← New search

2013 Subaru Brz

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Brz years →

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

Electrical System complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
2,000 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

REAR LIGHTS LEAK AND FILL WITH HALF INCH ATLEAST OF WATER, SUBARU'S IDEA OF A FIX IS LET IT EVAPORATE, IT TAKES WEEKS TO EVAPORATE AND IN THE MEAN TIME YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FOGGED UP MAKING THEM LESS EFFECTIVE AND DULLER, ALSO THE WATER CAN SHORT OUT THE LIGHT. THEY KEEP REPLACING WITH PARTS THAT ARE AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISS…

Read full complaint

REAR LIGHTS LEAK AND FILL WITH HALF INCH ATLEAST OF WATER, SUBARU'S IDEA OF A FIX IS LET IT EVAPORATE, IT TAKES WEEKS TO EVAPORATE AND IN THE MEAN TIME YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FOGGED UP MAKING THEM LESS EFFECTIVE AND DULLER, ALSO THE WATER CAN SHORT OUT THE LIGHT. THEY KEEP REPLACING WITH PARTS THAT ARE AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. IN OTHER WORDS THIS IS A CHRONIC PERPETUAL PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSE TO REDESIGN THE LIGHTS. STARTED THE FIRST RAIN WE GOT WHEN I OWNED THE LEMON, AND IT CONTINUES THRU NOW 6/2016. NO END IN SIGHT!! NO RECALL JUST GLUE AND PUTTY THAT FAILS!!!

NHTSA ODI #10875697

6,000 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Electrical System

ARGUABLY SYSTEMIC ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BATTERY WENT DEAD -RE CHARGED AND THEN ULTIMATELY REPLACED BY DEALER SWITCH FOR PASSENGER WINDOW ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WAS REPLACED AND CONTINUES TO NON FUNCTION CAR WILL NOT START ON OCCASION ALTHOUGH LIGHTS, RADIO ETC WILL GO ON NO RESPONSE WHEN IGNITION BUTTON PUSHED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576360

400 miles · Jul 13, 2012
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 RADIO. THIS RADIO IS SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN USING IPOD/IPHONE,SLOW TO RECOGNIZE TOUCH INPUTS, SOMETIMES IGNORES INPUT. BUTTONS ON TOUCHSCREEN TOO SMALL. THIS CAR DESPERATELY NEEDS STE…

Read full complaint

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 RADIO. THIS RADIO IS SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN USING IPOD/IPHONE,SLOW TO RECOGNIZE TOUCH INPUTS, SOMETIMES IGNORES INPUT. BUTTONS ON TOUCHSCREEN TOO SMALL. THIS CAR DESPERATELY NEEDS STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS FOR THIS UNSAFE RADIO! I KNOW THEY WILL BE OFFERING THIS IN THE NEXT MODEL YEAR BUT THAT LEAVES ABOUT 100000 OF THESE UNSAFE BRZS ON THE ROAD WITH DISTRACTED DRIVING ISSUES. I ALREADY HAD TO LOCKUP THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME! THIS RADIO CAUSE DRIVER TO LOSE EYE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD FAR TOO LONG FOR COMFORT! I WILL NOT LET MY 18YR OLD DRIVE THIS CAR, ITS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! I FEEL SUBARU NEEDS A RECALL TO RETROFIT THE STEERING WHEELS CONTROLS OR BAN USA SALES AND FORCE SUBARU TO BUY BACK THESE UNSAFE SOLD BRZ. WHEN YOUR DRIVING THIS CAR YOU GOT THE MANUAL TRANS GOING ON PLUS YOUR AVG COFFEE DRINKER AND ADD IN THIS DEADLY RADIO SETUP AND YOUR JUST ASKING FOR AN ACCIDENT! THIS CAR IS TARGETED AT YOUNG BUYERS WITH THEIR IPODS/IPHONES AND TALKING AND TEXTING AS THEY CRUISE THE STREETS. THIS CAR IS THE ONLY CAR THAT SUBARU SELLS WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS. WHY? PLEASE FORCE SUBARU TO REPLACE THE NO CONTROL STEERING WHEEL FOR ONE WITH CONTROLS. A CONCERNED PARENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465508

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.