Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Subaru Legacy problems

Owners filed 66 complaints about the 2013 Subaru Legacy with NHTSA between Jun 2013 and Jul 2025. The most-cited component is engine (18).

Complaints
66
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine18
  2. Air bags14
  3. Power train12
  4. Electrical system6
  5. Structure5
  6. Service brakes4
  7. Steering4
  8. Vehicle speed control4
  9. Seat belts3
  10. Seats2
  11. Engine and engine cooling2
  12. Exterior lighting1
  13. Visibility/wiper1
  14. Fuel/propulsion system1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20136
20147
20157
20166
20175
20187
201912
20204
20214
20224
20231
20242
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

18 reports
“I want to add my report of oil loss in the hope a recall is made. I found out after purchase that 2012-2014 or 2015 has a known problem with piston rings. With normal local driving I need to top off the oil every couple of weeks. With longer trips, say a couple hours of driving one way, the oil gets a quarter to half way down on the dipstick. I carry oil for all roadtrips and can't forget to keep checking the level. My understanding from many sources online is that Subaru is aware they put in bad piston rings and just call it good enough or within spec, but dumping so much oil isn't right. This isn't a wear and tear problem, although it can get worse over time and lead to other problems. The problem goes away when the rings and the engine block is replaced. Scotty Kilmer on Youtube tells a story of a customer that complained enough and after being persistent had it fixed for free (piston rings and block), and still has no oil loss issues after 60k miles. He also recommended reporting it here. This engine is used in various Subaru's, not just the Legacy.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2024EngineODI 11583674

Air bags

14 reports4 crashes7 related recalls
“I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE COMPANY SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME. HOWEVER, I REMEMBER RECEIVING A RECALL FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG A YEAR OR SO AGO, AND WHEN I CALLED THE COMPANY I PURCHASED IT FROM, THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL WAS NOT MEANT FOR MY LEGACY, SO I THREW AWAY THE LETTER. NOW I AM WONDERING - WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AND CAN I STILL GET IT REPLACE BY THAT COMPANY?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2019Air bagsODI 11207114

Power train

12 reports
“The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the transmission. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician informed the contact that the failure was the transmission. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the CVT transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2022Power trainODI 11447295

Electrical system

6 reports2 related recalls
“CAR HAS EXTENDED CRANKING ISSUE - IT ACTS LIKE THE STARTER IS BAD OR THE BATTERY IS DYING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR HAS A HARD TIME STARTING. IT HAS DIED A COUPLE TIMES SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH AN INTERSTATE BATTERY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BATTERY WAS BAD. I HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED AND IT IS DEFINITELY NOT BAD. ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE STARTER AND THEY SAID IT IS FINE. IT SEEMS THAT THE CAR HAS SOME OTHER ISSUE WITH POWER BEING DRAWN FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2020Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11309418

Structure

5 reports2 crashes
“The passenger side frame rusted through. The bolt holding the frame collapsed through the rusted frame while I was driving on the highway and I lost control of my car as I was entering an exit off the highway. My mechanic said the air conditioning system drips on this area of the frame causing the rust and failure of the frame to hold the bolt. There were no warnings prior to the incident except that I heard a popping sound when I took a right turn out of my driveway before heading onto the highway.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2024StructureODI 11606238

Service brakes

4 reports
“I BOUGHT THIS 2013 SUBARU LEGACY LIMITED ON JUNE 12,2019 AND A WEEK LATER THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK AND THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE DASHBOARD. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SUBARU DEALER IN WILMINGTON, NC AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED THE CONTROL PANEL FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH EFFECTS THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS A CURRENT RECALL IN SUBARU LEGACY MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AS WELL SINCE MY CAR IS AFFECTED BY THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND JUST OVER 100,000 MILES . THE REPAIR IS OVER $1200 AND IT IS JUST NOT RIGHT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND IT IS NOT A RECALL. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AS THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. I CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX] . THANK YOU, [XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2019Power train, Service brakesODI 11244400
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.