2013 Subaru WRX Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

11 safety recalls on file

The 2013 Subaru WRX has 11 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, including 1 crash.

The most-reported problem area is Power Train (6 reports).

11Recalls
7Owner complaints
1Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your WRX?

A recall covers specific vehicles. Your VIN shows whether yours still needs the free repair.

2013 Subaru WRX recalls

Passenger Airbag May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments

Recall 20V001Jan 2, 2020258,813 vehicles affected

The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture.

Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments

Recall 20V002Jan 2, 2020127,547 vehicles affected

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

Recall 20V003Jan 2, 2020111,562 vehicles affected

The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture.

Ignition Switch May Turn Off Engine, Disabling Airbags

Recall 19V297Apr 11, 2019511 vehicles affected

The ignition switch on these vehicles may have a ball spring inside that can break, weakening the switch.

Brake lights may fail to light, raising crash risk

Recall 19V149Feb 28, 20191,303,530 vehicles affected

The brake light switch can malfunction after exposure to certain contaminants.

Passenger airbag inflator may explode in a crash

Recall 19V007Jan 9, 201943,394 vehicles affected

The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles may rupture during deployment in a crash.

Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments

Recall 19V008Jan 9, 2019330,120 vehicles affected

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

Recall 19V009Jan 9, 2019452,630 vehicles affected

The passenger-side front airbag inflator can degrade over time from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.

Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments

Recall 18V012Jan 9, 201864,179 vehicles affected

The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Recall 14V830Dec 31, 2014200,064 vehicles affected

Most common 2013 Subaru WRX problems

Problem areas named in the 7 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem areaReports
Power Train6
Service Brakes2
Engine1
Unknown Or Other1
Structure1

What owners report

2018-11-01, Power Train
CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING (AKA THROW OUT BEARING) IN THE VEHICLE PREMATURELY WEARS OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. MY WRX MADE SQUEAKY NOISE IN THE COLD MORNING, BUT DISAPPEARS IN AFTERNOON. IT JUST COMES AND GOES, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST NOISE AT FIRST. FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND AS SOON AS I STEPPED ON MY CLUTCH, I FELT SOME GRINDING NOISE, AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM MY FRONT HOOD. MY CLUTCH WAS NOT ENGAGING ANYMORE AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CRUISE AND PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. MY TECHNICIAN SAID THE THROW OUT BEARING MAY SLIPPED OUT, CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. SUBARU RELEASED NEW DESIGN FOR THEIR BEA
2016-09-29, Structure
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2013 WRX MAKES A LOUD CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL COULD BE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CREAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTC
2016-04-02, Power Train
BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT CLUTCH FAILED AFTER 500 MILES. REPLACED AT NO COST, BUT DEALER ACCUSED 76-YEAR-OLD DRIVER OF BURNING RUBBER. SECOND CLUTCH GOOD, BUT STILL ENGAGES VERY HIGH AND QUICK. FREQUENT STALLS RESULT.
2015-07-28, Engine
I PURCHASED A MY 2013 WRX WITH ONLY 7MILES ON IT AND AFTER THE 'BREAK-IN" PERIOD OF 1000 MILES THE ENGINE THROUGH A CONNECTING ROD. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. GRANTED THE EFFORT TO HAVE SOA TAKE CARE THIS MAJOR FAILURE WAS PAINFUL. AT MILE 29K THIS PAST MAY. I HEARD A FAINT KNOCKING/TICKING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER 20 MINS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER, BY THE TIME I WAS HOME IT SOUNDED LIKE MARBLES WERE IN MY ENGINE. THE DEALER HAD TO DO "TEAR-DOWN" AND TOLD ME THE ENGINE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED,THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT THE CLUTCH WAS "ABUSED' AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS RIDICULOUS( I AM POSITIVE THAT SOMETHING FROM THE ENGIN
2014-09-19, Power Train
WHILE IDLING WITHOUT CAR IN GEAR OR CLUTCH ENGAGED, HOT SMELL NOTED. INTERMITTENT ISSUE UNTIL FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS AND 25,000 MILES UNTIL CONSTANT BURNING SMELL AS WELL AS NEW-ONSET SEVERE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE. NO RACING OR LAUNCHING, ONLY EASY DRIVING, WITH MAJORITY HIGHWAY MILES. APPEARS TO BE BURNT CLUTCH WITH FLYWHEEL DAMAGE POSSIBLE. THIS BEGAN WITH THE CAR NEW AND WHILE ONLY HIGHWAY MILES. IT WAS INITIALLY EXPLAINED AWAY AS AN ASSEMBLY COATING COOKING OFF AND NORMAL AND TO BE EXPECTED. IT NOW IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND MINIMAL POWER. *TR

2013 Subaru WRX questions

Does the 2013 Subaru WRX have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls for the 2013 Subaru WRX: 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; Brake lights may fail to light, raising crash risk. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Subaru WRX?

Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Power Train (6), Service Brakes (2), Engine (1).

How do I check if a recall on my 2013 Subaru WRX 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.

Other Subaru WRX years

Other 2013 Subaru models