2013 Subaru LEGACY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Subaru LEGACY has 84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: 2013 subaru legacy. consumer writes in regards to vehicle acceleration problems. *smd the consumer stated the engine stalled quite frequently on acceleration, usually at speeds of 35 mph. it would occur when going up slight hills, down hill and level roads. the engine would re-start itself after .

7 crash reports 5 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

20 complaints

24%

• 2013 SUBARU LEGACY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED QUITE FREQUENTLY ON ACCELERATION, USUALLY AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. IT WOULD OCCUR WHEN GOING UP SLIGHT HILLS, DOWN HILL AND LEVEL ROADS. THE ENGINE WOULD RE-START ITSELF AFTER
• LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL. AT 10,500 MILES, SAME THING HAPPENED. LIKE CLOCKWORK, EVERY 3,000 MILES THE LIGHT GOES ON AND I'M DOWN AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY 3,000 MILES SINCE THEN. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 50+ YEARS AND HAVE
• THE ISSUE IS WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION. I PURCHASE A 2013 SUBARU LEGACY LIMITED IN JANUARY 2014 WITH JUST OVER 12,100 MILES ON IT . I WOULD DO A FULL SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE REGARDLESS BUT THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR REQUIRES FULL SYNTHETIC. THE 0W FULL SYNTHETIC IS WICKED EXPENSIVE TO BEGIN WITH. I HA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2013 SUBARU LEGACY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED QUITE FREQUENTLY ON ACCELERATION, USUALLY AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. IT WOULD OCCUR WHEN GOING UP SLIGHT HILLS, DOWN HILL AND LEVEL ROADS. THE ENGINE WOULD RE-START ITSELF AFTER ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

14 complaints

17%

• AIRBAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT TURN ON WITH FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURN ON AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLE WARNING ALSO TURN ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH SEAT BELT ON. TURN OFF THE CAR AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN MULTIPLE TIME DID NOT RESOLVE THE PRO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER.
• ON 01/17/14, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU DEALER. DEALER VERIFIED CONDITION AND PERFORMED RE-CALIBRATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS CLEARED THE AIR BAG. ON 01/21/14, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD 10611 MILES. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND TECH VERIFIED AND S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“AIRBAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT TURN ON WITH FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURN ON AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLE WARNING ALSO TURN ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH SEAT BELT ON. TURN OFF THE CAR AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN MULTIPLE TIME DID NOT RESOLVE THE PRO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

12 complaints

14%

• ABOUT MID SEPTEMBER MY SON TOOK THE CAR IN DUE TO A NOISE HE HEARD, WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE DONE..HEARD NOISE AGAIN AND RETURNED CAR, WAS ADVISED "TECH CAN NOT DUPLICATE NOISE". TOOK CAR BACK 3RD TIME AND MADE TECH GET INTO CAR
• EXTENDED CRANK ISSUE - I'VE HAD AN EXTENDED CRANK ISSUE WITH MY CAR FOR THE LAST 10 MONTHS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED 3 TIME. THE CAR SPENT 30 DAYS IN THE SHOP DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR IS HAVING A VERY HARD TIME STARTING AFTER IT'S BEEN SITTING FOR A
• 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 WHI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ABOUT MID SEPTEMBER MY SON TOOK THE CAR IN DUE TO A NOISE HE HEARD, WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE DONE..HEARD NOISE AGAIN AND RETURNED CAR, WAS ADVISED "TECH CAN NOT DUPLICATE NOISE". TOOK CAR BACK 3RD TIME AND MADE TECH GET INTO CAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

• 2013 SUBARU LEGACY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED QUITE FREQUENTLY ON ACCELERATION, USUALLY AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. IT WOULD OCCUR WHEN GOING UP SLIGHT HILLS, DOWN HILL AND LEVEL ROADS. THE ENGINE WOULD RE-START ITSELF AFTER
• AIRBAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT TURN ON WITH FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURN ON AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLE WARNING ALSO TURN ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH SEAT BELT ON. TURN OFF THE CAR AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN MULTIPLE TIME DID NOT RESOLVE THE PRO
• EXTENDED CRANK ISSUE - I'VE HAD AN EXTENDED CRANK ISSUE WITH MY CAR FOR THE LAST 10 MONTHS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED 3 TIME. THE CAR SPENT 30 DAYS IN THE SHOP DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR IS HAVING A VERY HARD TIME STARTING AFTER IT'S BEEN SITTING FOR A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

6 complaints

• AS I DROVE MY VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH A CONCRETE BUMPER AT THE HEAD, JUST AS IT WAS READY TO STOP, IT SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD OVER THE CONCRETE BUMPER AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE BACK WHEELS MADE CONTACT WITH THE CONCRETE BUMPER AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. A VERY FRIGHTENING
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT REAR ROOF OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
• THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A SNOWBANK DUE TO ICY CONDITIONS. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE UPON IMPACT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“AS I DROVE MY VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH A CONCRETE BUMPER AT THE HEAD, JUST AS IT WAS READY TO STOP, IT SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD OVER THE CONCRETE BUMPER AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE BACK WHEELS MADE CONTACT WITH THE CONCRETE BUMPER AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. A VERY FRIGHTENING ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 84 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 2013 SUBARU LEGACY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED QUITE FREQUENTLY ON ACCELERATION, USUALLY AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. IT WOULD OCCUR WHEN GOING UP SLIGHT HILLS, DOWN HILL AND LEVEL ROADS. THE ENGINE WOULD RE-START ITSELF AFTER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: AIRBAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT TURN ON WITH FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURN ON AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLE WARNING ALSO TURN ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH SEAT BELT ON. TURN OFF THE CAR AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN MULTIPLE TIME DID NOT RESOLVE THE PRO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: ABOUT MID SEPTEMBER MY SON TOOK THE CAR IN DUE TO A NOISE HE HEARD, WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE DONE..HEARD NOISE AGAIN AND RETURNED CAR, WAS ADVISED "TECH CAN NOT DUPLICATE NOISE". TOOK CAR BACK 3RD TIME AND MADE TECH GET INTO CAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 2013 SUBARU LEGACY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED QUITE FREQUENTLY ON ACCELERATION, USUALLY AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. IT WOULD OCCUR WHEN GOING UP SLIGHT HILLS, DOWN HILL AND LEVEL ROADS. THE ENGINE WOULD RE-START ITSELF AFTER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)