Major Problems with Subaru BRZ Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Subaru BRZ to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

Subaru BRZ complaint overview

48 recorded complaints across model years
Years covered 2013–2017
Most recorded categories ENGINE (31), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (5), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (3)
Highest recorded count 43 in 2013

Complaint counts are reports, not confirmed defect rates. Older model years have had more time to accumulate reports, and sales volume and reporting coverage differ by year. A higher count does not by itself make a year the least reliable, and these figures are not a failure probability.

Compare two model years

Year A Year B

Problem category

Subaru BRZ FlawScore

Best and Worst Years for Subaru BRZ

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Subaru BRZ.

Model Year	Complaints
2017 BRZ	1
2016 BRZ	1
2014 BRZ	3
2013 BRZ	43

Worst 3 Subaru BRZ complaints

2013 Subaru BRZ SERVICE BRAKES Mileage: 2000 miles

2013 Subaru BRZ ENGINE Mileage: 77000 miles

2013 Subaru BRZ ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Mileage: 2000 miles

Browse Subaru BRZ complaints by category

Problems with ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM and STRUCTURE are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Subaru BRZ owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
ENGINE this may be similar to the current recall posted for earlier models of the scion fr-s and subaru brz however...	31 ~ 53760 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER i dropped my car off at colonial subaru in south chesterfield virginia on 2/16 to have the nhtsa safety recall...	5 ~ 49000 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM driving under normal conditions and started hearing something that sounded like fireworks under the hood of the car. i immediately...	3 ~ 37652 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE subaru brz fuel pump defective filing complaint for the record - the 2014 subaru brz fuel pump when warm makes...	3 ~ 2000 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER the homelink rear view mirror mount failed and the mirror fell onto the center console hitting the center air vents...	3 ~ 20160 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM this 2013 subaru brz with the standard radio and only radio offered is this am/fm/hd/sat/ipod/iphone/text/cd/nav touchscreen only access to controls...	3 ~ 2800 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING rear lights leak and fill with half inch atleast of water subaru's idea of a fix is let it evaporate...	2 ~ 27000 miles
STRUCTURE gaskets around driver side windows (including stationary triangular panes) as well as passenger side windows do not create a good	2 ~ 5600 miles
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY the radio head unit touchscreen is fairly unresponsive to the touch and buttons are too small. forces driver to spend...	2 ~ 1440 miles
POWER TRAIN so the tech did my recall after the recall it was idling weird and acting stupid the cam gear sprocket...	1 ~ 77000 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL check engine light on traction control light on light plates off. accelerator stuck while driving noise while driving. car had...	1 ~ 1000 miles
STEERING there is a strange problem with the steering on these cars and the scion frs equivalent. the problem is reported...	1 ~ 30000 miles
SEATS the head restraint is excrutiatingly uncomfortable. the angle is digging into the back of my head and there is no...	1 ~ 10000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES rear lights leak and fill with half inch atleast of water subaru's idea of a fix is let it evaporate...	1 ~ 2000 miles
VISIBILITY gaskets around driver side windows (including stationary triangular panes) as well as passenger side windows do not create a good	1 ~ 2800 miles
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT the radio head unit touchscreen is fairly unresponsive to the touch and buttons are too small. forces driver to spend...	1 ~ 2800 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING chirping/squeaking sound possibly from the engine's high pressure fuel pump noise occurs upon de-acceleration at 28mph w/ car in neutral	1 ~ 2000 miles

FAQ

What year Subaru BRZ is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 4 years, Subaru BRZ models of 2017, 2016, 2014 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Subaru BRZ?

Subaru BRZ models of 2013 and 2014 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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