Vehicle Data Hub

2013 Subaru Outback steering problems

34 complaints about steering have been filed for the 2013 Subaru Outback, which is 8% of all its NHTSA complaints.

At a glance

Complaints
34 8% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
2,000 miles 30 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
1 and 0
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When steering problems show up

Steering complaints by mileage, 2013 Subaru Outback Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 2,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 23 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 3 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 2 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 2 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 0 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 2,000 miles
Based on 30 complaints that include mileage. 93% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles23
20k to 40k miles3
40k to 60k miles2
60k to 80k miles2
80k to 100k miles0
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 30 steering complaints that report mileage, the median is about 2,000 miles, and 93% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

2013 subaru outback 3.6r w/sap I am experiencing a heavy steering issue. Where the return to center does not happen unless I manually steer it back to center. Steering is so heavy that after 3000 miles. (purchased in june 2013), both of my wrists are in pain, my right elbow is in pain, and my right hand feels like it has carpal tunnel syndrome. Constant corrections are needed to keep tracking straight. I increased tire psi to 34/32, and it helped a little, but steering still does not return to center.

Reported at 3,200 miles, September 2013 Injury

The vehicle does not track well at highway speeds. It wanders side to side in the lane of travel requiring constant correction to stay in the center of the lane. On smooth road surfaces, the wandering is relatively mild. However, I became alarmed while crossing a bridge with a grated deck. The vehicle swerved side to side dramatically requiring significant steering correction and immediate reduction in speed to maintain the lane of travel safely. I took the car to the dealer and reported the problem.

Reported at 2,200 miles, May 2013

Other problems reported for the 2013 Subaru Outback

Steering problems in other years

  • 2027
  • 2026
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998
  • 1997
  • 1996
  • 1995

Steering problems across all Subaru models