Is the 2013 Subaru Impreza a bad year?
251 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 76, 7.6× a quiet Impreza year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 7.6× the complaints of a quiet Impreza year, spread over 30k–91k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Impreza owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 69,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 79 (31%) | 30k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 76 (30%) | 30k–91k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 34 (14%) | 42k–113k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 25 (10%) | 15k–70k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 23 (9%) | 56k–123k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 13 (5%) | 8k–73k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 9 (4%) | 32k–83k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 14 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 69,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 251 complaints: 13 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 3 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
5 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Factory recall for a valve spring and brake lamp switch replacement was completed on SEPT.25, 2019. The car engine caught on fire while I was driving on october 18, 2019.
2 belts came apart at 65k miles & were replaced on 4/14/2018.
After 3,000-5,000 miles engine oil light came on. I went to a mechanic and they said it was down 1 quart of oil.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 69,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Subaru Impreza: 4
Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park. Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat. If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button. The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Subaru: 251
Repair instructions Subaru sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Subaru Impreza. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES) failures for both Telematics and remote engine start equipped vehicles
Diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines
Diagnostic flow along with an IMPORTANT caution to follow for certain CVT solenoid related DTCs as listed
Design changes to the engine oil and CVT fluid drain plugs
Neighbouring years
2012 Impreza: 243 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2014 Impreza: 108 complaints, keep it.
Every Subaru Impreza year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Impreza years side by side
Other Subaru models: Subaru Ascent · Subaru Crosstrek · Subaru Forester · Subaru Legacy · Subaru Outback · Subaru WRX · Subaru XV Crosstrek. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Subaru Impreza a bad year?
251 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 76, 7.6× a quiet Impreza year. At 69,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 7.6× the complaints of a quiet Impreza year, spread over 30k–91k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Subaru Impreza?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (79), engine (76), electrical system (34), brakes (25), transmission and drivetrain (23). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 30k–91k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Subaru Impreza have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 19V-149), Engine (NHTSA 18V-772), Electrical system (NHTSA 16V-738), Equipment (NHTSA 13V-061). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.