2013 Subaru Outback Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about a CVT transmission that makes noise, slips or stops driving, and about engines that use oil between changes. The transmission reports tend to arrive at higher mileage, while the oil-use reports show up much earlier, sometimes within the first few thousand miles, and complaints describe both as gradual problems that owners noticed over time before a shop confirmed them.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT transmission noise, slipping and failure

   • 70 complaints (24%)
   • median 95,426 mi at 6.0 yrs old (55 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $2,500 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Complaints describe grinding, whining or clunking noises from the drivetrain, hesitation when accelerating from a stop, revving without forward motion, and in some cases a sudden loss of power or a stall while driving. Owners say dealers sometimes flushed the fluid, performed a relearn, replaced the differential fluid or told them no problem was found, and in many cases the shop later said the CVT needed replacement. Several owners note that repairs were partly covered by an extended warranty on the transmission up to a mileage limit. Mostly reported between roughly 80,000 and 130,000 miles, with a few at much lower mileage.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for transmission service records and whether the CVT fluid was ever changed, and have a shop check for metal debris in the fluid. Listen for whine or grind on a test drive and feel for hesitation when accelerating from a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Heard some noise coming from the car and brought it to Subaru. They told me I needed a new transmission for $9,000. I checked online and found this type of transmission has had numerous problems. I only have 129,000 miles on the car. I service it regularly as I have done all my vehicles in my lifetime. I have never replace a transmission on any car I owed in the +50 years of purchasing cars.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328163, filed 2020-06, 129,000 miles

   “At 95,000 Subaru replaced my transmission which was covered under an extended warranty . It is now 1.5 years later, I have 117,000 miles and they say I need another new transmission but because it is over 100,000 miles they will not cover it. I have since found countless other people with the same problem”

   NHTSA complaint #11387760, filed 2021-01, 117,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 34 complaints (11%)
   • median 27,032 mi at 3.2 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2024

   Owners report the oil warning light coming on and finding the level low, often needing to add a quart or more between oil changes, sometimes every few thousand miles. A few describe blue smoke or a burning oil smell, and some say the dealer called the oil use normal or topped it off while suggesting an inspection period. Complaints mention repeated check-engine lights, a replaced PCV valve, and in some cases engine replacement. Reported from a few thousand miles up into the 60,000s, often noticed between oil changes rather than at a single failure point.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell on the dipstick, and ask the seller how much oil is added between changes. Ask whether the PCV valve was serviced and whether any oil-use test was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine oil light turned on. Stopped to check oil--was very low. Bought a quart to add to the car. Took to dealership and explained what had happened. It has occurred two times already--same ordeal where I have to add oil to the engine. When will NHTSA start investigating this? I have read and talked to other Outback owners with the same issue. Right now the dealership has put the car on a 1200 mile inspection test..... Updated 09/30/15”

   NHTSA complaint #10744393, filed 2015-07, 27,000 miles

   “Severe burning oil issue. Releasing toxic smoke into atmosphere. This is a wide spread issue with Subaru 2.5 motors. They are only offering a fix for anyone in warrantee. This is preventing many vehicles from being repaired due to cost of repair. This happens mainly on highway driving for me. I had my engine replaced out of warranty and now the junkyard motor they gave me is doing the same thing. Subaru needs to take ownership of this issue, and needs to fix all of these affected motors.”

   NHTSA complaint #10808194, filed 2015-12, 60,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering wander and constant correction at highway speed

   • 32 complaints (11%)
   • median 1,000 mi at 0.3 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2020

   Complaints describe the car drifting side to side in the lane at highway speeds and needing continuous small corrections, with the wheel sometimes staying in a slight curve on its own. Some owners say the effect is much stronger on grooved bridge decks or wavy pavement, and others describe the steering feeling slow to center and then easy to overshoot. Several say the dealer found the steering and alignment within spec and made no repair. Often reported in the first few thousand miles, from new or shortly after purchase.

   Recall 13V1940001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive it at highway speed on a variety of surfaces, including a grooved bridge deck, and note whether it holds a straight line. Ask for alignment records and whether any steering column or suspension work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle tracking issues same or similar to all the other complaints about this issue. The vehicle wanders from side-to-side at speeds of 40-70 MPH requiring constant correction. It sometimes seems that it takes more effort (only slightly) than should be required to get it to correct at first but then goes quickly and easily. I noticed it the first time I had it on the highway and it has been the same ever since, 10 months later.”

   NHTSA complaint #10532722, filed 2013-07, 1,000 miles

   “Steering issue. The car wanders, left and right. At freeway speed you must hold on with both hands and make constant corrections. The dealer verified that everything in the steering and suspension was tight, but this did not help the problem. I've had the vehicle for a year now with no change, except I've learned how to control it better. I found many similar complaints on the internet and gave these to the dealer. They did not seem to be aware of the issue previously. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10537021, filed 2013-08, 100 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag off or not deploying

   • 31 complaints (10%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners report the passenger frontal air bag indicator showing the bag as off when a smaller adult sits in the passenger seat, and one complaint describes the bags not deploying in a crash. Owners say the dealer told them the seat sensors can be sensitive for lighter occupants or that no fault was found, and one was told the passenger seat needed replacement. Passenger-side inflator recalls cover this model year, and people also describe slow or incomplete recall repairs when parts were unavailable. Reported at widely varying mileage, including very low mileage soon after purchase.

   Recall 20V001000Recall 20V003000Recall 20V002000Recall 19V008000Recall 19V007000Recall 19V009000Recall 18V0120002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the recall status by VIN and confirm any passenger inflator recall was completed. Sit in the passenger seat and watch whether the air bag indicator shows the bag as on for an average-size adult.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When my wife sits in the passenger seat the majority of the time the passenger side air bag will not be turned on. My wife is roughly 5'2 and 120 lbs. Dealer claims there is nothing wrong but that the sensors can be overly sensitive with smaller people. This is a safety issue as the bag will not deploy in an accident if it is off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10532614, filed 2013-07, 40 miles

   “I was in an accident where the other driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic at an intersection and slammed into my drivers side door. My airbags failed to deploy during the accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11064208, filed 2018-01, 57,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Parking brake will not release or engages unexpectedly

   • 11 complaints (4%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2024

   Owners describe the electronic parking brake engaging on its own, sometimes from brushing the console button, and then refusing to release so the car will not move. Others report the brake warning light coming on with several other warning lights and a loss of power. Some owners released it manually by following the owner's manual procedure, and dealers diagnosed a failed parking brake motor in one case. Reported mostly above 70,000 miles, sometimes well past 100,000.

   Recall 18V6260001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test the parking brake by applying and releasing it several times, and confirm the release procedure in the owner's manual is understood. Check whether the parking brake recall for manual-transmission cars applies and was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brake master cylinder is failing, according to Subaru service mechanic. Prior 4 years of same model were under recall for master cylinder defect, replacement. This is technically the same problem. Subaru has provided free replacements for some 2013 owners who had this problem with master cylinder. Seal in mc is broken.”

   NHTSA complaint #11399873, filed 2021-03, 55,500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while entering the vehicle, her knee hit the button next to the center console labeled push on/push off parking brake which activated the parking brake. The contact was unable to turn off the button. The vehicle was taken to her son who works as an independent mechanic to release the activated parking brakes. The failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage is 116,067.”

   NHTSA complaint #11422838, filed 2021-06, 116,067 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the CVT, oil consumption and the parking brake, since those account for most of the reports here. Ask for service records showing CVT fluid changes and any transmission replacement, and confirm open recalls by VIN.

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.