This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Subaru Outback engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Subaru Outback have filed 47 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 52,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
47
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Outback | 12 |
| 2010 Outback | 44 |
| 2011 Outback | 47 |
| 2012 Outback | 24 |
| 2013 Outback (this page) | 47 |
| 2014 Outback | 28 |
| 2015 Outback | 25 |
| 2016 Outback | 33 |
| 2017 Outback | 14 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 47 engine complaints filed for the 2013 Subaru Outback, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 18 model years of Subaru Outback we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 47.
Owners have filed 47 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In the interest of customer satisfaction Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage in the models listed. The extension will address instances of “phantom braking” or the EyeSight/RAB systems causing unnecessary stoppage/slowing of the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The purpose of this bulletin is to advise of SOA’s revised Catalytic Converter Recycling Program shipping procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Subaru Outback's 2.5-liter engine exhibits a persistent, well-documented problem with oil consumption. Owners regularly report the oil warning light coming on well before the scheduled 7,500-mile service interval—sometimes every 3,000 miles or fewer. Many add 1–2 quarts of oil between changes; some report burning a quart every 600–800 miles. Dealership testing often shows negative results on standard 1,200-mile consumption tests, yet owners observe real oil loss, suggesting a defect in piston or control rings. The problem starts early (as low as 2,500 miles) and worsens over time. Some owners report that dealers masked the issue by over-filling the reservoir or claiming the loss was "normal."
Secondary engine problems are widespread. Cylinder head gaskets fail at 87,000–133,000 miles, causing overheating and coolant/oil leakage. Engine stalling occurs intermittently, especially on cold starts or during deceleration. Some owners experience unintended acceleration or engine revving at idle. Engine knock and pinging persist despite valve adjustments and chemical treatments. Rare but serious failures include broken valve springs causing sudden engine seizure, and one documented engine fire. Transmission failures also appear early (58,000–95,000 miles), with warranty coverage denied beyond 100,000 miles. Owners report that Subaru's response varies—some short-block replacements are authorized under extended warranty, but junkyard engines sometimes exhibit the same oil-burn problem within weeks.
Same Subaru Outback engine reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive oil consumption
Engine burns or loses oil at a rate well above normal, forcing owners to add 1-2 quarts between scheduled oil changes or even every 250-800 miles. Owners report the oil light illuminating prematurely—well before the recommended 7,500-mile service interval. Some owners report consuming 1.5+ quarts per fill-up or a quart every 600-800 miles. Dealership oil consumption tests often show negative results despite owner-observed oil loss. Issue appears to stem from defective piston rings and/or control rings.
When: Starts as early as 2,500-4,682 miles; progressively worsens with mileage; some cases reported at 25,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil warning light illuminates prematurely; Visible oil loss between service intervals; Need to add 1-2 quarts of oil regularly; Catalytic converter clogging from excessive oil vapors; Excessive oil deposits in intake manifold and throttle body; Blue/toxic smoke from exhaust
Codes mentioned: P0171 (system too lean - from oil fouling), O2 sensor codes, Catalytic converter codes
Repairs/costs cited: Short block replacement performed by dealers when authorized (some under warranty, others out-of-warranty). Junkyard replacement engines sometimes exhibit same problem within 4 weeks. Oil consumption test (1,200-mile protocol) frequently yields negative results despite real-world loss. Some owners report dealers over-filling reservoirs to mask problem. Cost for engine replacement reported at $3,636 for head gasket/related work; full engine replacement costs not stated but noted as expensive.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB #10154425 for valve spring specifications issued but does not mandate recalls. Short block replacement authorized for in-warranty vehicles. Some warranty coverage extended for oil consumption defect. Subaru of America authorized 50/50 cost-sharing on head gasket replacement in at least one case (narrative #5). Class action lawsuit mentioned by one owner (#10) but not all affected VINs covered.
Cylinder head gasket failure/leak
Head gaskets fail or leak, causing coolant loss, oil leakage into the coolant system or vice versa, and rapid overheating. Two owners specifically cite head gasket replacement at 95,000+ miles.
When: At 87,000 miles; 95,000 miles (replaced twice in one case); 133,336 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid engine overheating; Air conditioning stops working during load (climbing hills); Sickly sweet smell of antifreeze in cabin; Oil or coolant leaking from engine; Temperature gauge creeping upward
Repairs/costs cited: Complete cylinder head gasket replacement plus related parts. Work on one vehicle took nearly 2 months (7/15/19–9/3/19). Cost of one repair: $3,636 (50% covered by Subaru of America). Another replacement at 95,000 miles cost not specified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America authorized replacement and cost-sharing (50/50) in at least one case (narrative #5). Repair performed under extended warranty in narrative #29.
Engine stalling and hesitation
Engine stalls intermittently, particularly during acceleration from a stop, deceleration, or coming to a stop. Some owners report the engine dies multiple times on startup before running normally. Hesitation and rough running also reported. One incident resulted in dangerous uncontrolled merge onto freeway.
When: Intermittent; often at startup or during stops. One incident at 52,000 miles; another at 2,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at red lights or during deceleration; Multiple startup/shutdown cycles before running; Engine hesitation that progresses to stalling; Rough starting and rough idle; Engine 'flutter' at stops; Lunging forward then stalling on acceleration from stop
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to replicate or diagnose failure in multiple cases. No repairs performed. One dealership performed PCV valve replacement due to check engine light but issue persisted.
Unintended acceleration/engine revving
Engine revs excessively or accelerates unintentionally, especially on cold starts or at red lights. One case reported the vehicle lunged forward when driver attempted to control it with brakes.
When: Cold November day (narrative #6); on freezing morning at red light (narrative #11); at startup (narrative #14)
Symptoms owners cite: Unintended engine revving at red lights; Excessive high-speed revving on startup; Vehicle lunges forward unintentionally; Problem intermittent and not repeatable at dealership
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanics unable to duplicate failure. No repairs performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in at least one case but no action taken.
Engine knock/pinging
Abnormal knocking or pinging noise from the engine audible to driver. Persists despite multiple attempted fixes by dealership technicians.
When: Since 2013 (reported in narrative #9); persistent over years
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knock audible during driving; Pinging/knocking noise; Noise continues despite valve adjustments and chemical treatments
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership attempted: valve adjustments, engine additives, chemical baths for engine. None resolved the issue. One owner suspects bad valve spring (narrative #42).
Valve spring failure
Valve spring breaks, dropping valve into cylinder and seizing engine. Issue documented in 2013 Subaru recall for other models but only a TSB issued for Outback.
When: Mileage not specified; one incident at 78,000 miles (motor blew with no warning)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden complete engine seizure; No warning before failure; Engine shuts down without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required. One owner stated dealership says car continues to pass oil consumption test despite the failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB #10154425 issued changing valve spring specifications. Recall issued for other 2013 Subaru models but not Outback.
Engine fire
Vehicle catches fire while parked in residential driveway. Fire department called and vehicle condemned as total loss.
When: Mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke exiting from under hood; Vehicle engulfed in fire while parked
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle total loss. Residential driveway damaged and required replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified.
Engine corrosion (engine cradle)
Engine cradle severely corroded, requiring replacement. Subaru confirmed corrosion but denied warranty coverage due to age and mileage.
When: At 12 years and unknown mileage (December 2024 inspection)
Symptoms owners cite: Visible severe corrosion on engine cradle; Deterioration of engine support structure
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic and Subaru both identified severe corrosion. Replacement cost not specified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru inspected and confirmed corrosion but denied warranty coverage citing vehicle age (12 years) and out-of-warranty status.
Check engine light with multiple sensor issues
Check engine light activates repeatedly (seven times in one summer alone), accompanied by difficulty starting and multiple sensor failures. Dealerships unable to isolate root cause despite $1,200+ in attempted repairs.
When: Summer 2015; continuous issues through November 2015; at 71,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates repeatedly; Difficulty starting, especially with check engine light on; Low oil warnings prior to sensor issues
Codes mentioned: Temperature sensor codes (replaced)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced PCV valve, temperature sensor, and performed other diagnostics totaling $1,200. Issues persist. Owner has extended warranty through 80,000 miles.
Transmission failure (out-of-warranty/early failure)
Transmission requires replacement at or before 100,000 miles. Owner reports warranty coverage at 95,000 miles but denial of coverage for second transmission failure after crossing 100-mile threshold. Multiple other owners report similar early transmission failures.
When: At 95,000 miles (first failure); 117,000 miles (second failure denied); narrative #30 reports clutch failure at 58,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission failure requiring replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Extended warranty covered first replacement; second replacement denied due to exceeding 100,000-mile limit.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty covered first transmission replacement at 95,000 miles. Subaru refused coverage for second failure after 100,000 miles.
Loss of engine power/acceleration lag
Vehicle loses power or exhibits significant lag when accelerating or merging onto freeway. One owner reports requiring 3-5 seconds to move after pressing accelerator.
When: At 52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed acceleration response; Loss of power on acceleration; Stalling when accelerating from stop
Synthesized from 47 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Oil consumption problem. Oil light comes on before recommended oil change. Did 1200 mile oil consumption test with no oil burned. At about 5,000 miles oil light comes on again. I believe there is a tsb out but I believe Subaru should fix problem regardless of expense. Still under warranty. Still working with dealer who have been very good about this problem so far. *tr
Engine is burning oil into atmosphere. Getting less than 800 miles before oil light comes on. Consumes over a quart of synthetic motor oil every two weeks. Subaru has been replacing motors for only when people complain and only if they are in warranty, I was outside of warranty when I experienced this, thankfully I bought some extended insurance, however they only replace the motor with a…
According to my mechanic, the Engine Cradle is severly corroded and needs to be replaced. According to Subaru, today December 4, 2024, Subaru inspected my vehicle and determined it was badly corroded. I have pictures to show this and the report from Subaru showing they did look at this corrosion. I had wanted Subaru to replace the Engine Cradle because of the damage. They claimed the car was…
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…
Had engine trouble with your 2013 Subaru Outback?
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 engine problem on the 2013 Subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 47 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 33 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 20,000 and 87,145 miles, with the median around 52,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 87,145. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/Outback.
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.