2013 Subaru Forester engine problems
27 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2013 Subaru Forester, which is 28% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 27 28% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 82,000 miles 18 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When engine problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 5 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 18 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 82,000 miles, and 22% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 2 fires.
What owners wrote
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 subaru forester. While driving approximately 30 MPH in bumper to bumper traffic, the check engine indicator illuminated along with other unknown indicators. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the roadway. The contact opened the hood and observed flames coming from the engine compartment. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed by the fire and was towed to a tow yard.
Subaru has 86k miles on it. We were driving down highway at about 60MPH and the car started making a horrible clacking noise. The car died. We started it again, all the lights went on and the car died. It had to be pushed off into a parking lot. Car has been towed to a subaru dealer and they are telling me that it has "catastrophic engine failure due to the 'rod bearings failing, all metal throughout my oil, and the short block (engine?) needs to be rebuilt." I really do not want this engine rebuilt nor do I want…