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2013 Subaru Brz

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

53 reports with mileage · 11 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

64 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2019
Engine

NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY AND ENGINE KNOCKING AFTER HAVING J02 VALVE SPRING RECALL PERFORMED. CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 2 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11222707

61,174 miles · Jun 24, 2019
Engine

I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM GETTING A RECALL DONE (NHTSA ID 18V-772, SUBARU RECALL WTY-84) ON THE VALVE SPRINGS A FEW DAYS AGO. MY MOTOR WAS RUNNING GREAT AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THE RECALL. SINCE I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE RECALL, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND A BURNING SMELL ONCE THE CAR G…

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I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM GETTING A RECALL DONE (NHTSA ID 18V-772, SUBARU RECALL WTY-84) ON THE VALVE SPRINGS A FEW DAYS AGO. MY MOTOR WAS RUNNING GREAT AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THE RECALL. SINCE I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE RECALL, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND A BURNING SMELL ONCE THE CAR GETS UP TO TEMPERATURE. THERE IS A NOISE BRIEFLY UPON STARTUP WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT IS OIL PRESSURE RELATED. THERE IS ALSO A HIGH PITCHED WHINING SOUND WHILE ACCELERATING. WHEN I'M CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE IS AN OCCASIONAL, SPORADIC CLATTER THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE IS PLAYING A SNARE DRUM UNDER MY HOOD. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED CORRECTLY. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MOTORS AFTER THIS RECALL! IN FACT, THERE ARE MORE CARS THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AFTER THE RECALL THAN WERE AFFECTED BY FAULTY VALVE SPRINGS TO BEGIN WITH! SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF BY THE DEALERS AND IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! ONE CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND TWO WEEKS AFTER THE RECALL! I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND IT'S SUMMER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND I DON'T WANT TO START THE NEXT WILD FIRE FROM MY CAR CATCHING FIRE. I HAVEN'T BEEN DRIVING IT THE LAST FEW DAYS. SOMEONE HAS TO DO SOMETHING! I UNDERSTAND SUBARU AND TOYOTA (THE OTHER MANUFACTURER INVOLVED WITH PRODUCING THIS VEHICLE) HAVE MADE STATEMENTS ABOUT THIS BUT THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH! THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MISTAKE. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE AFTER THE RECALL AND SOME OF THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE LOSING A LOT OF MONEY. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE RECALL PROCEDURE OR THE TECHNICIANS ARE NOT BEING CAREFUL ENOUGH.

NHTSA ODI #11222264

10,065 miles · Jun 16, 2019
Engine

CAR HAD 18V-772 (SUBARU WTY-84) VALVE SPRING RECALL PERFORMED APRIL 2019 WITH JUST UNDER 10K MILES. THAT WAS LESS THAN 200 MILES AGO. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE FELT LIKE IT LOST POWER. I HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO RECALL BEING PERFO…

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CAR HAD 18V-772 (SUBARU WTY-84) VALVE SPRING RECALL PERFORMED APRIL 2019 WITH JUST UNDER 10K MILES. THAT WAS LESS THAN 200 MILES AGO. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE FELT LIKE IT LOST POWER. I HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO RECALL BEING PERFORMED.

NHTSA ODI #11220417

50,000 miles · Jun 7, 2019
Engine

I DROPPED MY CAR OFF FOR THE VALVE SPRING RECALL ON 3/26/2019 FOR WORK TO BE DONE THAT WEEK. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000. I WAS RETURNED THE CAR 10 DAYS LATER, FAR LONGER THAN TOLD. ON WEDNESDAY, 6/5/2019, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND ESPECIALLY AT IDLE AND WHEN THE A/C WAS ON. I NOTICED THE SOUND WHE…

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I DROPPED MY CAR OFF FOR THE VALVE SPRING RECALL ON 3/26/2019 FOR WORK TO BE DONE THAT WEEK. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000. I WAS RETURNED THE CAR 10 DAYS LATER, FAR LONGER THAN TOLD. ON WEDNESDAY, 6/5/2019, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND ESPECIALLY AT IDLE AND WHEN THE A/C WAS ON. I NOTICED THE SOUND WHEN I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND IT WAS UNABLE TO BE MISSED. THE CAR STILL DROVE SO I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER WHO DID THE RECALL. THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS AND WOULD DIAGNOSE ON 6/6 AND I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL. CALL NEVER CAME BUT DOING MORE RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE RECALL I FOUND VIDEOS THAT SOUND JUST LIKE THE NOISE I HAVE. APPROXIMATE MILEAGES SINCE WORK DONE IS 1750 MILES, EXACT UNKNOWN SINCE THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS UNHAPPY THAT WHEN THEY TOOK THE CAR THEY CLAIMED IF THE CAUSE IS SOMETHING THEY TOOK APART THEN THEY WILL BE LIABLE BUT IF IT IS ANYWHERE ELSE THE COSTS ARE ON ME. I KNOW THAT IS PROBABLY A BLANKET STATEMENT BUT THIS SOUND IS PRETTY DISTINCTIVE. THEY TOOK THE CAR AND GAVE ME A LONAER AS THEY SAID IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE SINCE THE SOUND APPEARED TO BE FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK, LOCATION OF BEARINGS.

NHTSA ODI #11218430

111,302 miles · Jun 1, 2019
Engine

VALVE SPRING RECALL - HAD THE VALVE SPRING RECALL PERFORMED AND ROUGHLY 10K MILES LATER MY CAR HAS STALLED AND WHEN WON'T STAY RUNNING WHEN YOU TRY TO START AND IF YOU DO GET IT RUNNING THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKY NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A VALVE TAP. I WAS DRIVING AND COMING OFF THE OFF RAMP AND THE CAR JUST DIED ON ME. I ROLLED TO…

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VALVE SPRING RECALL - HAD THE VALVE SPRING RECALL PERFORMED AND ROUGHLY 10K MILES LATER MY CAR HAS STALLED AND WHEN WON'T STAY RUNNING WHEN YOU TRY TO START AND IF YOU DO GET IT RUNNING THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKY NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A VALVE TAP. I WAS DRIVING AND COMING OFF THE OFF RAMP AND THE CAR JUST DIED ON ME. I ROLLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11217301

126,353 miles · May 27, 2019
Engine

HAD THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS RECALL REPAIR DONE AND IN A LITTLE OVER A MONTH, AND 1,903 MILES LATER, THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING OF ANY KIND. THE OIL AND FILTER WAS CHANGED AT THE REPAIR TIME AS WELL. I WAS DRIVING LATE THIS PAST FRIDAY NIGHT ALONG A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND KNOCKING UNDE…

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HAD THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS RECALL REPAIR DONE AND IN A LITTLE OVER A MONTH, AND 1,903 MILES LATER, THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING OF ANY KIND. THE OIL AND FILTER WAS CHANGED AT THE REPAIR TIME AS WELL. I WAS DRIVING LATE THIS PAST FRIDAY NIGHT ALONG A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND KNOCKING UNDER THE HOOD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS AT A PLACE WHERE I COULD SLOW DOWN AND PULL OFF. AS SOON AS I BARELY GOT OFF THE ROAD, MY CAR DIED. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING, THIS DEFINITELY HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL REPAIR. I JUST HOPE THAT SUBARU WILL COVER THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS DONE ACCORDING TO OTHER REPORTS I HAVE READ. PRAISE THE LORD, I OR NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT FROM THIS INCIDENT. RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED APRIL 15,2019. ENGINE FAILURE HAPPENED MAY 25, 2019. IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO A DIFFERENT SUBARU REPAIR CENTER TODAY.

NHTSA ODI #11210130

29,643 miles · May 12, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

2013 SUBARU BRZ 2.0 LIMITED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. FACTORY RECALL RELATING TO FA20 VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT COMPLETED BY SHERMAN OAKS (CALIFORNIA) SUBARU IN APRIL 2019. (DROPPED CAR OFF FOR REPAIR MONDAY, 4/15/2019, RECEIVED CAR FROM DEALERSHIP ON WEDNESDAY 4/24/2019) AFTER RECEIVING CAR, FOLLOWING VALVE SPRING REPLACEMEN…

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2013 SUBARU BRZ 2.0 LIMITED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. FACTORY RECALL RELATING TO FA20 VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT COMPLETED BY SHERMAN OAKS (CALIFORNIA) SUBARU IN APRIL 2019. (DROPPED CAR OFF FOR REPAIR MONDAY, 4/15/2019, RECEIVED CAR FROM DEALERSHIP ON WEDNESDAY 4/24/2019) AFTER RECEIVING CAR, FOLLOWING VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT, NOTED SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN AVG MPG AS REPORTED BY CAR (AVERAGE WAS 25-26 MPG BEFORE RECALL REPAIRS. THIS HAD BEEN STABLE FOR YEARS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER REPAIR AVERAGE MPG AS REPORTED BY CAR WAS AROUND 14MPG.) DEALER ADVISED LEAVING CAR WITH THEM FOR DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR. RETURNED CAR TO SHERMAN OAKS SUBARU MONDAY 5/5/2019; RECEIVED CAR FROM DEALERSHIP SATURDAY 5/11/2019. DEALERSHIP'S DIAGNOSIS FAILED TO IDENTIFY A CAUSE, SEVERAL SYSTEMS CHECKED WITH NO REMARKABLE FINDINGS, "RESET OF TRIP METERS" REPORTED TO PRODUCE AVG MPG "27-30" ON DEALERSHIP'S TEST DRIVE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, CAR REPORTS ACTUAL AVERAGE MPG OF 23.3 (!); NOT "27-30" AS DESCRIBED TO ME AND STILL MARKEDLY LOWER THAN PRE-VALVE SPRING REPAIR AVERAGE MPG. AFTER DRIVING 21.9 MILES, AVERAGE MPG DECREASED FURTHER TO 22.2. SOMETHING IS CLEARLY WRONG WITH THE ENGINE FOLLOWING RECALL REPAIR. BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY ONLINE REPORTS OF SERIOUS FAILURES (E.G. FIRE, ENGINE STALLING AND THEN UNSTARTABLE) AS MILEAGE POST-REPAIR ACCUMULATES, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING MY BRZ. (PDFS OF RELATED DEALERSHIP WORKORDERS ARE AVAILABLE IF THEY WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU.)

NHTSA ODI #11207097

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2019
Engine

TOOK MY CAR IN BECAUSE GOT A RECALL LETTER FOR VALVE FAILURES ONLY OWNED CAR FOR 3 MONTHS THEY (SUBARU) REFUSED TO REPAIR IT SAID IT HAS AFTERMARKET PARTS ON IT. (IE AFTERMARKET TURBO AND PARTS THAT GO WITH IT ) ALL THESE CARS AT SOME POINT ARE GOING TO HAVE AFTERMARKET PARTS ADDED THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE DESINED FOR SPEED. AND NO…

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TOOK MY CAR IN BECAUSE GOT A RECALL LETTER FOR VALVE FAILURES ONLY OWNED CAR FOR 3 MONTHS THEY (SUBARU) REFUSED TO REPAIR IT SAID IT HAS AFTERMARKET PARTS ON IT. (IE AFTERMARKET TURBO AND PARTS THAT GO WITH IT ) ALL THESE CARS AT SOME POINT ARE GOING TO HAVE AFTERMARKET PARTS ADDED THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE DESINED FOR SPEED. AND NOW THEY ARE USING THAT EXCUSE TO PUT PEOPLE IN DANGERS. I HAVE AN ESTIMATE IT WILL COST ME ALMOST $3200.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR NEGLIGENCE SINCE THEY WONT.

NHTSA ODI #11205117

69,536 miles · Apr 22, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU BRZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN SUBARU OF FULLERTON (LOCATED AT 1100 S EUCLID ST, FULLERTON, CA 92832, (888) 428-2419) WHERE THE VALVE SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT LE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU BRZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN SUBARU OF FULLERTON (LOCATED AT 1100 S EUCLID ST, FULLERTON, CA 92832, (888) 428-2419) WHERE THE VALVE SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT LESS THAN TEN MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, A KNOCKING NOISE OCCURRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE OTHER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE KNOCKING NOISE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,536. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI #11202928

27,000 miles · Apr 17, 2019
Engine

I BROUGHT MY 2013 SUBARU BRZ ON 01/19/2018 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON 01/23/2019, SO I WENT TO THE CLOSEST DEALER IN MY AREA WHICH IS THE CAMELBACK SUBARU AT PHOENIX, AZ. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH SHELDON V PINTO, HE TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE 50 CARS ARE WAITING FOR THE RECALL FIX, SO THEY PUT ME IN THE WA…

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I BROUGHT MY 2013 SUBARU BRZ ON 01/19/2018 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON 01/23/2019, SO I WENT TO THE CLOSEST DEALER IN MY AREA WHICH IS THE CAMELBACK SUBARU AT PHOENIX, AZ. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH SHELDON V PINTO, HE TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE 50 CARS ARE WAITING FOR THE RECALL FIX, SO THEY PUT ME IN THE WAITING LIST AND SAID WILL CONTACT ME IN MARCH. I WAITED FOR THEIR PHONE CALLS FOR THE WHOLE MONTH, THEY SEEM TO FORGET MY APPOINTMENT. I WENT THERE THE SECOND TIME ON MARCH 22TH, ROBERT EBY THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THE AVAILABILITY AND WILL CONTACT ME NEXT WEEK. I WAITED ANOTHER WEEK FOR THEIR PHONE CALLS, GOT NO RESPONSE. SO I CALLED ROBERT ON APRIL 1ST, HE STILL USES THE EXCUSE THAT THEY CAN NOT FIX THE RECALL ISSUES FOR NOW AND WILL CONTACT ME LATER. AS THE TIME I WRITE THIS COMPLAINT, STILL GOT NO PHONE CALLS FROM THEM. IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE I FIRST VISIT THEIR DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX THE RECALL ISSUE OBVIOUSLY. THE ENGINE VALVE SPRING HAS THE DEFECTS, WHICH COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I DAILY MY CAR, THEIR DERELICTION OF DUTY POTENTIALLY INCREASED THE RISK OF LIFE.

NHTSA ODI #11197045

Official recalls

2

18V772000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Nov 1, 2018

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.

12V254000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Jun 5, 2012

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 BRZ VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 25, 2011, THROUGH MAY 25, 2012. THE OWNER’S MANUAL CONTAINS AN INACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. OTHER PORTIONS OF THE OWNER’S MANUAL, DESCRIBING THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, REQUIRE CLARIFICATION. AS SUCH, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 208, “OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.”

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: MISINFORMATION COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

Remedy: SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND WILL MAIL CORRECTED OWNER’S MANUALS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.