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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine18
- Air bags14
- Power train12
- Electrical system6
- Structure5
- Service brakes4
- Steering4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Seat belts3
- Seats2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Exterior lighting1
- Visibility/wiper1
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
7
7
6
5
7
12
4
4
4
1
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
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.
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.”
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?”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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”
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.