The Lemon Index2013 Subaru Impreza.
The 2013 Subaru Impreza is better than average by owner complaints: 51 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 66, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 19 to 30 mpg combined. The best Subaru Impreza year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 259 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Subaru Impreza year. 2013 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 23K to 84K miles on the car (163 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 30K–80K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 28K–83K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 40K–115K miles
Recalls 4
- lights 2019
Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions …
- engine 2018
The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
- electrical 2016
The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.
Show all 4 recalls
- electrical 2013
Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Subaru told dealers about
Subaru sent dealers 509 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Information regarding surface treatment to oil control piston rings due to limited…
- Information regarding replacement revision of air intake duct for turbocharger where insulator
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Impreza SW AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Subaru Impreza 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Subaru Impreza WRX/STI SW AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Subaru Impreza WRX/STI 4 DR AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2150–4200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
I bought my 2013 Subaru Impreza and with approx 10,000 miles I got a low oil light on. I found out my Subaru burns a quart of oil every 2500-3000 miles. That is unacceptable for a brand new car. Subaru is selling a lemon.
2013 Subaru Impreza owner · NHTSA complaint 10536829
More owner reports
The passenger air-bag on light illuminated and the fasten seatbelt warning sound was sounded even though there was nothing in the passenger seat. This has happened multiple times, the most recent at 21,793 miles.
NHTSA complaint 10648631
Passenger driver airbag is off even though somebody seating . This is safety issue and I discover it recently. Subaru dealer charged me for inspection and repair because item is out of warranty.
NHTSA complaint 10875496
Quick answers
Is the 2013 Subaru Impreza reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 66; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Subaru Impreza year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2013 Subaru Impreza problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (39%), engine (18%) and transmission & drivetrain (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2013 Subaru Impreza have?
4 safety recalls (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Subaru Impreza get?
19 to 30 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2013 Subaru Impreza safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2013 Subaru Impreza problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 23,800 and 84,000 miles. The middle report was at 60,800 miles, from 163 complaints.
Does the 2013 Subaru Impreza have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 16% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2013 Subaru Impreza cost in fuel a year?
About $2150 to $4200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2013 Subaru Impreza have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Subaru Impreza year is better than the 2013?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2014 and 2011.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works