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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
95,000 miles · Apr 17, 2019
Engine

BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR VALVE SPRING RECALL, CAR CAME BACK WITH CLOGGED OIL PASSAGES. DAMAGED HEADS SUCH AS ROCKERS, CAMSHAFTS, INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES. RTV SEALANT FOUND IN OIL PAN AND OIL PICKUP. RTV IS BLOCKING OIL PASSAGES IN ENGINE CAUSING STARVATION.

NHTSA ODI #11196968

61,312 miles · Apr 17, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

AFTER AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALER REPAIRED CAR RELATED TO VALVE SPRING RECALL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SUBARU DEALER DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. CAR HAS GONE IN AND OUT OF THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER NOW FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11196950

52,000 miles · Apr 6, 2019
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

TAILLIGHT CONDENSATION WHEN RAINING. KNOWN DEFECT, BUT COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR. STATING OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. MAY OCCLUDE LIGHTS WHEN DRIVING. BROKEN DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR IMPEDING VISION. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON ONLINE FORUMS, AGAIN REPORTED TO BE OUTSIDE WARRANTY DESPITE SAFETY ISSUE. TAKEN IN PRIOR TO WARRANTY RUNN…

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TAILLIGHT CONDENSATION WHEN RAINING. KNOWN DEFECT, BUT COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR. STATING OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. MAY OCCLUDE LIGHTS WHEN DRIVING. BROKEN DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR IMPEDING VISION. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON ONLINE FORUMS, AGAIN REPORTED TO BE OUTSIDE WARRANTY DESPITE SAFETY ISSUE. TAKEN IN PRIOR TO WARRANTY RUNNING OUT AND TURNED AWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11194288

70,000 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THIS INCIDENT HAS HAOPENED TO ME AT LEAST 3 TIMES IMSINCE IVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2015 BUT I JUST IGNORED IT I THOUGHT IT WASNT THAT SERIOUS COZ IT JUST DOES IT ONCE IN A WHILE BUY THE LAST INCICDEMT ALMOST CAUSED ME AN ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40-45 MPH RIGHT WHEN I LIGHTLY PRESSED ON MY BREAK APRROACHING THE STOP LIGHT MY …

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THIS INCIDENT HAS HAOPENED TO ME AT LEAST 3 TIMES IMSINCE IVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2015 BUT I JUST IGNORED IT I THOUGHT IT WASNT THAT SERIOUS COZ IT JUST DOES IT ONCE IN A WHILE BUY THE LAST INCICDEMT ALMOST CAUSED ME AN ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40-45 MPH RIGHT WHEN I LIGHTLY PRESSED ON MY BREAK APRROACHING THE STOP LIGHT MY CAR SUNDDENLY STARTED SHAKING LIKE IT WAS STALLING WHICH WAS WEIRD FOR AN SEMI AUTOMATIC AND MY ENGINE JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THATS WHEN I CONTACTED MY FRIEND THAT WORK FOR SUBARU AND TOLD ME MY CAR HAS RECALL SINCE JANUARY OF 2019 FOR VALVE SPRING OR SOMETHING AND I HAVENT GOTTEN ANY CALL OR NOTICE SINCE TODAY. I JUST WANNA KNOW WHEN AM I GONNA GET CONTACTED AND GET MY RECALL DONE

NHTSA ODI #11193085

77,000 miles · Mar 16, 2019
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

SO THE TECH DID MY RECALL, AFTER THE RECALL, IT WAS IDLING WEIRD AND ACTING STUPID, THE CAM GEAR SPROCKET DIED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, IT GOT REPLACED AND WAS RUNNING FINE WITH NO ISSUES. TOOK IT ON THE TEST DRIVE THEY WERE WAS LOOKING AT THE VVT ANGLES, AND EVERYTHING WAS LOOKING GOOD THEN HE WAS AT 5-6K RPM MAKING SURE IT …

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SO THE TECH DID MY RECALL, AFTER THE RECALL, IT WAS IDLING WEIRD AND ACTING STUPID, THE CAM GEAR SPROCKET DIED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, IT GOT REPLACED AND WAS RUNNING FINE WITH NO ISSUES. TOOK IT ON THE TEST DRIVE THEY WERE WAS LOOKING AT THE VVT ANGLES, AND EVERYTHING WAS LOOKING GOOD THEN HE WAS AT 5-6K RPM MAKING SURE IT WAS GOOD THEN OIL PRESSURE DROPPED VVT WENT CRAZY, AND IT ROD KNOCKED. BRZS HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES NON STOP AFTER RECALLS. IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #11187281

49,000 miles · Mar 12, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other

I DROPPED MY CAR OFF AT COLONIAL SUBARU IN SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, VIRGINIA ON 2/16 TO HAVE THE NHTSA SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN # 18V-722 PERFORMED. ON 3/1 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SEVICE ADVISOR MINDY WILLIAMS TELLING ME THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE REFUSING TO PERFORM THE RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOA BULLETIN WTY-84R ( AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://…

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I DROPPED MY CAR OFF AT COLONIAL SUBARU IN SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, VIRGINIA ON 2/16 TO HAVE THE NHTSA SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN # 18V-722 PERFORMED. ON 3/1 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SEVICE ADVISOR MINDY WILLIAMS TELLING ME THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE REFUSING TO PERFORM THE RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOA BULLETIN WTY-84R ( AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/RCL/2018/RCRIT-18V772-6522.PDF ). SHE STATED THAT THEY WILL NEED ME TO PAY $650 TO REMOVE AND REINSTALL AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS ON THE VEHICLE. SUBARU OF AMERICA BULLETIN # WTY-84R WAS FILED WITH THE NHTSA ON 1/14/19. THIS DOCUMENT, SPECIFICALLY PAGE 6, SECTION 2 TITLED "FA ENGINE PROCEDURE" STATES: "' CONTACT THE SOA TECHLINE IMMEDIATELY TO REVIEW ANY CONCERNS BELIEVED TO BE IMPEDING OR PREVENTING PROPER COMPLETION OF THIS RECALL. THERE SHOULD BE VERY FEW IF ANY CASES WHERE THIS WOULD BE NECESSARY. A SEVERE EXAMPLE OF AN IMPEDIMENT WOULD BE IF THE WRONG SPECIFICATION ENGINE IS FOUND TO BE INSTALLED. NEARLY ALL AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS CAN BE WORKED AROUND OR REMOVED TO ALLOW VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT TO PROCEED. ' CONTACT THE SOA CLAIMS TEAM SHOULD REMOVAL AND / OR REINSTALLATION OF THESE CUSTOMER MODIFICATIONS REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL TIME." BASED ON THIS SECTION, SUBARU SHOULD BE WORKING AROUND THESE AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS AND IF EXTRA TIME IS REQUIRED THEIR POLICY STATES THAT SOA WILL PAY FOR IT, NOT THE CUSTOMER. SOA'S REFUSAL TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL PUTS THEM IN CLEAR BREACH OF THE AGREEMENT THEY FILED WITH THE NHTSA. I HAVE ATTEMPTED ESCALATING THIS TO DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS CORPORATE CUSTOMER RELATIONS (WHERE I SPOKE TO 4 PEOPLE, INCLUDING A SUPERVISOR.) NONE WOULD EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE SOA'S FILING WITH THE NHTSA AND CONTINUED TO REFUSE TO PERFORM THE RECALL. **PLEASE** HELP ME GET THIS RESOLVED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NHTSA ODI #11186054

49,000 miles · Mar 1, 2019
Engine

I HAVE TAKEN MY 2013 SUBARU BRZ TO COLONIAL SUBARU IN CHESTERFIELD, VA TO HAVE NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 18V772000 ADDRESSED. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE WITHOUT ME PAYING $650 FOR THEM TO "REMOVE AND REINSTALL MODIFICATIONS." PER THE RECALL LETTER RECEIVED FROM SUBARU, THIS RECALL IS SUPPOSED TO BE PERFORME…

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I HAVE TAKEN MY 2013 SUBARU BRZ TO COLONIAL SUBARU IN CHESTERFIELD, VA TO HAVE NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 18V772000 ADDRESSED. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE WITHOUT ME PAYING $650 FOR THEM TO "REMOVE AND REINSTALL MODIFICATIONS." PER THE RECALL LETTER RECEIVED FROM SUBARU, THIS RECALL IS SUPPOSED TO BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THERE IS NO MENTION OF ADDITIONAL FEES OR CHARGES AND I FEEL THAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE THEM UNFAIRLY TO PAY FOR A NHTSA MANDATED RECALL. MINDY WILLIAMS, SERVICE ADVISOR AND BRIAN AT SUBARU CORPORATE CUSTOMER CARE HAVE BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THEY WILL NOT PERFORM THE MANDATED RECALL WITHOUT ME PAYING $650.

NHTSA ODI #11183548

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU BRZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED DON MILLER SUBARU WEST AT 608-442-3200 (LOCATED AT 5822 ODANA RD, MADISON, WI 53719) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU BRZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED DON MILLER SUBARU WEST AT 608-442-3200 (LOCATED AT 5822 ODANA RD, MADISON, WI 53719) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL ENGINE AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #11180234

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU BRZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MICHAEL'S SUBARU OF BELLEVUE (15150 SE EASTGATE WAY, BELLEVUE, WA 98007…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU BRZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MICHAEL'S SUBARU OF BELLEVUE (15150 SE EASTGATE WAY, BELLEVUE, WA 98007, (888) 680-9275) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #11166568

30,000 miles · Nov 23, 2018
Steering

THERE IS A STRANGE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS AND THE SCION FRS EQUIVALENT. THE PROBLEM IS REPORTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARDS BUT HOWEVER THIS WAS ONLY RECALLED IN NEW ZEALAND.GOING OVER AND SMALL BUMP THE ELECTRONIC STEERING RATTLES. IT RATTLES AT FIRST AND GETS WORSE UNTIL IT SHAKES THE WHEEL. DEALERS WANT ACKNOWLEDGE…

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THERE IS A STRANGE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS AND THE SCION FRS EQUIVALENT. THE PROBLEM IS REPORTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARDS BUT HOWEVER THIS WAS ONLY RECALLED IN NEW ZEALAND.GOING OVER AND SMALL BUMP THE ELECTRONIC STEERING RATTLES. IT RATTLES AT FIRST AND GETS WORSE UNTIL IT SHAKES THE WHEEL. DEALERS WANT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND YET IT WAS ALREADY RECALLED IN ANOTHER COUNTY FOR THIS ISSUES.THIS CAN BECOME DANGEROUS AND MANY OWNERS JUST POST O LINE NOT KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH DEALERS SAYING IT'S NORMAL. LEAVING CUSTOMERS WITH SHAKY WHEELS. THIS IS SOLELY AN ELECTRONIC STEERING MODULE PROBELM THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE DOES THIS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT IS SO BAD. NO OTHER STEERING COMPONENTS ARE DAMAGED OR WORN.

NHTSA ODI #11153282

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.