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The 2013 Subaru Impreza has 248 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2013 Subaru Impreza has 248 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 65 complaints, typically surfacing around 56,175 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Impreza | 45 | 15 |
| 2011 Impreza | 57 | 14 |
| 2012 Impreza | 242 | 6 |
| 2013 Impreza (this page) | 248 | 4 |
| 2014 Impreza | 108 | 3 |
| 2015 Impreza | 79 | 2 |
| 2016 Impreza | 75 | 1 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2013 Subaru Impreza SW AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 56,175 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 4 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
My passenger airbag sensor never turns on. Even if I have a passenger in the seat, the light still remains off. I know that the 2012 models used the same occupancy sensor as the 2013 impreza but the 2013 models haven't been recalled. This doesn't make any sense because they're…
Brake failure at low speed coming to stop at traffic light, traction control light came on,brake light came on and check engine light on. Returned to dealer to repair. Dealer took 2 days to repair . At witch it lasted till today(12/30/2013). The same thing has happened again.…
I have had a problem with the car burning oil since I bought the car. My oil light comes on after every 1000.00 miles and it is down at least a quart and a half each time . I change the oil every 3000 miles but I still have to put oil in in between. I ordered this car from a…
Driving up a slight grade into home garage I depressed the accelerator very slightly . The car shot suddenly forward and footbrake did not respond. Car sideswiped other car and broke thru rear panel of garage before I could stop it with handbrake. Major damage to front end of…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 248 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Subaru Impreza has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2013 Subaru Impreza is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Engine: 57 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 23,850–95,224 mi; Electrical system: 32 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 40,000–112,000 mi; Reliability score 6.8/10 — around the segment average; 4 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 65 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 56,175 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 248 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 56,175 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 65 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 56,175 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 56,175 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 248 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.