise. Some owners link the failures to a valve spring, and a few report the engine requiring replacement or a rebuild. Owners also describe difficulty getting warranty or recall-related repairs approved, and one report notes an engine fire shortly after recall work. Mostly reported from about 60,000 miles upward, with several cases past 100,000 miles.

   Recall 18V772000

   What to check: Ask whether the valve spring recall (18V772000) has been completed, and listen for rattles or hesitation on a test drive at highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Factory recall for a valve spring and brake lamp switch replacement was completed on sept.25, 2019. The car engine caught on fire while I was driving on october 18, 2019. I was stopped at a red light on a city street. The police and fire departments were called to put out the flames. The fire marshal was present to document and take photos. My car was towed. I understand this has happened to cars involved in the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11269739, filed 2019-10, 66,800 miles

   “My wife and I were driving from california to colorado last saturday, and our car stopped running halfway across utah. A valve spring blew a hole in our ignition and we had to get our vehicle towed 50 miles to the nearest car shop. My wife later found out that their was a recall on the vehicle for that exact same issue. I contacted Subaru this morning about the recall and they said that I would have to get it towed to the nearest Subaru dealership to get assistance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11297327, filed 2020-01, 127,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal feel, pulsation and stopping complaints

   • 17 complaints (7%)
   • median 49,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners report the brake pedal vibrating, sinking toward the floor, or feeling like it hesitated before stopping the car, in a few cases after rotors, pads and calipers were replaced. Some describe the brakes not engaging at all, and one report describes a brake fluid leak with the pedal going to the floor. Others mention warning lights for hill assist, ABS and stability control coming on together with a brake switch concern. Reported from under 20,000 miles up to around 140,000 miles, so mileage varies widely across the reports.

   Recall 19V149000

   What to check: Check brake fluid level and pedal feel on a test drive, and confirm whether the brake light switch recall (19V149000) has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My cars break lights are not working. My car will lose power on the road to where it will completely die and I have to turn the ignition off and turn it back on to keep going. My emergency brake light is on my tire sensor lights are on even though tire pressure is correct there are times when I cannot get my car into gear. It will make a very loud clunking noise and then a whizzing noise when you turn the air conditioner on and then you get no power at all to the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11340075, filed 2020-07, 67,404 miles

   “On two occasions of a rear end collision on dry pavement, while trying to avoid collision and applying the brakes extremely hard, I felt like the vehicle should have come to a complete stop. Instead the vehicle didn't stop but slid into vehicle ahead of me. I know it sounds like I'm blaming the car for my accident but I have had cars stop on a dime. This car did not stop on a dime. I had the brakes applied hard enough that it should have stopped instead it continued to move forward hitting the car in front of me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10934581, filed 2016-12, 50,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on with no passenger present

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Some owners report the airbag off indicator or the red airbag warning light coming on when the passenger seat is empty, and a few describe the seat belt reminder chiming with nothing on the seat. Others describe the bag not deploying in a collision. Complaints mention that a dealer suggested a wet seat as the cause, and owners often compare their car to other model years covered by a seat sensor recall. Scattered reports from a few thousand miles up to around 80,000 miles, with no clear pattern in mileage.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light behaves normally at startup and with the seat empty, and ask whether any seat sensor work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was involved in an accident on I-10 on 11/27/2019 at 2 pm. I was traveling at 60- to 65 MPH and hit a SUV that had stopped in the left hand lane. The airbags did not deploy ( passenger or driver side) I have reported this to Subaru and so far they have not been helpful. I received contusions from my right hip to my left clavicle but no broken bones.”

   NHTSA complaint #11297758, filed 2020-01, 66,000 miles

   “I really feel my 2013 Impreza should fall into the takata recall. I made sure to check my vehicle didn't qualify, but it appears to be doing similar things presented for those currently in the recall. The first time I have proof of my airbag indicator light was 7.4.2016 at 45,896 miles. At the time, I was the only person in the vehicle. When I went to the local Subaru dealer to have it checked, they said they couldn't check it unless the light was lit (which it was not) and suggested the seat might have been wet. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11118550, filed 2018-08, 80,425 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Oil leaking onto the wiring harness

   • 31 complaints (12%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners describe oil from the oil control valve seeping into the engine wiring harness, which they connect to no-start conditions, electrical shorts, lighting failures and the engine cutting out while driving. Some reports say the vehicle was in and out of the dealer for repeated starting and electrical problems before this was identified, and one owner describes a fuel smell after a repair. Reported mostly from around 70,000 miles to over 130,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for oil residue around the front of the engine and along the harness, and ask whether the oil control valve or harness has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle has had multiple incidents of not starting, engine losing power, extended engine cranking and other electrical issues for what was unknown reasons, documented in numerous dealer reports. Was informed that the issue is due to oil leaking from oil control valve (ocv) leaking into wiring harness. Vehicle has had issues when in motion, before running and while trying to start.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343814, filed 2020-08, 120,000 miles

   “Vehicle has known defect where the oil control valves on front of engine fail and leak oil onto main wiring harness. The defect manifests itself in electrical shorts, lighting failure, engine not being able to be started, engine function failing while in use, battery failure due to short circuit created among other issues impacting starting, running, safe useage and potential dangerous failure while operating vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11406313, filed 2021-04, 135,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection check the passenger seat sensor, brake pedal and fluid condition, and any oil residue around the engine harness. Ask for documentation that the open recalls for this model year were completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.