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 car.
2013 Subaru Impreza cruise control problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
7crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 13 cruise control complaints filed for the 2013 Subaru Impreza, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Subaru Impreza we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 13.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe unintended acceleration as the dominant complaint—the vehicle suddenly revs and lurches forward at traffic lights, during parking maneuvers, or even while the brake is depressed, with some incidents resulting in collisions into buildings, barriers, and other vehicles. Several owners noted that brakes failed to respond or proved inadequate when acceleration occurred, forcing reliance on emergency brakes. In one case at just 2,000 miles and another at 95,000 miles, rapid reverse acceleration caused crashes into obstacles. One owner's vehicle exhibited this behavior three times over five years of ownership (2016, 2020, 2021), yet dealership inspections never identified a root cause.
A distinct complaint involved cruise control dropout tied to intermittent check engine and vehicle dynamics control (VDC) warning lights that appeared together, especially after recall service. That owner reported a 21.6% fuel economy loss when warnings were active.
One owner encountered limp mode triggered by a P2138 throttle-position code, requiring ECU resets to restore drivability. Subaru replaced the accelerator pedal, throttle body, relay, and ECM—yet the fault persisted dozens of times.
A manual transmission vehicle experienced clutch lockout that recurred after dealership inspections found nothing wrong.
Dealerships consistently scanned codes, performed work, and claimed repair, but none achieved lasting resolution across multiple cases. The manufacturer offered no documented assistance.
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates on its own while stationary, braking, parked, or during normal driving, often at low speeds or during parking maneuvers. Multiple owners report sudden full-throttle acceleration that does not respond to brake input, with some incidents resulting in collisions. Occurs randomly—sometimes immediately on startup, sometimes while cruising or coasting.
When: Earliest report at 2,000 miles; others spanning 6,300 miles to 95,000 miles. Incidents occur both early in vehicle life and after extended ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs and vehicle accelerates independently without driver input; Acceleration while depressing brake pedal; Unresponsive brakes during acceleration events; Vehicle 'lurches' or 'lunges' forward at traffic lights or during slow parking maneuvers; Acceleration described as feeling like 'car is possessed,' similar to automatic car wash motion; Random occurrence; no clear trigger pattern
Codes mentioned: P2138
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to identify root cause on multiple inspection attempts. One owner replaced accelerator pedal, throttle body, relay, and ECM at dealership with no resolution; incidents continued dozens of times. Insurance companies deemed vehicles total losses in at least two cases due to accident damage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer offered no assistance on at least one case. Subaru dealerships scanned codes and performed work but failed to resolve issue across multiple complaint cases.
Cruise control malfunction tied to warning light cascade
Cruise control becomes inoperative when check engine and vehicle dynamics control (VDC) warning lights illuminate. Lights appear intermittently and together, typically at vehicle startup or during braking. When warnings are active, cruise control does not function and fuel economy degrades significantly. Complaints link this to work performed during recall service.
When: Began 07/10/2019, one day after recall service WUE90 and WTY84 completed at dealership on 07/09/2019.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine and VDC warning lights come on intermittently and always together; Lights usually on or off when vehicle is started; Lights sometimes activate during braking mid-trip; Cruise control does not function when warning lights are active; Fuel economy drops 21.6% from owner's average when warnings are present; No clear indication to driver what specific system is failing beyond cruise control
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership inspected twice (07/10 and 08/07/2019), scanned codes, performed work, and claimed resolution, but issue persisted. Owner noted problem began immediately after recall service and questions whether recall work caused the malfunction.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls WUE90 and WTY84 service appears to have triggered the issue, though dealership did not acknowledge recall service as root cause.
Limp mode with P2138 throttle-position code
Vehicle enters limp mode (reduced power/acceleration) and accelerator pedal becomes non-responsive when P2138 diagnostic code appears. Occurs randomly—sometimes at startup, sometimes during highway cruising, sometimes while coasting to a stop. Driver must pull over and reset ECU to regain drivability.
When: Recurring issue spanning extended ownership period; no specific mileage noted.
Symptoms owners cite: P2138 code stored in ECM; Vehicle enters limp mode with reduced throttle response; Accelerator pedal becomes non-responsive; Occurs at random intervals: startup, highway speed, coasting situations; Requires ECU reset to restore drivability
Codes mentioned: P2138
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced accelerator pedal, throttle body, relay, and ECM at Subaru dealership. Issue persisted after all replacements, happening dozens of times over vehicle ownership. Occurred both when vehicle was stock and when Cobb Accessport tuned to Stage 1.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru has no solution according to owner.
Brake failure during acceleration events
On multiple occasions, when vehicle unexpectedly accelerated, brake pedal did not respond or responded inadequately to stop the vehicle. In several cases, only emergency/parking brake proved effective. Owner notes some incidents may have involved confusion between pedals, but at least one case explicitly describes foot positioned away from accelerator.
When: Multiple incidents across complaint cases; early mileage (2,000 miles) through mid-life (95,000 miles).
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal unresponsive or slow to respond during unintended acceleration; Requires hard braking effort to slow vehicle; Emergency/parking brake more effective than foot brake; Brakes work normally in non-acceleration situations
Repairs/costs cited: Repair shops and dealerships unable to identify cause. Vehicles involved in accidents and totaled.
Clutch lockout or engagement issues
Manual transmission vehicle exhibits clutch that locks out or fails to engage properly during normal operation. Issue recurs after dealership service attempts, with mechanic unable to diagnose root cause. Owner expresses concern vehicle is unsafe to drive.
When: November 2017 through January 2018; recurring after service attempts.
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch locks out or fails to engage during driving; Issue occurs repeatedly after dealership inspection claims no fault found; Driver notes clutch problem despite multiple visits and inspections
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership service (November 18–28, 2017) and subsequent inspection (December 23, 2017–January 4, 2018) found no fault. Issue continued after each service visit. Vehicle still in service as of January 28, 2018 complaint date.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Car throws a p2138 code and car goes in limp mode with the accelerator pedal non-responsive. Have to pull over and reset ECU to get back on road. Have replaced accelerator pedal, throttle body, relay, and ECM at Subaru dealership. Happened dozens of times. Car has been completely stock and cobb accessport tuned to stage 1. Happens tuned and stock. Happens sometimes immediately upon startup and…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2013 Subaru Impreza?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2013 Subaru Impreza?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 10,000 and 78,095 miles, with the median around 71,747. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 78,095. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Subaru/Impreza.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.