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2013 Subaru Outback Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 12 NHTSA recalls and 294 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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Avoid This Year — 2013 Subaru Outback

The 2013 Subaru Outback is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

12
NHTSA Recalls
12 recalls on record
294
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
17
Crashes + Injuries
6 fire reports

Own or buying a 2013 Subaru Outback?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2013 Subaru Outback (12)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #19V008000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #19V007000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #18V626000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #19V009000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V003000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V002000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V001000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #19V297000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #18V012000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #16V694000

Showing 10 of 12 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →

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Most Common Problems — 2013 Subaru Outback

Based on 294 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
56
Engine
46
Air Bags
39
Steering
34
Electrical System
20
Unknown Or Other
17
Vehicle Speed Control
11
Service Brakes
11
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Subaru Outback — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2013 model year is highlighted.

2010 359 complaints 2011 649 complaints 2012 290 complaints 2013 294 complaints 2014 207 complaints 2015 500 complaints 2016 635 complaints 2017 914 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2017 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2014 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2013 Subaru Outback

Is the 2013 Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2013 Subaru Outback has 12 recalls and 294 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2013 Subaru Outback have?
The 2013 Subaru Outback has 12 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Subaru Outback?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2013 Subaru Outback are: Power Train, Engine, Air Bags, Steering. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2013 Subaru Outback safe to buy?
The 2013 Subaru Outback has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 12 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Outback should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Outback are: 2014. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2017.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.