2013 Subaru BRZ: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
64
Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
0
Injuries
9.4
Severity index
Severity index 9.4 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 145 2013 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2013 Subaru BRZ ranks 138 of 145 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 5% of its model-year peers. See the full 2013 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 47 | 73.4% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 7 | 10.9% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 3 | 4.7% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 3 | 4.7% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 | 4.7% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 | 3.1% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 | 3.1% |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 | 3.1% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 47 of 64 complaints (73.4%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 1 |
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V772000 | 01/11/2018 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 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 engin |
| 12V254000 | 05/06/2012 | EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL | SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 BRZ VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 25, 2011, THROUGH MAY 25, 2012. THE OWNERS MANUAL CONTAINS AN INACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. OTHER PORTIONS OF THE OWNERS |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.