2013 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

67Engine complaints

22.7%Of all 295 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE67 · 22.7%

POWER TRAIN58 · 19.7%

AIR BAGS41 · 13.9%

STEERING34 · 11.5%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL25 · 8.5%

Share of the 295 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Subaru Outback overview page.

What owners report

“ABOUT EVERY 3,000 MILES, I HAVE REFILL ENGINE OIL TO REQUIRED LEVEL. ALL HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY - THE ENGINE CONSUMES TOO MUCH OIL”NHTSA complaint 11013005 — filed 08/05/2017

“EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE, ABOUT EVERY 2,000 MILES THE ENGINE OIL SEEMS TO VANISH, AND I HAVE TO ADD ABOUT A QUART. I…”NHTSA complaint 10983946 — filed 05/07/2017

“2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEMS AFTER REPLACEMENT OF OIL SENDING UNIT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS EXPERIENCING…”NHTSA complaint 10904113 — filed 09/22/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Subaru Outback have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 Subaru Outback: 67 of 295 complaints on file (22.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Subaru Outback have in total?

295 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 18 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 13 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.