RoadVitals

2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jul 14, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 96 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Subaru Xv Crosstrek submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Jul 14, 2022
Crash reported

The stall led to a collision, bent cam shaft and need for total engine repair.

NHTSA ID
11473984
Incident
Dec 9, 2021
EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Jul 13, 2022
Crash reported

involved in a collision, possibly related to the stall issues mentioned in the collision. Reported to the insurance. They are pending repair on the matter due to recall and entire engine was required, which is more than the car is valued for.

NHTSA ID
11473713
Incident
Dec 9, 2021
Steering
Filed Jul 20, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left and to the right. The contact stated that the steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to her destination at a slow speed. The contact took the vehicle to two independent mechanics who were both unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. An appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,400.

NHTSA ID
11425676
Incident
Jul 7, 2021
Mileage
113,400 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 5, 2020

AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION, KEY GETTING STUCK IN IGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
11327410
Incident
May 29, 2020
Mileage
77,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 25, 2017

THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALIGNED STRAIGHT WITH THE WHEELS AND THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING HOWEVER WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE HORN WILL FUNCTION. "SUBARU HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL IN AUSTRALIA FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT COULD LEAD TO A SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH WOULD DISABLE CONTROL OF THE WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, HORN, DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND FEATURES ACTUATED THROUGH THE MULTI-FUNCTION STEERING WHEEL, SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, AUDIO SYSTEM AND MOBILE PHONE CONNECTIVITY". MODELS AFFECTED IN THIS RECALL INCLUDED IMPREZA AND CROSSTREK XV YEARS 2012-2014, AND FORESTER MODELS BUILT IN 2013 AND 2014. NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN THE U.S RELATED TO THE STEERING AND/OR CONTROLS (APART FROM THE TAKATA RECALLS) *TR

NHTSA ID
11039788
Incident
Oct 25, 2017
Mileage
141,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 23, 2015

WE WENT SKIING WITH OUR KIDS LAST SATURDAY. THERE WAS AN ICE STORM THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE ROADS WERE BAD. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN ICY ROADS MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE OWNED SEVERAL SUBARUS. AT ANY SPEED OVER 45 MPH THE BACK END WOULD KICK SIDEWAYS. I COULD TELL BY THE OTHER CAR'S ON THE ROAD THAT DAY THAT MY PROBLEM WAS UNIQUE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH DRIVERS THAT ARE NOT USED TO WINTER DRIVING. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THEY TOLD ME TO ROTATE THE TIRES AT THE CORRECT INTERVALS BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WILL ADJUST THE SPEED OF THE TIRES SEPARATELY. I THINK THE COMPUTER ADJUSTMENTS ARE THE PROBLEM. IT MUST BE ABLE TO TELL IF IS SLIPPING AND ADJUST THE SPEED OF THE REAR TIRE AND KICK IT SIDEWAYS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL HOW MANY CAR ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THIS. A SMALL AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10690162
Incident
Feb 21, 2015
Mileage
18,300 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Jan 21, 2015

2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. CUSTOMER SAYS VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES AND CAN'T GET THEM FIXED BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LACKED POWER, THE STEERING PULLED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT, THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AND IT OFTEN FELT AS THOUGH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON, THE BRAKES VIBRATED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10659578
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Steering
Filed Jan 4, 2014

MY WIFE AND I USED TO LOVE THIS CAR BUT......WHILE DRIVING MY RELATIVELY NEW 2013 CROSSTREK 11,000 MILES FROM WISCONSIN TO DETROIT TO ATTEND THE WINTER HOCKEY CLASSIC HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH GHOSTWALKING. (THIS IS MY 4TH SUBARU AND MY 36TH WINTER DRIVING SEASON SO NOT AN INEXPERIENCE PROBLEM.) IT WAS SNOWING BUT THE ROADS WERE CLEAR OF THICK SNOW BUT HAD A THIN GREASY SHEEN. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP A STRAIGHT LINE AND THE REAR END FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO SPIN OUT (THE OLD REAR WHEEL DRIVE FEEL) ESPECIALLY IF THE WIND BLEW. MOST CARS WERE PASSING ME OLD NEW BIG SMALL. AS A SUBARU DRIVER I AM USED TO PASSING OTHERS ON WINTER ROADS AND DID NOT LIKE FEELING LIKE THE LITTLE OLD MAN EVERYONE WAS STEERING AROUND. THINKING THE PROBLEM WAS THE FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES, WE BOUGHT NEW SNOW TIRES FOR $925 AT BELLE TIRE THE MORNING OF THE RETURN HOME. SIMILAR WEATHER (SNOWY BLOWING GREASY ROADS). THE CAR HANDLED SLIGHTLY BETTER. BUT EACH TIME WE GOT UP TO SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH THE CAR WOULD TRY TO TURN ABRUPTLY WHENEVER WE WENT UNDER OR OVER AN OVERPASS ON A STRAIGHTAWAY....VERY NERVE RACKING. ENDED UP BAILING OUT IN A HOTEL IN TOLEDO UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THE ROADS WERE MOSTLY BARE AND DRY. I AM VERY FAMILIAR AND LIKE THE FEELING OF THE AWD KICKING IN TO ENHANCE THE TRACTION AND CONTROL OF THE CAR. IN THIS SITUATION IT FEELS LIKE THE AWD IS KICKING IN AND TRYING TO TURN THE CAR ANYTIME THERE IS A SLIGHT SLICK SPOT. DID CHECK TO SEE IF THE CAR WOULD TRY TO DRIFT LEFT OR RIGHT ON A DRY FLAT STRAIGHTAWAY (GOES STRAIGHT). I AM HOPING THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO A REAR END ALIGNMENT ISSUE BUT DISCONCERTED BY MY CAR WHICH FEELS DANGEROUS WHEN I MOST NEED IT TO BE RELIABLE. VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINT DESCRIPTIONS ON THIS WEBSITE FOR OUTBACKS DESCRIBED AS GHOSTWALKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558479
Incident
Dec 30, 2013
Mileage
11,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 4, 2014

AFTER PARKING THE CAR IN -18 DEGREE AIR TEMPERATURE, FOR ONLY 20 MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHERE I BOUGHT THE NEW CAR 2 MONTHS EARLIER, TO ASK FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CHARLIE'S MOTOR MALL IN AUGUSTA, MAINE SAID THAT THEY HAD THREE INCIDENCES OF THIS HAPPENING THE DAY BEFORE AND THAT IS WEATHER RELATED. SHE TOLD ME THAT ALL THEY DO IS PARK THE CAR INSIDE, LET IT WARM UP, THEN RETURN IT TO THE OWNER. I FIND THAT "SOLUTION" UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558457
Incident
Jan 4, 2014
Mileage
2,070 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .