Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2013 Subaru Forester — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2020 to Dec 2025
The most reported issue is engine problems (22 complaints). 13 complaints involved crashes. 2 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (12)
NHTSA Campaign: 19V007000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 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.
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-19.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V009000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 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.
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-19.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V008000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. 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.
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-19.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V297000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Risk: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
NHTSA Campaign: 18V012000
Component: 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.
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-18.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V738000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V311000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Risk: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V830000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia that were remedied under recall 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. The brake lines may experience brake line corrosion due to salt water splashing on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector.
Risk: Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQQ-52. Notes: This recall is specific to affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI customers who had their car remedied under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. Subaru has determined that this remedy was inadequate due to incomplete repair instructions provided to dealers. Affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI vehicles that were not repaired under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014 will continue to be processed under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311. Affected vehicles not currently, or formerly, registered in the salt belt states identified in this recall are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V001000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally 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 or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V002000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V003000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
NHTSA Campaign: 22V838000
Component: SEAT BELTS
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles. The front seat belt assembly force-limiter may not operate correctly in the event of a crash.
Risk: The seat belt assembly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRJ-22.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 77)
Engine →6 issues
While driving on the highway, your car started making a knocking sound and then stalled at an exit. After restarting it, smoke came from under the hood. The dealer determined the engine had catastrophically failed because oil had mixed with antifreeze, requiring a complete engine replacement. No warning lights appeared on your dashboard before this happened. The repair is estimated to cost $9,000–$15,000, and you're concerned that the engine monitoring system should have alerted you to the problem.
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Your engine suddenly shut off while driving with no warning lights or overheating signals, leaving you stranded on the road. Subaru determined the engine had run out of oil despite your regular maintenance. This is a serious safety issue since sudden engine failure can cause loss of control, and you learned Subaru settled a class action lawsuit for this same problem but didn't notify you. The fix will likely involve investigating why oil levels dropped unexpectedly and determining if there's an oil leak or consumption issue.
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While driving on the highway, your oil warning light came on and you noticed a ticking noise and vibration throughout the car. Your engine then shut off and won't start again, even though you have adequate oil, gas, and a charged battery. When you turn the key, the engine cranks but won't fire up, and makes a loud squeaking sound in the process. This likely requires a mechanic to diagnose whether it's a spark issue, fuel delivery problem, or internal engine damage.
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Your check engine light came on while driving, and you've noticed your car is burning through engine oil much faster than normal. At around 150,000 miles, this suggests an internal engine issue that's causing oil consumption. The problem may require engine diagnostics and potentially internal engine repairs or replacement of worn components like piston rings or valve seals.
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Your engine is leaking oil significantly from the valve cover seals and camshaft seals, losing about 2 quarts every 1,000 miles despite regular dealer maintenance. This is happening at 120,000 miles, which the owner considers premature failure. Fixing this requires removing the entire engine and doing extensive disassembly, with dealer estimates exceeding $2,500.
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Your car is consuming oil faster than normal, meaning you'll need to add oil more frequently between oil changes. This could indicate internal engine wear, a leak, or burning oil in the combustion chamber. You should have a mechanic inspect your engine for leaks and check your oil level regularly until the issue is diagnosed and repaired.
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Air Bags →2 issues
Your car was involved in a crash where it rolled over twice, but the airbags failed to deploy. You have photos showing the airbags were still rolled up after the accident. This is a serious safety issue since airbags are designed to protect occupants during crashes.
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Your 2013 Subaru Forester was rear-ended at 58 mph, causing it to spin out and hit a concrete barrier twice. While the side airbags deployed, the front driver-side airbag did not deploy, and your seat belt did not hold you securely during the crash. You sustained serious injuries including a fractured thumb, neck strain, and head injuries requiring hospitalization. The vehicle was totaled. A repair would involve inspecting and potentially replacing the front airbag system and seat belt components.
Parts you may need:
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Vehicle Speed Control →2 issues
While your car was in reverse with your foot on the brake, it suddenly accelerated backward on its own and hit a deck. The car then shifted into drive and continued accelerating, hitting a brick wall and then a tree before stopping. Your airbags did not deploy even though the vehicle was severely damaged. The manufacturer investigated the incident at 66,000 miles.
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While shifting from Reverse to Drive with your foot off the accelerator, your Forester unexpectedly surged backward across the street, up an embankment, and hit a parked car in a neighbor's driveway. The floor mat was not obstructing the pedals. The impact caused the vehicle to require towing, with apparent damage to the axle, wheel alignment, and rear bumper. This issue may involve a transmission control or throttle sensor malfunction that caused unintended acceleration.
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Power Train →2 issues
Your car experienced severe shaking, shuddering, and stalling, which required replacement of the torque converter at a cost of $1,029.25. Subaru offered only a partial refund of $350 under a goodwill program since your vehicle was out of warranty, despite the failure occurring at just 56,000 miles. The repair involves replacing the torque converter, which is part of the automatic transmission system.
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Your engine stalls or nearly stalls when shifting from reverse to drive, especially during the first 10 minutes of driving. You also experience stalling when coming to complete stops at traffic lights, with the engine shuddering and shaking before cutting out, requiring you to restart. A dealership diagnosed this as a faulty torque converter that needs replacement.
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Unknown Or Other →2 issues
Your key is stuck in the ignition and won't release even when you carefully put the car in Park. This is a known issue that Subaru has documentation for, but the manufacturer refused to cover the repair cost because your car is a 2013 model, even though it only has 36,000 miles. You're unable to drive the car safely since you can't remove the keys and must leave it unlocked. The repair will likely involve replacing or servicing the ignition lock cylinder mechanism.
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Your car is burning through oil much faster than normal — about a quart and a half every 1,100 miles. The problem started before 100,000 miles and has gotten worse over time. Even though Subaru tested it and said it was normal, the excessive oil burning has damaged your catalytic converter, which you had to replace at 150,000 miles. Subaru is saying this wear and tear is normal, but you may need a valve seal replacement, piston ring replacement, or engine gasket repair to stop the oil consumption.
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Service Brakes,engine →1 issue
When you press the clutch pedal, your engine shuts off without warning, all dashboard lights illuminate, and power steering stops working. This has been happening repeatedly since last June and is occurring more frequently. When this happens on exit ramps or at intersections, the engine won't restart for up to 5 minutes, creating a dangerous situation. The issue likely involves a faulty clutch switch or electrical problem that's killing the engine and cutting power to critical systems.
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Service Brakes →1 issue
Your 2013 Subaru Forester's rear brake pad broke and fell out, causing the brake piston to extend too far and leak brake fluid. When this happened while you were driving on the highway, your brake pedal went to the floor with no stopping power, even though your front brakes should have still worked. You were able to coast safely to a parking lot, but this represents a serious safety failure. The fix will likely involve replacing the damaged brake pad, inspecting the brake caliper piston for damage, and bleeding the brake system to restore proper pressure.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train,air Bags →1 issue
Your car unexpectedly accelerated on its own while you were coasting downhill into your carport, causing it to crash into your camper. The airbags failed to deploy during the impact, and the vehicle became wedged under the camper, causing significant damage. A mechanic will need to diagnose why the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly and why the airbag system didn't function.
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Electrical System,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your car's ignition shut off completely while you were driving at highway speed, causing a dangerous near-miss with another vehicle. After restarting it, multiple warning lights came on (check engine, stability control, tire pressure, and seatbelt) and your cruise control is flashing. Even though there was supposedly a recall to fix this exact problem, it appears the repair either wasn't done or has failed.
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Exterior Lighting →1 issue
Your headlights and taillights keep going out while driving at different speeds. A mechanic replaced your taillight bulbs about 10 times and headlight bulbs 4 times, but the problem persists and hasn't been properly diagnosed. The issue started around 70,000 miles. The underlying cause likely involves the electrical wiring, connectors, or a failed module rather than just the bulbs themselves.
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Structure →1 issue
The owner has filed a complaint regarding a structural issue with their 2013 Subaru Forester. However, no specific details about the structural problem were provided in the complaint submission. To understand what repair might be needed, you would need to review the attached document mentioned in the complaint.
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