There is a plug on wiring harness that fits into speed control for the environmental system. The control is part of this piece 72311fj050. The connection overheated and and burned the plug and the speed control switch The blower motor is now broken. In [XXX] a car without defrosters is mostly useless. I had 2 different mechanics at 2 different repair places confirm this is the problem. There was no way to indication from the car that anything was wrong. The problem could have happened anytime even when driving in blizzard or 70 mph on the highway. I have the defective parts for your inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2013 Subaru Impreza problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags79
- Engine76
- Electrical34
- Brakes25
- Transmission23
- Steering14
- Acceleration13
- Seats9
- Lights7
- Body6
- Seat belts6
- Driver assistance5
- Fuel system5
- Visibility3
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2013 Subaru Impreza
Airbag light 42Check engine light 16Oil consumption 12Stalling 11ABS 9Engine failure 9Brake failure 7CVT failure 7Loss of power 7Adaptive cruise 5No deployment 5Fire or smoke 5Transmission failure 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2013 Subaru Impreza mention
P2764 3
Recalls 4
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. 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.
- Risk
- Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Recall number 19V149000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
- Risk
- An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1‑888‑270‑9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.
Recall number 18V772000 · Recall details
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.
- Risk
- If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑800‑782‑2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.
Recall number 16V738000 · Recall details
Equipment
- What is wrong
- Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year 2013 XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory. Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs. If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button.
- Risk
- 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. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1‑800‑782‑2783 for more information.
Recall number 13V061000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2013 Subaru Impreza 517
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This is an update announcement regarding the TechShare & NorthStar Integration
- This announcement provides information on the connected services platform for Subaru EVs.
- This bulletin provides a step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES)...
- This Service Information Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but...
- This announcement provides information on DCM replacememts due to a parasitic draw.
- This announcement provides information on an outage affecting the Subaru Select Monitor 5 application.
- This Service Information Bulletin announces the availability of ThreeBond 1216J (SOA868V9640) designed for...
- This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a...
- This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
2013 Subaru Impreza fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | AWD | 24-27 | 33-35 | 27-30 |
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | AWD | 17-19 | 23-25 | 19-21 |
What 2013 Subaru Impreza owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I took my car to McCurley Subaru on Wed, [XXX] to have recalls repaired. They were unable to repair the recall due to rusted out brackets and bolts. McCurley contacted Subaru of America and opened a case trying to seek an alternate remedy to this issue. Subaru refused to offer alternate solutions so I am stuck driving an unsafe vehicle with a Federal Mandated recall that cannot be repaired. On my way home after picking up the car, it stalled out on a major highway, blocking traffic and causing unsafe conditions for myself, my 7 yo daughter and other people on the road. The check engine light is on continuously and the car runs so roughly that I am afraid to drive it any longer. Subaru of America opened Case Number: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The brakes failed due to a leak in the brake lines (pedal to the floor). Location of the leak is just after a union on the passenger side rear (just in front of the rear tire). Location is not well protected from corrosion similar to other recalls for the wrx and sti version of the impreza. Image shows the corroded area, and is taken after the protective coating was cut bqck to expose well maintained lines. The corrosion occurred where no protective coating was present. Both the left and right rear brake lines were found to be leaking. Luckily this was noticed in the driveway and did not result in a crash.
Subaru stutters stalls, torque converter malfunction
Air bags did not go off after a car accident with a commercial box truck, car seems to be totaled. Insurance is going to inspect vehicle to confirm it being totaled. No warning lights were on at the time. Just passed inspection a month a month ago.
A crack appeared in the area noted as the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Gear Box housing Assembly. The dealership said it was in fact dangerous as it could affect the steering. My car has a distinct 'pull to the left' when the steering wheel is turned slightly left. The system is available for inspection upon request and I do have pictures of the crack as well.
My steering is randomly lurching left. It has happened off and on intermittently since it started in early September 2025. It happens at various speeds, but currently only when turning the steering wheel slightly to the left.
Vehicle Fire Summary – Arvada, CO On [XXX] at approximately [XXX], the Arvada Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire on [XXX] . The vehicle involved was a 2013 gray Subaru Impreza WRX. The driver reported noticing smoke coming from the engine compartment before pulling over to the shoulder. Within minutes, flames became visible. Fire crews arrived promptly and extinguished the fire. Both the driver and one passenger were able to evacuate the vehicle safely, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle sustained a total loss due to fire damage. Preliminary findings suggest a possible mechanical or electrical malfunction, though the exact cause remains under investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 80 MPH. In addition, the contact stated that the gear shifter did not shift as intended and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission control system failure. The contact was informed that the torque converter clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, a diagnostic test had not been completed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
Last month, my 2013 Subaru Impreza Sport with only 67k that I bought brand new had a blinking AT (Automatic Transmission) Oil Temp light and three other lights were lit on the panel. I contacted Groove Subaru and they told me that I had a malfunctioning Valve Body and needs to be replaced. I was told that this is a common issue with Subarus with CVT transmission reason why they changed their warranty to 10years/100k miles. Mine has only 67k miles and already malfunctioned. They said they won't cover mine because I'm on the 11th year so they asked me to pay $2500 for everything. Reason why I'm writing this letter is to inform you that this should be considered as recall and I shouldn't paid for anything. My car is good as brand new. I seldom use it. Please help me consider this as recall since it is happening on all Subarus with CVT transmission. Thank you!
Compare the 2013 Subaru Impreza
Impreza vs Ford FocusImpreza vs Honda CivicImpreza vs Toyota CorollaImpreza vs Volkswagen JettaImpreza vs Hyundai ElantraImpreza vs Nissan SentraImpreza vs Chevrolet CruzeImpreza vs Mazda MAZDA3
Other model years
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Questions about the 2013 Subaru Impreza
Is the 2013 Subaru Impreza reliable?
Owners have filed 251 complaints about the 2013 Subaru Impreza, 3.3 times a typical Impreza model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2013 Subaru Impreza year score?
The 2013 Subaru Impreza scores 30 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Subaru Impreza: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Subaru Impreza?
Airbags, with 79 complaints, typically around 61,660 miles. Next is engine (76).
How many recalls does the 2013 Subaru Impreza have?
4 recalls, covering exterior lighting, engine and engine cooling and electrical system.
What year does the Subaru Impreza have bad airbags?
The Subaru Impreza model years with the most airbags complaints are 2012 (105 complaints), 2013 (79 complaints) and 2014 (38 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Subaru Impreza get?
Official estimates for the 2013 Subaru Impreza range from 19 to 30 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, AWD) gets 24-27 city and 33-35 highway.
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