Do 2013 Subaru Impreza airbags fail to deploy?

Some owners report airbags not deploying during crashes, including side-impact and highway collisions. NHTSA logs 4 crashes and 3 injuries tied to airbag complaints for this year.

Is there a recall for the 2013 Subaru Impreza airbag sensor?

NHTSA shows no related recall listed for the 2013 model, even though several owners compare their issue to a known 2012 Impreza passenger airbag sensor problem.

How common are airbag complaints on the 2013 Impreza?

Airbags make up 79 of 249 total complaints for the 2013 Impreza, or 32% of all reported problems that year.

At what mileage do airbag problems usually show up?

The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2013 Impreza is 57,000 miles, though some owners reported issues much earlier.

How does the 2013 Impreza compare to other years for airbag complaints?

The 2012 Impreza has the highest share at 43%, followed by 2014 at 35% and 2013 at 32%, while newer years like 2018–2025 show far fewer airbag complaints.

2013 Subaru Impreza Airbags Problems

Airbags account for 79 of 249 complaints (32%) filed against the 2013 Subaru Impreza, including 4 crashes and 3 injuries. Owners most often report the passenger airbag occupancy sensor falsely showing the airbag is off, and several describe airbags failing to deploy in real crashes, at a median 57,000 miles. NHTSA lists no related recall for this year.

Airbags complaints: 79; 32% of 249
Crashes reported: 4
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 3
Median mileage: 57,000 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

Passenger airbag off light illuminates intermittently even with an adult seated, sometimes accompanied by a seatbelt chime with no one in the seat.
Passenger airbag occupancy sensor appears to malfunction, with owners noting the same issue was subject to a recall on the 2012 Impreza but not on their 2013 model.
Airbags failed to deploy during actual side-impact and highway collisions, leaving occupants without protection despite significant vehicle damage.
SRS warning light comes on while driving, turns off after restarting the engine, then reactivates again after a short distance.
Some owners report needing to replace the passenger seat airbag sensor entirely due to repeated malfunction.

When 2013 Subaru Impreza airbag complaints were filed

First complaint May 17, 2013, latest Nov 27, 2025.

79 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q2 to 2025 Q4; peak 2018 Q3 (9).

Airbags recalls for the 2013 Subaru Impreza

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Airbags complaints by Impreza model year

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

20106 (13%)
201117 (30%)
2012105 (43%)
201379 (32%)
201438 (35%)
20157 (9%)
20168 (11%)
201711 (9%)
20182 (1%)
20194 (2%)
20203 (4%)
20211 (7%)
20220 (0%)
20230 (0%)
20241 (3%)
20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Do 2013 Subaru Impreza airbags fail to deploy?: Some owners report airbags not deploying during crashes, including side-impact and highway collisions. NHTSA logs 4 crashes and 3 injuries tied to airbag complaints for this year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Subaru Impreza airbag sensor?: NHTSA shows no related recall listed for the 2013 model, even though several owners compare their issue to a known 2012 Impreza passenger airbag sensor problem.
How common are airbag complaints on the 2013 Impreza?: Airbags make up 79 of 249 total complaints for the 2013 Impreza, or 32% of all reported problems that year.
At what mileage do airbag problems usually show up?: The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2013 Impreza is 57,000 miles, though some owners reported issues much earlier.
How does the 2013 Impreza compare to other years for airbag complaints?: The 2012 Impreza has the highest share at 43%, followed by 2014 at 35% and 2013 at 32%, while newer years like 2018–2025 show far fewer airbag complaints.