Most common 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek problems
Share of the 98 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru XV Crosstrek complaints by model year
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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.
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.
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…
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.
What 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek owners say
Engine & cooling all 35 →
On October 31 2020, The AC compressor on my vehicle caught fire while I was driving. This caused a foul odorous smoke to fill the cabin of my vehicle which was cough inducing and limited my vision. The air conditioner was not on at this time because of pleasant ambient temperatures outside. I no longer have this part because it was replaced at the dealership along with the serpentine belt that was damaged due to the fire. There was no warning light or noticeable change in the vehicle driving before the incident. I was unaware that I could report this incident until I found this website today.
involved in a collision, possibly related to the stall issues mentioned in the collision. Reported to the insurance. They are pending repair on the matter due to recall and entire engine was required, which is more than the car is valued for.
Transmission & drivetrain all 22 →
Transmission failure while driving on highway caused it to suddenly stalled. On restarting engine, car kept jerking and stopping, became undrivable. Only 46,700 miles on the clock. No warning lights, no warning of any kind. Subaru issued 10 year extended warranty covering transmission on this car but should have recalled and replaced since failure is catastrophic and dangerous. I took my car to Subaru dealer and they found low transmission fluid. Instead of inspecting the seals, they blamed the problem on oil change by an independent garage, accusing them of erroneously drained out transmission fluid before the car broke down.
The recall Type: Safety Service Campaign:WTY84 NHTSA Campaign: 18V772000 FB20 Valve Spring Replacement was reported completed by the manufacturer Subaru has no record of it being done. My car is now experiencing symptoms of this recall when I had no issues prior and want me to pay to look into the problem further. Now my vehicle has a check engine light for a recall that was potentially not done as I have no proof that it was completed.
Electrical system
The fan in my car, that controls the heat/air-conditioning, went out causing my windows to fog up since it was raining & I couldn't use the dehumidifier. I couldn't see & had to manually wipe my windshield several times & drive with my hazard lights on in order to get the car home. There were no warning lights on the dashboard. I took the car to a mechanic shop on another day, when they could not find the problem through a diagnostic the mechanic took apart the dashboard & that's when he found the wires connected to the control panel were melting/overheating. He said it was very dangerous because it could cause the car to catch fire. He said he had to leave the wires disconnected to prevent the car catching fire until the wires and control panel could be replaced. …
Driving on the freeway my car lost power i pulled off to the side and tried to restart it. As I have the ignition turned over for 30 to 40 seconds the starter sounded erratic and the oil temperature light was flashing. I sat there for about ten minutes and tried again and it did the same thing but it started. This power loss has happened twice. The erratic noise coming from the ignition, and the hesitation of starting is a regular ongoing issue along with the oil temperature light. Since the first stall at about 117000 miles on the odometer the car has been burning oil at a rate of a full quart about every 3000 miles. #2 Around 120000 miles my key wouldn't come out of the ignition. This happened first on a late night in a high crime area. I actually had to leave my keys in my ignition while going into a gas station to pay for fuel. …
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | AWD | 25 / 32 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | AWD | 23 / 29 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek a good car?
Based on 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 XV Crosstrek rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the XV Crosstrek at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek?
The engine & cooling — 35 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (22) and electrical system (14).
How many recalls does the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, the most recent from November 1, 2018 (engine). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 66,000 miles; 37% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.