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#BS-2013-SUBOUT-192E2013 Subaru Outback
Based on reports from 402 owners and 12 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 402 complaints, 34 crashes, 7 fires, and 12 recalls. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.
Top reported problems
excessive oil consumption
24 complaints • Severity 7.8/10
transmission failure
11 complaints • Severity 8.7/10
engine failure
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
68 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 40K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (121 reports) • Median: 40K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Engine (68 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2013 Subaru Outback: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 2013 Subaru Outback, with 68 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 40,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 40K-mile mark.
Drivetrain Issues
Drivetrain complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2013 Subaru Outback, with 58 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2013 Subaru Outback, with 38 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Steering Issues
Steering complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2013 Subaru Outback, with 34 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2013 Subaru Outback. Recent trend: stable.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (12 recalls)
EQUIPMENT
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.
STEERING:COLUMN
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2013 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from February 15, 2012, through June 15, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the inner and outer shafts of the steering column assembly may become disengaged from one another.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Legacy vehicles manufactured November 26, 2008, to June 7, 2013, and 2010-2014 Outback vehicles manufactured January 9, 2009 to June 7, 2013. Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If an obstruction, such as a buildup of snow or ice prevents the wiper arms from being able to stop in the parked position, the wiper motor may overheat and the bottom cover may melt.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
PARKING BRAKE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.
+ 7 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
This is the worst model year for the Subaru Outback according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is electrical.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 402 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 12 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Subaru Outback Model Years
2013 Subaru Outback: Frequently Asked Questions
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Get the Full 2013 Subaru Outback Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 402 owner reports. Know before you buy.