Subaru›Legacy›2013›3.6L/subaru/legacy/2013/3-6l/

2013 Subaru Legacy — 3.6L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 Legacy 3.6L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 3.6LTransmission Automatic (S5)

The 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6L is a passenger car equipped with a 3.6-liter engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, requiring 7 quarts of 5W-30 API oil and delivering an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined. Within the model’s complaint history spanning 1990 to 2025, this year’s 66 owner complaints and 12 recalls place it well below the peak of 216 complaints in 1995 but far above the low of 6 in 2025, marking it as a mid-pack reliability year where the engine is the most frequently cited trouble area.

Model year2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity7 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy18/24/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 25 · 490 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 25 · 490 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S5)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	187.4 in
Overall width	71.7 in
Overall height	59.4 in
Wheelbase	108.3 in
Curb weight	3417 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.8 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	18 / 24 / 20 mpg
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	103 cu ft
Cargo volume	15 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 2013 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

6.4–7.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 2010 3.6R Limited

256 hpHorsepower (as tested)

247 lb-ftTorque (as tested)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2010	3.6R Limited 3.6L F-6	6.40 sec	15.00 sec	256 hp	AWD
2010	3.6R Limited 3.6L F-6	6.99 sec	15.30 sec	256 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 7 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-3-2-5-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	Subaru Lienartronic CVT fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	13.4
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	7 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid	75W-90 · GL-5
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.0-9.0

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	44.3 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	144 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	66.4 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	22 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	33.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	10 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	89 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	37.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	Metal
Front Wheel Hub	162 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	177 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-2-4
Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-3-2-5-4
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	100 rpm

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	0.88-1.10 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Standard BCI Group Number	25
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	490 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance	12.0 ohms
Engine Compression	185-213 psi. 7 variance psi.
Engine Oil Pressure	15 psi @ 600 rpm, 73 psi @ 5000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash	0.0079-0.0080 in
Exhaust Valve Lash	0.010-0.0138 in

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR
Torque Caliper to Bracket	20 ft-lbs / 88.5 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	48.7 ft-lbs / 88.5 ft-lbs
Other	STANDARD WHEELS
Wheel Application	17 inch WHEELS
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.059; Rear: 0.059 in
Brake Application	WITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 9 stages

Prep Bolts 1-8:

1	14.8 ft. lbs.	14.8 ft. lbs
2	36.9 ft. lbs.	36.9 ft. lbs
3	Loosen 180 degrees.	180 degrees
4	Loosen 180 degrees.	180 degrees
5	14.8 ft. lbs.; Bolts 1-4:	14.8 ft. lbs
6	35.4 ft. lbs.; Bolts 5-8:	35.4 ft. lbs
6	32.5 ft. lbs.; All Bolts:	32.5 ft. lbs
7	90 degrees.; Bolts 1-4:	90 degrees
8	45 degrees.	45 degrees
9	Install seal bolt 9	4.7 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

9 ft. lbs., Step 2: 13 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90

9 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 1,200 mi.

Every 1,200 mi	Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
At 3,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 6,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 12,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
At 15,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Fuel Line (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 36,000 mi	Battery (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Injector (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2013 Subaru Legacy sits at a notable inflection point in the model's federal record. Complaints had peaked at 167 in 2011 and steadily declined to 90 by 2012 before dropping further to 66 in 2013, representing a downward trend that continued into 2014 (53 complaints). Recalls similarly trended downward from a high of 18 in 2010 to 12 in 2013 and 10 in 2014, suggesting Subaru was actively addressing manufacturing defects during this window. However, TSBs (technical service bulletins) reached 493 in 2013—the highest count in the entire dataset through 2015—which indicates dealers and technicians were addressing a high volume of field issues, even if those did not escalate to formal recalls. The top complaint categories were Engine (15), Airbags (10), and Power Train (9), with 6 crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints. After 2013, the record shows a temporary spike in complaints in 2015 (159) and 2016 (145), suggesting some issues may have persisted across the generation rather than being fully resolved in 2013. The 2013 Legacy's lower complaint count and reduced recall activity compared to 2010–2012 make it comparatively more attractive, but the elevated TSB volume signals ongoing mechanical attention may be warranted—so buyers should budget for thorough pre-purchase inspections focusing on engine and powertrain components.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

493

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

6 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12’13’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 66 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine15

Air Bags10

Power Train9

Structure3

Unknown Or Other3

Vehicle Speed Control3

Steering3

Electrical System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 12 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V009000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 09/01/2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska… Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer…

19V007000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 09/01/2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida… Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 493 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
SubaruNet Annoucement (E	2026-06-11	Unknown Or Other	This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood…
16-156-25R	2026-06-02	Power Train	This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which…
01-167-08R	2026-05-18	Unknown Or Other	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
16-156-25R	2026-05-13	Power Train	This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which…
SubaruNet Announcement (R	2026-05-04	Power Train	This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Legacy. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 25 battery Vehicles taking 7 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2013 Legacy 3.6L take?

7 qt of 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2013 Legacy have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.6L get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg.