How common are engine complaints for the 2013 Subaru Forester?

NHTSA lists 33 engine complaints out of 77 total complaints for the 2013 Forester, or 43% of all complaints filed for this model year.

Is there a recall for the 2013 Subaru Forester engine?

No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area.

At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2013 Forester?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on the 2013 Forester is 70,000 miles.

What kinds of engine problems do 2013 Forester owners report?

Owners report excessive oil consumption, unintended acceleration, engine fires, and in some cases complete engine failure tied to rod bearing issues.

Were there any injuries or fires linked to engine complaints on the 2013 Forester?

NHTSA data for this problem area lists 4 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries among the 33 engine complaints.

2013 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

Engine complaints make up 33 of 77 total complaints (43%) for the 2013 Subaru Forester, the largest problem area for this year. Owners report excessive oil consumption, sudden unintended acceleration, and some cases of catastrophic engine failure around a median mileage of 70,000. No related recall is listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints: 33; 43% of 77
Crashes reported: 4
Fires reported: 1
Injuries reported: 3
Median mileage: 70,000 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

Owners report unintended or uncontrolled acceleration while backing out of a garage or driveway, sometimes leading to a crash.
Some owners describe the check engine light coming on followed by flames or smoke from the engine compartment.
Multiple owners report excessive oil consumption, needing to add oil well before scheduled oil changes, with one case showing an empty oil pan at an oil change.
Some owners report a loud clacking or knocking noise followed by complete engine failure, described by a dealer as rod bearing failure.
A few owners describe the vehicle suddenly surging to a faster speed and higher RPM while driving at moderate speeds, forcing hard braking.

When 2013 Subaru Forester engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 27, 2012, latest Feb 4, 2025.

33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2012 to Feb 2025; peak Mar 2019 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2013 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Forester model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201058 (22%)
201179 (54%)
201246 (44%)
201333 (43%)
2014110 (27%)
2015191 (31%)
201691 (22%)
201776 (13%)
201858 (12%)
2019136 (16%)
2020105 (17%)
202142 (20%)
202218 (18%)
202310 (14%)
20242 (7%)
20258 (9%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine complaints for the 2013 Subaru Forester?: NHTSA lists 33 engine complaints out of 77 total complaints for the 2013 Forester, or 43% of all complaints filed for this model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Subaru Forester engine?: No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2013 Forester?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on the 2013 Forester is 70,000 miles.
What kinds of engine problems do 2013 Forester owners report?: Owners report excessive oil consumption, unintended acceleration, engine fires, and in some cases complete engine failure tied to rod bearing issues.
Were there any injuries or fires linked to engine complaints on the 2013 Forester?: NHTSA data for this problem area lists 4 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries among the 33 engine complaints.