2013 Subaru BRZ problems & reliability
64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Subaru BRZ, alongside 2 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2013 Subaru BRZ vehicles were involved in 7 fatal crashes with 5 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine → | 47 | 73% |
| Unknown OR Other | 7 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 5% |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 5% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 3% |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 3% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 3% |
| Power Train | 2 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 16 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 51 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 53,000 miles (middle 50% between 28,322 and 74,500 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Hello, My name is [XXX] and I have a Subaru BRZ 2013 which harbors a valve spring recall (NHTSA Campaign ID 18V-772, Subaru Recall WTY-84). In seeking help to repair this, I had a customer experience that can be viewed as neglectful, deceitful and malicious in nature. Dealership Recall Refusals I called into two…”
Unknown OR Other · filed Jul 22, 2026
“The contact owns a 2013 Subaru BRZ. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with maintenance failure. The contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number…”
Engine and Engine Cooling · filed Apr 23, 2024
“From the very first day I had these brakes pads installed they performed terribly. At low speeds, under 25mph, they would shriek and slightly shake the vehicle; far worse response at higher speeds. I read somewhere online that the remedy for this problem was to "wed" the pads to the existing rotors. So, I performed…”
Service Brakes · filed Jan 19, 2024
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
367 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2013 Subaru BRZ. The 10 most recent:
This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.
SubaruNet Annoucement (E · Other · issued Jun 12, 2026
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
01-167-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 18, 2026
This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
SubaruNet Announcement (R · Other · issued May 4, 2026
This bulletin announces the design change made to the front speaker assembly which have been redesigned with higher durability damper. This change was introduced to prevent internal interference of the front speaker.
15-337-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 30, 2026
This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20.
07-240-26R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 30, 2026
This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
03-97-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 24, 2026
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
01-167-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 24, 2026
This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
05-97-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 20, 2026
This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
10-105-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 26, 2026
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
01-167-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 26, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2013 Subaru BRZ has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2013 Subaru BRZ?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 53,000 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.