CarRecallWatchThe 2013 Subaru Outback has 12 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 297 complaints with NHTSA, including 18 crashes, 6 fires, 13 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Engine (67 reports).
2013 Subaru Outback recalls
Passenger Airbag May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Some vehicles had their passenger frontal airbag inflators replaced under an earlier recall, but the replacement inflators use the same design.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal shrapnel
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture.
Ignition Switch May Turn Off Engine, Disabling Airbags
The ignition switch on these vehicles may have a ball spring inside that can break, weakening the switch.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode in a crash
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles may rupture during deployment in a crash.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Certain Subaru vehicles have a passenger-side frontal airbag inflator that can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Passenger airbag may explode and send metal fragments into occupants
The passenger-side front airbag inflator can degrade over time from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
Parking Brake May Fail, Letting Car Roll Away
The electronic parking brake on certain manual-transmission vehicles may not engage as intended.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Wiper Motor May Overheat and Melt, Risking Fire
Contamination inside the windshield wiper motor's bottom cover can cause its internal parts to interfere with each other.
Most common 2013 Subaru Outback problems
Problem areas named in the 297 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Engine | 67 |
| Power Train | 60 |
| Air Bags | 42 |
| Steering | 34 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Service Brakes | 23 |
| Suspension | 15 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
What owners report
The CVT transmission in my 2013 Subaru Outback failed at approximately 93,000 miles. Approximately three weeks prior to the failure, I noticed an unusual sound while driving, but no other symptoms were apparent at that time, so I continued monitoring it. On the day of the failure, the rear tires began hopping and I lost acceleration while driving. Fortunately, this occurred while I was on my driveway, so I did not need to continue driving further. I parked the vehicle there and had it towed to my mechanic, and later to Rairdon Subaru of Auburn (WA), where the failure was diagnosed by their service department. The vehicle is available for inspection there. This loss of power and erratic rea
Please contact Carvana and make them take that vehicle off the market. I purchased it and by chance found out that bottom parts like subframe and exhaust pipe were inadequately installed . The mechanic said eventually I was going to flip over myself on the highway in that car. He also stated that this repair cost would be around $8000 - more than half of this used car was offered for on Carvana. I returned the car. Half a month later is back on Carvana website for the same price. Please help! I have no alt motive but try and save someoneâs life.
Not really sure, I donât remember. Itâs a wooded area , lots of deer etc. But I honestly donât remember I saw my car It it fully intact , all doors , hood,trunk Open, car starts too Only front drivers wheel is bent in and lowest part of front bumper needs repair
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after pulling into the driveway, the passenger-side door was opened and the driver-side airbag deployed. The contact stated the airbag had exploded inadvertently. The contact informed their insurance and was waiting for further instructions. The dealer was not informed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed. The failure mileage was 114,000.
The vehicle has had the seat belt replaced twice in one year for it dinging and now Subaru dealer says the ODS sensor is bad and does not detect a passenger in the seat therefore the air bag system is not functioning properly. The dealership strongly recommend that I contact Subaru and they will most likely fix it being a Subaru and a huge safety issue. I have found a recall for this but they say not this vin number but yes it is on 2013 outbacks! They will not provide any assistance with this very costly safety issue even knowing the dealership told me to contact them.
2013 Subaru Outback questions
Does the 2013 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 12 safety recalls for the 2013 Subaru Outback: Passenger Airbag May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments; Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments; Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal shrapnel; Ignition Switch May Turn Off Engine, Disabling Airbags; Passenger airbag inflator may explode in a crash. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Subaru Outback?
Based on 297 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine (67), Power Train (60), Air Bags (42).
How do I check if a recall on my 2013 Subaru Outback has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.