
2013 Subaru XV CROSSTREK
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Subaru XV CROSSTREK has 140 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: the vehicle has a continuously variable transmission. when approaching a stop light or stop sign i remove my foot from the gas pedal and then the vehicle starts to slow down. when the engine rpm's reach around 1400 rpm the vehicle quits slowing down and continues forward at what ever speed it is a. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
140
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
35 complaints- • THE VEHICLE HAS A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S REACH AROUND 1400 RPM THE VEHICLE QUITS SLOWING DOWN AND CONTINUES FORWARD AT WHAT EVER SPEED IT IS A
- • MY 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK XV HAS BEEN BURNING OIL SINCE NEW. THE DEALER, AND SUBARU, HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HELP FIX THE ISSUE. CURRENTLY ITS BURNING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2000-3500 MILES. THIS CAN'T BE RIGHT BUT SUBARU TELL ME THAT IT IS OK FOR THE CAR TO "CONSUME" A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1200 MILES. *T
- • MY 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK IS BURNING OIL. AT THE TIME THAT THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR HAD 43,675 MILES ON IT. I JUST READ WHERE SOMEONE ELSE IS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW 2 YEARS AGO AND FEEL THAT A NEW CAR SHOULD NOT BE BURNING OIL.
“THE VEHICLE HAS A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S REACH AROUND 1400 RPM THE VEHICLE QUITS SLOWING DOWN AND CONTINUES FORWARD AT WHAT EVER SPEED IT IS A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
21 complaints- • THE VEHICLE HAS A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S REACH AROUND 1400 RPM THE VEHICLE QUITS SLOWING DOWN AND CONTINUES FORWARD AT WHAT EVER SPEED IT IS A
- • 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. CUSTOMER SAYS VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES AND CAN'T GET THEM FIXED BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LACKED POWER, THE STEERING PULLED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT, THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AND IT OFTEN FELT AS THOUGH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT
- • THIS CAR IS ABSOLUTELY SCARY ON ICE OR SNOW. IT MAY HAVE A DESIGN FLAW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE ON ICE OR SNOW. WHEN YOU HIT A PATCH OF ICE, THE AWD SYSTEM PUSHES THE TAIL OUT AND MAKES THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT WILL SPIN OUT. ON ROADS WHERE OTHERS ARE PROGRESSING IN COMPLETE CON
“THE VEHICLE HAS A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S REACH AROUND 1400 RPM THE VEHICLE QUITS SLOWING DOWN AND CONTINUES FORWARD AT WHAT EVER SPEED IT IS A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
20 complaints- • TWO CONCERNS. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW MARCH 2013. 5000 MILES LATER CHECK OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HAD TO ADD 1 QT. OIL. WENT TO DEALER TO INQUIRE. SAID THEY HAD TO MONITOR. CONTINUALLY HAPPENED AT 5000. FIRST SAID I HAD A FAULTY OIL SENSOR (RECALL). THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD SINCE IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE O
- • THE MOONROOF/SUNROOF HAS EXPLODED. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE OUTWARD BREAK PATTERN.
- • TWO TIMES MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM RELEASING MY IGNITION KEY. I END UP HAVING TO WIGGLE THE KEY, PUT BACK IN DRIVE, PARK, DRIVE, PARK, AND IT FINALLY RELEASES THE KEY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AS I SEE THIS HAPPENING AGAIN.
“TWO CONCERNS. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW MARCH 2013. 5000 MILES LATER CHECK OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HAD TO ADD 1 QT. OIL. WENT TO DEALER TO INQUIRE. SAID THEY HAD TO MONITOR. CONTINUALLY HAPPENED AT 5000. FIRST SAID I HAD A FAULTY OIL SENSOR (RECALL). THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD SINCE IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE O”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
14 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE MOTOR SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAN FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER C
- • THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALIGNED STRAIGHT WITH THE WHEELS AND THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING HOWEVER WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE HORN WILL FUNCTION. "SUBARU HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL IN AUSTRALIA FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN
- • MY CAR IS CURRENTLY USING A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL. I'VE HAD TO PUT IN ABOUT 1.5 QUARTS OF OIL ABOUT 2 TIMES BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE HORN HAS ALSO STOPPED WORKING IN SOME POSITIONS (THINKING THIS IS LIKELY THE CLOCKSPRING). MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 106K MILES ON IT.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE MOTOR SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAN FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER C”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
9 complaints- • AFTER PARKING THE CAR IN -18 DEGREE AIR TEMPERATURE, FOR ONLY 20 MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHERE I BOUGHT THE NEW CAR 2 MONTHS EARLIER, TO ASK FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CHARLIE'S MOTOR MALL IN AUGUSTA, MAINE SAID THAT THEY HAD THREE IN
- • MY WIFE AND I USED TO LOVE THIS CAR BUT......WHILE DRIVING MY RELATIVELY NEW 2013 CROSSTREK 11,000 MILES FROM WISCONSIN TO DETROIT TO ATTEND THE WINTER HOCKEY CLASSIC HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH GHOSTWALKING. (THIS IS MY 4TH SUBARU AND MY 36TH WINTER DRIVING SEASON SO NOT AN INEXPERIENCE PROBLEM.) IT
- • 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. CUSTOMER SAYS VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES AND CAN'T GET THEM FIXED BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LACKED POWER, THE STEERING PULLED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT, THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AND IT OFTEN FELT AS THOUGH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT
“AFTER PARKING THE CAR IN -18 DEGREE AIR TEMPERATURE, FOR ONLY 20 MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHERE I BOUGHT THE NEW CAR 2 MONTHS EARLIER, TO ASK FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CHARLIE'S MOTOR MALL IN AUGUSTA, MAINE SAID THAT THEY HAD THREE IN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 140 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: THE VEHICLE HAS A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S REACH AROUND 1400 RPM THE VEHICLE QUITS SLOWING DOWN AND CONTINUES FORWARD AT WHAT EVER SPEED IT IS A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: THE VEHICLE HAS A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S REACH AROUND 1400 RPM THE VEHICLE QUITS SLOWING DOWN AND CONTINUES FORWARD AT WHAT EVER SPEED IT IS A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: TWO CONCERNS. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW MARCH 2013. 5000 MILES LATER CHECK OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HAD TO ADD 1 QT. OIL. WENT TO DEALER TO INQUIRE. SAID THEY HAD TO MONITOR. CONTINUALLY HAPPENED AT 5000. FIRST SAID I HAD A FAULTY OIL SENSOR (RECALL). THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD SINCE IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE MOTOR SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAN FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Subaru XV CROSSTREK — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 140
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 1
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Subaru XV CROSSTREK