YearToAvoid

2013 Subaru Outback Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 60 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Subaru Outback, 20% of that year's 297 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 98,213. No related recalls are listed for this component.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
60
20% of 297
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
98,213 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report intermittent clicking or thunking noises during acceleration or when lifting off the gas, often near or above 38 mph.
  • Some describe the transmission failing to downshift or hesitating when accelerating from a stop or slow speed, especially soon after starting the engine cold.
  • Several owners report a delay in engine response after slowing to idle and then pressing the accelerator again.
  • Others describe the vehicle stalling or hesitating to accelerate while driving at low or moderate speeds, sometimes recurring multiple times.
  • A few owners report the shift lever locking in park, preventing the key from turning or the car from starting.
  • One report describes the vehicle unable to accelerate beyond 60 mph while towing, with the engine failing to rev as expected.

When 2013 Subaru Outback transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 25, 2012, latest Sep 18, 2026.

2013 Subaru Outback transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month5Oct 2012Aug 2014Jan 2017Oct 2018Jul 2019Jul 2020May 2022Jul 2026
60 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2012 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2019 (5).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 Subaru Outback

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Outback model year

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

  1. 201093 (26%)
  2. 2011216 (33%)
  3. 2012107 (37%)
  4. 201360 (20%)
  5. 201425 (12%)
  6. 201537 (7%)
  7. 201645 (7%)
  8. 201747 (5%)
  9. 201814 (2%)
  10. 201915 (1%)
  11. 202046 (5%)
  12. 202112 (4%)
  13. 202218 (4%)
  14. 20235 (6%)
  15. 20246 (6%)
  16. 20254 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does NHTSA have for the 2013 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 60 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Outback, which is 20% of the 297 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Subaru Outback transmission?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to this component for the 2013 Outback.
At what mileage do transmission problems tend to show up on the 2013 Outback?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this component is 98,213 miles.
How does the 2013 Outback compare to other years for this problem?
The 2013 Outback's 20% share of complaints tied to Transmission & Powertrain is lower than the 2011 (33%) and 2012 (37%) model years but higher than most years from 2015 onward.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.