2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering engine and electrical system. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Wheel bearing, hub, and lug nut failure.” Subaru's symmetrical AWD system places unusually high demands on differential fluid and transfer case service — skipping these is the most common cause of premature drivetrain wear. Older Subarus with the EJ25 engine (pre-2011) require timing belt replacement; FB and FA engines (2011+) use a maintenance-free chain. Subaru's published intervals below align with the owner's manual Schedule II (severe) which most US drivers qualify for.

2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Campaign #18V772000 · Jan 11, 2018

Issue: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.

Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Campaign #13V061000 · Feb 25, 2013

Issue: Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year 2013 XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory. Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs. If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button.

Risk: The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek.

Reported to NHTSA

Wheel bearing, hub, and lug nut failure

WHEELS

4 NHTSA complaints · 2020-02 → 2020-05

RUMBLE NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACED. THIS COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11311734
RUMBLE NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY AND BRAKE BACKING PLATE NEEDED REPLACED. WITHOUT REPLACEMENT, WHEEL COULD FALL OFF
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11311736
I RECENTLY SWITCHED TIRES FROM WINTER TO SUMMER TIRES. I BROUGHT IN MY SUBARU INTO THE FREMONT SUBARU SERVICE CENTER FOR SERVICE. I WANTED TO CHECK ALL THE NUTS HOLDING THE TIRE ON WERE PROPERLY TORQUED
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11325667

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Ignition key stuck in park position

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 NHTSA complaints · 2019-08 → 2026-04

THE KEY GETS STUCK WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE CAR. YOU HAVE TO TURN IT ON AND PUT IT IN GEAR AND TRY AGAIN. SONETIMES IT TAKES ONE TRY AND SOMETIMES UP TO 20. PLEASE HELP
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11242865
When the car is put in park the key will not come out of the ignition. Sometimes to be removed from ignition. Therefore the key will get stuck. The transmission has to be put back in drive and then back into park for the ignition system to recycle and release the key
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11730297
OUR SUBARU CROSSTREK RECENTLY HAD A SENSOR ISSUE CAUSING THE CAR TO THINK IT WASN'T IN PARK WHEN IT WAS IN FACT IN PARK. THIS CAUSED THE IGNITION TO NOT RELEASE THE KEY PROPERLY, WHICH MEANT YOU COULD NOT LEAVE THE CAR UNLESS YOU LEFT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND DIDN'T LOCK IT
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11323274

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Valve spring failure and engine stall (recall 18V772000)

ENGINE

18 NHTSA complaints · 2019-01 → 2025-09

THE ENGIN MALFUNCTIONED. MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WAS AT RISK BECAUSE WHEN AN ENGIN FAILS WHILE DRIVING IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH. THE VALVE SPRING WHICH IS LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGIN OF THE VEHICLE DID FRACTURE WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGIN STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11664303
TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL SERVICE FOR THE ENGINE VALVE SPRING. AFTER THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETED AND WITH A LITTLE OVER A HUNDRED MILES DRIVEN SINCE THE SERVICE, MY ENGINE STOPPED WHILE AT A RED. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11208427
SUBARU SENT OUT A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE RECALL # WTY-84 IN THE LETTER THEY STATE THAT THE ENGINE MAY STALL WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH. WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THE FIRST APPOINTMENT THEY HAVE TO RESOLVE THIS WAS ON FEB 12, 2020
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11180298

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Excessive engine oil consumption

ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2015-05 → 2019-09

THE OIL LEVEL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILUMINATED. I STOPPED AND ADDED OIL. THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WHICH IS CAUSING ME TO ADD A QUART OF OIL ONCE PER WEEK. THE DEALER HAS A FIX BUT ONLY FOR VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY AND SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I'LL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11138856
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
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10714178
THE ENGINE BURNS OIL TOO FAST. EVERY 800 TO 1000 MILES THE CAR REQUIRES 1OR 2 QUARTS OF OIL
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11258670

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CVT transmission failure and warning lights

POWER TRAIN

6 NHTSA complaints · 2014-01 → 2022-05

Transmission failure while driving on highway caused it to suddenly stalled. On restarting engine, car kept jerking and stopping, became undrivable. Only 46,700 miles on the clock. No warning lights, no warning of any kind
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11466318
TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY FAILED, SOLENOID 2 FAIL, AFFECTS TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL, ABS, AND HILL START CONTROL. CAUSES TRANSMISSION TEMPTS TO OVERHEAT
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11383589
I WAS ACCELERATING WHILE MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE RPMS SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THE CAR SLOWED WAY DOWN. FORTUNATELY, THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, AND THE CARS BEHIND ME ON THE ON-RAMP AND ON THE FREEWAY WERE ABLE TO AVOID MY CAR AS I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11265217

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Front axle and CV joint failure

POWER TRAIN

4 NHTSA complaints · 2015-10 → 2018-10

65000 MILES JUST OVER THE WARRANTY I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH 2 AXELS AND 2 CV JOINTS AND $4000 LATER I AM TOLD WE HAVE TO NOW REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT STALLED OUT SLIPPED WHILE I WAS TRYING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11141717
CV JOINT & FRONT AXEL I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT AXELS TWICE NOW IN MY CROSSTREK. ONCE AT 36K MILES AND AGAIN AT 59K. BOTH TIMES I DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE WHEN I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE ON SHARP TURNS
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11071994
RECENTLY, WITH ONLY 60,434 MILES (AND ACTUALLY A LITTLE BEFORE THIS), THE AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2013 CROSSTREK SUBARU. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS DUE TO BAD ROADS
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10781349

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Air bag non-deployment or unexpected deployment

AIR BAGS

4 NHTSA complaints · 2015-03 → 2025-12

I was t-boned on 11/7 on the driver side door of the car. My car is totaled and the airbags, knee and curtain did not deploy and I was hit almost dead on on the B pillar. Unknown if the problem has been reproduced by the dealer.My knee is still hurting from the accident and my
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11705923
INTERSECTION OF AIRPORT BLVD AND SCOTT ST. IN HOUSTON. BETWEEN 545 TO 6 PM WAS THE INCIDENT. WEATHER WAS PERFECT. BETWEEN 70 TO 75 DEGREES. BRIGHT AND CLEAR CONDITIONS. I WAS COMING FROM THE EAST SIDE OF AIRPORT BLVD TOWARDS THE SOUTH SIDE OF SCOTT
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10700854
HIT A RATHER LARGE BUMP, NO DAMAGE TO CAR. SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND SCRATCHED MY NECK PRETTY BAD. I FEEL THAT THE IMPACT OF THE BUMP DID NOT EVEN CLOSE TO JUSTIFY A DEPLOYMENT. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 40MPH
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11321873

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Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 6,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 6,000 miles. WRX/STI 2.0L/2.5L turbo: 3,750 miles. Non-turbo FB engines: 6,000 miles severe / 10,000 normal.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Critical on Subaru AWD — uneven tread depth across all 4 tires (>2/32") forces the center differential to bind, damaging the AWD coupling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, calipers, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Outback and Forester pads commonly last 35,000-50,000 miles depending on terrain.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Front Differential / Manual Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace front differential and manual transmission fluid every 30,000 miles. CVT models use proprietary Subaru CVT fluid — a separate item.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace rear differential fluid every 30,000 miles. Use Subaru 75W-90 GL-5 — substitutes can cause whining noises within months.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

CVT Fluid (Lineartronic)

Every 30,000 mi

Subaru CVT models (Outback, Legacy, Forester, Crosstrek, Impreza, Ascent): replace Lineartronic CVT fluid every 30,000 miles severe / 60,000 normal. Subaru High-Torque CVT-II fluid only — incorrect fluid destroys the chain-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Timing Belt (EJ25 engines, pre-2011)

Every 105,000 mi

Older Subarus with the EJ25 boxer engine (Forester, Outback, Legacy 1996-2010): replace timing belt every 105,000 miles. FB and FA boxer engines (2011+) use a chain — no scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$935–$1175

Shop

~$655–$825

DIY

Pro only

On interference engines, a snapped belt destroys valves. Worth doing on schedule. Bundle water pump + tensioner — labor is already there.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 30 months. Subaru's brake hold and EyeSight automatic emergency braking depend on uncontaminated fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. WRX/STI: inspect every oil change due to the higher airflow demand of the turbo intake.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Iridium plugs every 60,000 miles on FB engines. WRX/STI 2.5L turbo: 30,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures and EGT.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Super Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

Subaru Super Coolant (blue): first change at 137,500 miles or 11 years, then every 30,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange — head gasket sealing chemistry depends on the formula.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Behind the glove box on most Subaru models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek reflects Subaru's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.