2013 Subaru Crosstrek Problems & Owner Complaints

Engine 11

“MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU DIRECTLY AND THEY BOTH STATED THAT DUE THE THE VOLUME OF CARS AFFECTED THEY WERE NOT TAKING ANY NEW APPOINTMENTS UNTIL 2020 AND TO CALL THEM BACK IN 2020. THE ISSUE IS WITH THE VALVE SPRINGS IN THE ENGINE. A FRACTURE IN THE SPRING COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. I WANT SUBARU TO REPLACE IT NOW, PAY ME TO HAVE IT FIXED SOMEWHERE ELSE OR REPLACE MY CURRENT SUBARU WITH A FAIR VALUE TRADE-IN. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND AVOID BE ILLEGAL. ON TOP OF THAT, THE RESPONSES FROM BOTH THE LOCAL AND CORPORATE OFFICES IS ALSO UNACCEPT…”
NHTSA complaint #11223061, 2019

“DEALER NOT ABLE TO FIX RECALL PROBLEM UNTIL AUG. 28 2019 DUE TO BACKLOG CAN NOT RENEW REGISTRATION UNTIL FIXED”
NHTSA complaint #11218325, 2019

“AFTER REPLACING VALVE SPRINGS AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP DUE TO A RECALL, NOW OIL IS MIXED IN THE COOLANT. PROBLEM APPEARED SAME DAY AS WE PICKED THE CAR FROM DEALERSHIP UPON COMPLETION OFF RECALL ISSUE. AFTER EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM THEY REPLACE COOLANT AGAIN TO TEST SEE IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES BUT NOW THEY CLAIM PREEXISTING CONDITION!!! IMAGINE THAT! PLEASE IS THERE ANY ADVISE BEFORE WE SICK LEGAL ACTION. WE ARE AFRAID CAR WILL OVER HEAT NAD BURN ENGINE OR CATCH FIRE!”
NHTSA complaint #11208251, 2019

Electrical System 5 2 fire

“CAR PARKED AND SOME ELECTRICAL WIRE? CAUSED CAR TO CATCH FIRE? THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE OF THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK AREA WAS BURNT/ MELTED THROUGH TO THE METAL AND THE WIRES AROUND THE BACK WINDOW ON INSIDE WERE HANGING DOWN AND HOT PLASTIC DRIPPED DOWN ONTO A BOX OF PAPERS THAT WERE IN THE HATCHBACK. THE PAPERS HAD BLACK BURNT SPOT ON THEM BUT FORTUNATELY DID NOT ALL BURN. THERE WAS A DARK BLACK BROWN SPOT ON THE BACK WINDOW DRIVERS SIDE ON THE INSIDE AND THERE WAS SOOT ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AND INSIDES OF THE WINDOWS. IT GOT SO HOT THAT THE TRUNK COULD NOT BE OPENED. NOT SURE…”
NHTSA complaint #11235188, 2019 · fire

“2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK(70K MILES) PASSENGER DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF SMELLING SMOKE INSIDE DOOR PANEL WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WENT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY, TURNED ENGINE OFF, PUT OUT THE FLAMES, WAITED FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR AND THE PLASTIC TO COOL OFF. UPON RESTARTING VEHICLE SPARKS AND SMOKE VISIBLE SO TURNED VEHICLE OFF. CUT THE RED(+) WIRES, RESTARTED VEHICLE(NO SMOKE), DROVE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. OBVIOUSLY A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NONE OF THE FUSES POPPED. HAD A PASSENGER BEEN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT I'M SURE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT. PICKED UP THE VEH…”
NHTSA complaint #11111350, 2018 · fire

“ECO-WIRING MADE OF MATERIALS THAT ATTRACT ANIMALS. A RODENT CHEWED THROUGH MY WIRING HARNESS. $800 WORTH OF DAMAGE THAT COULD BE PREVENTED. CAR IS INOPERABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #10939108, 2016

Exterior Lighting 3

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIRS. DUFF SUBARU (1028 S ROANE ST, HARRIMAN, TN 37748, (865) 882-0113) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DI…”
NHTSA complaint #11220044, 2018

“4TH SEAT OF REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT BULBS SO FAR (LOW BEAMS) SINCE NEW. ORIGINAL OWNERS, NO ACCIDENTS, NO AFTERMARKET ITEMS. THEY BOTH BURN AT THE SAME TIME. YOU ONLY NOTICE IT ONCE ITS DARK OUTSIDE AT YOU TRY TO DRIVE HOME FROM WORK AND NO LOW BEAMS.”
NHTSA complaint #10935572, 2016

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BRAKE OR STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE UNKNOWN DEALER IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS AND THE REPAIR SPECIFICS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO STAR SUBARU (206-26 NORTHERN BLVD, BAYSIDE, NY 11361, (833) 271-0487) WHERE THE BRAKE PADS WERE R…”
NHTSA complaint #11232902, 2013

Power Train 3

“SOLENOID VALVE IN CVT CRACKED AFTER 6.5 YEARS OF USE (ROUGHLY 140K - 160K MILES). GOT IT FIXED, THEN 1 YEAR LATER (ANOTHER 40K - 20K MILES), IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BOTH TIMES I WAS ACCELERATING. THE FIRST TIME FROM A STOP, AND SECOND TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH.”
NHTSA complaint #11119716, 2018

“WHEN TURNING RIGHT HEARD CLICKING SE FROM RIGHT FRONT; GARAGE REPLACED AXLE 74,141 MILES. WAS TOLD BY 1ST GARAGE THAT THIS WAS THEIR 3RD 2013 CROSSTREK IN THE LAST MONTH THAT WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SUBARU DEALER TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM.”
NHTSA complaint #11021331, 2017

“THE CAR WOULD LOSE A QUART OF ANTI FREEZE EVERY 7500 MILES.I BROUGHT IT IN AT LEAST 8 TIMES TELLING THEM THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY PRESSURE TESTED THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 8 TIMES AND 2 SERVICE MANAGERS SAID I WAS NUTS THEY ARE BOTH FIRED. MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES FROM NEW YORK TO FLORIDA. I ASKED A SERVICE MANAGER WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROX, 55K TO GIVE THIS CAR TO A MECHANIC, SERVICE WRITER OR HIM SELF TO GO ON VACATION WITH A FREE CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER DECLINED SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND WOULD NOT LET ANYBODY TAKE THE CAR. I WAS IN TOUCH WITH SUBARU CUSTOMER CARE MANY…”
NHTSA complaint #11000317, 2016

Service Brakes 2

“AFTER 73,000 MILES OF MOSTLY NON-PEAK HIGHWAY MILES THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. THIS CAUSED MY BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK UNTIL AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. THE DASH HILL ASSIST, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY DURING DRIVING FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THEN WERE CONSTANT WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY.”
NHTSA complaint #10910864, 2016

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BRAKE OR STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE UNKNOWN DEALER IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS AND THE REPAIR SPECIFICS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO STAR SUBARU (206-26 NORTHERN BLVD, BAYSIDE, NY 11361, (833) 271-0487) WHERE THE BRAKE PADS WERE R…”
NHTSA complaint #11232902, 2013

Unknown Or Other 2 1 crash

“PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AT WORK, GOING NO MORE THAN 5 MPH. VEHICLES LUNGED FORWARD AND HIT TREE. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN REVVED SUDDENLY. ALTHOUGH I HIT THE BRAKES, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP.”
NHTSA complaint #11074526, 2018 · crash

“I WOULD LIKE ANSWER TO WHY THE CVT WAS GIVEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IF THERE IS A FUTURE RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION DUE TO STALLING? I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE 10 YEAR OR 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. MY CAR IS ABOVE THAT (123,000 MILES). I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH IT AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CVT PROBLEMS AND THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS OVER $8,000. THE SUBARU DEALER TOLD ME THEY AREN'T EVEN ALLOWED SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION... IS THIS DUE TO THE PROBLEMS? I AM A SINGLE MOTHER ON A TEACHER'S SALARY THAT SAVED UP FOR TWO YEARS PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS USED VE…”
NHTSA complaint #11191480, 2019

Air Bags 1

“THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT TURNS IN THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELT SENSOR FOR WELL UNDER THE DESIGNED THRESHOLD. AS AN EXAMPLE IT TRIGGERED FOR TWO 20 OUNCE BOTTLES OF SODA. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET.”
NHTSA complaint #11119949, 2018

Fuel/Propulsion System 1

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO THE VEHICLE EVERY 1,200 MILES AND THE LOW OIL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LITHIA SUBARU OF FRESNO (5499 N BLACKSTONE AVE, FRESNO, CA 93710, (559) 540-7189) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A CONSUMPTION TEST NEEDED TO BE CONDUCTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE MULTIPLE FAILURES BATTERY MALFUNCTION, OIL CHECK, ENGINE LIGHT, AND TRANSMISSION. *JB”
NHTSA complaint #11149527, 2016

Seat Belts 1

“THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT TURNS IN THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELT SENSOR FOR WELL UNDER THE DESIGNED THRESHOLD. AS AN EXAMPLE IT TRIGGERED FOR TWO 20 OUNCE BOTTLES OF SODA. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET.”
NHTSA complaint #11119949, 2018

Seats 1 1 fire

“2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK(70K MILES) PASSENGER DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF SMELLING SMOKE INSIDE DOOR PANEL WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WENT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY, TURNED ENGINE OFF, PUT OUT THE FLAMES, WAITED FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR AND THE PLASTIC TO COOL OFF. UPON RESTARTING VEHICLE SPARKS AND SMOKE VISIBLE SO TURNED VEHICLE OFF. CUT THE RED(+) WIRES, RESTARTED VEHICLE(NO SMOKE), DROVE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. OBVIOUSLY A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NONE OF THE FUSES POPPED. HAD A PASSENGER BEEN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT I'M SURE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT. PICKED UP THE VEH…”
NHTSA complaint #11111350, 2018 · fire

Structure 1 1 fire

“2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK(70K MILES) PASSENGER DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF SMELLING SMOKE INSIDE DOOR PANEL WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WENT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY, TURNED ENGINE OFF, PUT OUT THE FLAMES, WAITED FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR AND THE PLASTIC TO COOL OFF. UPON RESTARTING VEHICLE SPARKS AND SMOKE VISIBLE SO TURNED VEHICLE OFF. CUT THE RED(+) WIRES, RESTARTED VEHICLE(NO SMOKE), DROVE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. OBVIOUSLY A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NONE OF THE FUSES POPPED. HAD A PASSENGER BEEN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT I'M SURE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT. PICKED UP THE VEH…”
NHTSA complaint #11111350, 2018 · fire

Suspension 1

“LEFT CONSTANT VELOCITY (CV) JOINT HAS FAILED AFTER ONLY 66K MILES. DURING TURNS THE CAR MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE THAT IS DISTRACTING AND I WAS CONCERNED THE CAR MAY INFLICT MORE DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE SYSTEM.”
NHTSA complaint #10993346, 2017

Vehicle Speed Control 1 1 crash

“PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AT WORK, GOING NO MORE THAN 5 MPH. VEHICLES LUNGED FORWARD AND HIT TREE. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN REVVED SUDDENLY. ALTHOUGH I HIT THE BRAKES, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP.”
NHTSA complaint #11074526, 2018 · crash

Visibility/Wiper 1

“2 WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS SINCE MAY 2013 DUE TO CHIPS/CRACKS. 21K MILES PER YEAR AVERAGE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS A LARGE CRACK THAT APPEARED ON 6/13/17. THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT 6/12. WHEN I LEFT WORK THE MORNING OF 6/13/17 THERE WAS A 6 INCH CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE TEMP HAD A ROUGHLY 25 DEGREE F SWING FROM HOT TO COLD WITH RAIN OVERNIGHT. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THE CROSSTREK WINDSHIELD BEING MORE FRAGILE IN THIS REGARD THAT OTHER CARS. INCIDENT RATE OF DAMAGE SEEMS MUCH HIGHER THAN IT SH…”
NHTSA complaint #10995484, 2017