2013 Subaru Outback Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 1%of 297 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 77,550miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2013 Subaru Outback, 1% of the 297 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 77,550 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Took it home from dealer and the electronic parking brake would not turn on. The brake light was also blinking. A couple days later, on the way to dealer, I stopped at a gas station and turned on the electric parking brake. It worked this time, but when I got in the car to drive, the electric parking brake wouldn't turn off. I was stuck. There was no way to move it. I was blocking the gas pump for about an hour waiting for a two truck. Tow truck driver had difficulty loading vehicle and taking off vehicle because the parking brake was on and it was an awd meaning none of the wheels can move.”
NHTSA complaint #11253364, filed 2019-09, 77,550 miles“2013 Outback limited 3.6r bought new and has 40k miles. On 3 occasions over the past 5 months, the vehicle can't catch 2nd gear and revs high and then a heavy jolt physically felt and a loud clunk. Have taken it to Subaru service 3 times and they cannot reproduce the problem. Even after flushing transmission fluid and relearning the transmission, and vehicle did it the same day driving home after picking the vehicle up from relearning the transmission. This is aggravating, stressful, and dangerous. Subaru needs to own up and address a known issue, and do a recall.”
NHTSA complaint #11245142, filed 2019-08, 40,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10182210Oct 8, 2020This bulletin announces a change to the internal logic of the ABS / VDC Hydraulic Control Unit
Electronic stability control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 0% |
| 2019 | 3 | 0% |
| 2018 | 4 | 0% |
| 2017 | 4 | 0% |
| 2016 | 5 | 1% |
| 2015 | 3 | 1% |
| 2014 | 5 | 2% |
| 2013 | 3 | 1% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 7 | 1% |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 3 | 2% |
| 2006 | 6 | 2% |
| 2005 | 7 | 3% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2013 Subaru Outback
67 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
60 complaintsAir bags
42 complaintsSteering
34 complaintsBrakes
31 complaintsVehicle speed control
26 complaintsOther or unknown
25 complaintsElectrical system
23 complaintsFuel system
15 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
14 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology