2013 Subaru Forester problems and complaints
Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru Forester. The most-reported areas: Engine (27), Air Bags (13), Service Brakes (9).
Key takeaways
- 78 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 13 involve a crash, 3 a fire, 11 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 27 | 35% |
| Air Bags | 13 | 17% |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 12% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 9% |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 | 9% |
| Power Train | 6 | 8% |
| Structure | 4 | 5% |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 5% |
| Visibility | 4 | 5% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 4% |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Subaru Forester SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-10-12
I was driving my 2013 Subaru Forester on 10.11.2026 and the engine caught fire driving at 35-40mph. I immediately stopped, and turned off the car. Fire Dept and Police responded and put out the fire. The fire was an oil fire is my best guess (blown head gasket?). The head gasket had been replaced by the dealer (Don...
Air Bags - filed 2025-12-28
I had a family member driving an 2013 Subaru Forester all-wheel drive with a manual transition. The car had crash and rolled. The car at the most rolled twice and none of the air bags never deployed. I have photos of the accident and of the vehicle at the towed yard and its clear as day that the air bags are still roll...
Engine - filed 2025-02-04
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Forester. While the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or...
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More for the 2013 Subaru Forester
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.