This bulletin outlines the judgment criteria to be used when inspecting front transverse link bushings to reduce unnecessary bushing replacement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Subaru Outback suspension problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Subaru Outback have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the suspension at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Outback | 3 |
| 2010 Outback | 14 |
| 2011 Outback | 12 |
| 2013 Outback (this page) | 10 |
| 2015 Outback | 4 |
| 2017 Outback | 5 |
When does it fail?
Of the 10 suspension 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
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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 Bulletin provides guidance for diagnosing a leaking front or rear suspension strut.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint across these narratives is highway lane wandering: the vehicle drifts and veers side-to-side at freeway speeds (50+ mph), forcing constant steering corrections. Multiple owners describe the behavior as resembling a drunk driver and say it is worse in wind or on wavy pavement. Two owners traded in their 2013 Outbacks for newer Outbacks, only to experience the identical problem, suggesting this is not an isolated part failure but a systemic issue. One owner directly compared their vehicle to an identical loaner model and confirmed the loaner exhibited normal, well-damped suspension control with negligible body motion and significantly better braking response.
A separate complaint describes the front passenger side of the vehicle sitting approximately 0.5 inches lower than the driver side (hub-to-hub measurement), causing the front passenger tire to violently contact the fender well and body molding during hard right turns. The dealership confirmed the asymmetry; Subaru of America declined to address it.
One owner also reports a failed driver-side lower control arm bushing by 50,000 miles. Another reports a cold-temperature transmission lurch and thunk (below 45°F without warm-up), which the dealer attributed to normal performance vehicle behavior. Owners confirm that dealerships claim all behaviors are within specification and that Subaru of America has not acknowledged these issues as defects.
Same Subaru Outback suspension reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Lane wandering and highway instability
Vehicle drifts and veers side-to-side at highway speeds, requiring constant steering corrections. Owners report the car will not hold a straight path and exhibits excessive body sway, especially on wavy pavement or in windy conditions. Multiple owners traded in their Outbacks for newer models only to experience the identical problem, suggesting a design or assembly issue rather than isolated defect.
When: Freeway/highway speeds (50+ mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Constant drifting and veering within lane; Large left-right sway motions on wavy pavement; Excessive body roll and uncontrolled suspension motions; Vehicle wanders and will not maintain straight path; Behavior worse in windy conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships claim vehicle is within spec; no effective repairs provided by manufacturer. One owner had loaner vehicle with identical model year that exhibited normal, well-damped suspension control.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America has not acknowledged the issue as a defect. Multiple owners report SOA denied warranty coverage and claims vehicle meets specifications.
Unequal suspension ride height (asymmetrical track)
Front passenger side sits approximately 0.5 inches lower than driver side when measured hub-to-hub. This asymmetry causes the front passenger tire to contact the fender well and body molding during hard right turns. Dealership confirmed the discrepancy and contacted Subaru of America, but no resolution was provided.
When: Present from early ownership (2013 model year, reported Dec 2012)
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger tire contacts fender well during hard right turns; Violent tire-to-body contact during parking and lane changes; Hub-to-hub measurement shows 0.5 inch difference between sides; Reduced clearance on passenger side between tire and fender
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership measured and acknowledged the discrepancy but did not repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America declined to address the problem; owner states SOA stated they were 'waiting for something' but never clarified what.
Poorly damped suspension affecting braking
Owner reports braking distances are longer than normal, and the vehicle is hard to control during hard braking, especially when undergoing large suspension articulations. When comparing to identical loaner vehicle with normal suspension tuning, braking performance and overall vehicle control were significantly better on the loaner.
When: Freeway speeds during braking events
Symptoms owners cite: Longer than expected braking distances; Vehicle hard to control during braking with suspension articulation; Reduced braking effectiveness compared to identical model-year loaner
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle under review by Subaru of America technical advisor at time of complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America technical advisor was reviewing the issue.
Lower control arm bushing failure
Driver-side lower control arm bushing has failed by 50,000 miles, likely contributing to suspension compliance and handling issues.
When: 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Failed lower control arm bushing
Repairs/costs cited: Bushing replacement required.
Cold-temperature transmission engagement issue
Vehicle makes loud thunk noise and lurches forward when put into Drive if ambient temperature is below 45°F and engine is not warmed up. If brake is not firmly engaged, car may jump forward.
When: Cold temperatures below 45°F, without engine warm-up
Symptoms owners cite: Loud thunk noise when shifting to Drive; Lurch forward into Drive; Potential unintended vehicle motion if brake not firmly applied
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claims this is normal for a 'performance vehicle' and that engine warm-up is required to lower RPMs.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Excessive oil usage, regularly occurs within 6000 miles of oil change burns one quart of synthetic engine oil. Also note bushing in drivers side lower control arm has failed as of 50,000.
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2013 Subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 15,200 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.