There are 44 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2013 Subaru BRZin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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: 18V772000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 58,498.
Took my 2013 BRZ Limited in for the Valve Spring recall. After work completed I was unable to get my car home before I had severe knocking, CEL, and power failure. Car was at dealership for over a month. After I got it back it's been driven 10k miles and has a rod bearing failure and all the same symptoms - power loss, grinding/knocking, and dash lights lit up.
BLOWN SHORT BLOCK / CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD, BROKEN CONNECTING ROD, $7000+ ESTIMATES FOR ENGINE REBUILD. MY BRZ STALLED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY.
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru BRZ. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle loss motive power and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 18V772000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the Vin was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU BRZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF EL CAJON (900 ARNELE AVE, EL CAJON, CA 92020) TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,233.
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE WORK PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE WTY-84 RECALL. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP (ANNAPOLIS SUBARU). AFTER MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE WORKMANSHIP MY CAR'S ENGINE IS BLOWN. ANNAPOLIS SUBARU HAS STATED THAT THEY HAVE WORKED ON MY VEHICLE LONG ENOUGH AND WILL NOT FIX THE BLOWN ENGINE. THE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED WAS DONE DUE TO NEGILENCE WHILE PERFORMING THE RECALL, REQUIRING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF REPAIR, BEFORE THE RECALL WAS RESOLVED. THIS INCLUDED REPLACING MY HEAD DUE TO A VALVE ROCKER BECOMING DISLODGED IN THE ENGINE DURING A TEST DRIVE, BODY WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED, REPLACEMENT OF A CAM SPROCKET, AND REPLACEMENT OF MY ECU. NOW THAT MY ENGINE IS BLOWN, A COMMON ISSUE DUE TO THIS RECALL, ANNAPOLIS SUBARU IS STATING THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE IS NOT THEIR FAULT. THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AT 140,000 MILES. THE ENGINE FAILURE OCCURED 1000 MILES AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO LOUD TAPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WAS DIRECTED THAT THE NOISES WERE NOT DUE TO ENGINE DAMAGE, BUT DUE TO THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP.
ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE HAD RECALL WORK PREFORMED AT 33,266 MILES AND FAILURE HAPPENED AT 35,915
I TOOK MY 2013 SUBARU BRZ TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR THE WTY84 FA20 VALVE SPRING RECALL ON DECEMBER 24, 2019. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT MY CAR FOR THREE MONTHS AND I PICKED UP MY CAR ON MARCH 31, 2020 AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. TWO AND A HALF MONTHS LATER, AND ONLY 1,600 MILES SINCE THE REPAIRS, ON JUNE 19, 2020 MY CAR STARTED LOSING POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND STALLED. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. STRANDED, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER CHECKED THE BATTERY, WHICH WAS IN GOOD HEALTH, AND TRIED TO JUMP-START THE ENGINE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. HE CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IMMEDIATELY SAW METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL ADHERING TO THE DIPSTICK. HE LATER TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE CAR STARTED BUT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD HORRIBLE KNOCKING NOISE. AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD A ROD KNOCK, AND POSSIBLE BROKEN ROD BEARING WITH SIGNS OF ENGINE FAILURE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1,450 FOR A TEAR DOWN TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, AND ADDITIONAL FOR ANY REPAIRS. THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ANY METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PRIOR TO THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRS BEING DONE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE. REGULAR OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED EVERY 5,000 TO 7,500 MILES BY A LICENSED MECHANIC USING ONLY MOBIL 1 FULL SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL AND OIL QUALITY AND LEVELS HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT BETWEEN CHANGES. THE CAR HAS 72,000 MILES AND HAS WORKED WONDERFULLY UP UNTIL NOW.
IN LATE 2018 I WAS NOTIFIED BY SUBARU OF THE VALVE SPRING RECALL FOR MY 2013 BRZ. I CARRIED MY CAR IN ON MARCH 31ST 2020 TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE. I PICKED MY CAR UP ON APRIL 9TH 2020. ON APRIL 14TH 2020, AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, MY ENGINE STALLED AT A RED LIGHT. IT RESTARTED ON THE FIRST TRY WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT ON. I DROVE THE CAR DIRECTLY BACK TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THAT EVERYTHING WAS DONE CORRECTLY. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS FAULT P0017 AND THROTTLE BODY CARBON UP. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED AN ECM UPDATE AND CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND RETURNED THE CAR TO ME. NO CHARGES WERE INCURRED. ON MAY 12TH 2020 WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON ONCE AGAIN. I AGAIN BROUGHT THE CAR BACK INTO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS FAULT P0171 SYSTEM TOO LEAN. CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS CLEANED AND THE CAR RETURNED TO ME. NO CHARGES WERE INCURRED AS IT WAS ADMITTED THAT DEBRIS COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN THE SENSOR WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OPEN PERFORMING THE RECALL. ON JUNE 4TH 2020 , AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THIS TIME 5 TRIES TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE TO NO AVAIL. ON THE 6TH TRY THE ENGINE FINALLY RESTARTED WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS ON. I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. MY CAR WAS KEPT FOR 1 WEEK AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. I WAS CHARGED $651.44 TO REPLACE THE SENSOR. MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON JUNE 12TH 2020. ON JUNE 13TH 2020 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT WAS BACK ON. WHEN I CARRIED MY CAR IN ON MARCH 31ST 2020, THERE WERE NO PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE OR ANY OTHER COMPONENT ON THE VEHICLE. THE CAR DROVE AND FUNCTIONED PERFECTLY FINE. THERE HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRZ RECALL MAKING ENGINES. I BELIEVE I'VE FELL VICTIM TO THIS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE SUBARU/TOYOTA VALVE SPRING RECALL FOR 2013 BRZ AND FRS. *TR
MY 2013 SUBARU BRZ WAS RECALLED AND "REPAIRED" FOR FAULTY VALVE SPRINGS AT MAGUIRE SUBARU IN ITHACA, NY IN SPRING 2019 AT 45,000 MILES. 700 MILES LATER ON JUNE 6, 2020, I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN MOTION! MAGUIRE HAS HAD MY CAR FOR 8 WEEKS NOW. AFTER A SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT, THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE WHOLE ENGINE WHICH IS NOW ALSO EXPERIENCING MORE VALVE PROBLEMS. WHEN WILL THIS BE RESOLVED???? RECALL THE RECALL??
VALVE SPRING RECALL (SUBARU RECALL WTY-84 AND NHTSA ID 18V-772) WAS PERFORMED AUG-SEP 2019. ON MARCH 16, 2020 WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING ROD KNOCK AND HAD TO BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO FARRISH SUBARU IN FAIRFAX, VA. THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN, SHORT BLOCK AND LONG BLOCK. FOUND A BEARING FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION. IT IS NOW MAY 28, 2020, OVER 10 WEEKS SINCE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY CAR BACK. I HAVE SR #[XXX] CASE NUMBER WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA WHO I CONTACTED TO GET INVOLVED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT SUBARU BRZ, SCION FRS, TOYOTA 86S HAVING SERIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH A LOT HAVING SERIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS AFTER THE RECALL NUMBERS STATED ABOVE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
HAD FACTORY VALVE SPRING RECALL COMPLETED BY SUBARU. THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE VALVE SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP SAYS THE CAR NEEDS AT A MINIMUM AN ENGINE SHORT BLOCK, HEADS AND VALVE WORK.
IN MARCH 2019, I HAD MY BRZ BROUGHT TO A SUBARU DEALER FOR A VALVE SPRING RECALL. IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES BEFORE THEY GOT IT RIGHT, AND 5000 MILES LATER, MY ENGINE IS BLOWN UP. I'VE READ ON SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER BRZ AND TOYOTA FRS OWNERS/CARS. I HAD 47,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER BEFORE I BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE RECALL. NOW I HAVE A BROKEN/BLOWN OR REPAIRABLE ENGINE ON MY HANDS. I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN I HEAR THIS HORRIBLE KNOCKING NOISE AND MY CAR LOST POWER AND THEN SHUT DOWN. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL AAA FOR A TOW. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME IT WILL COST OVER $8000 TO REPLACE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! SO I AM FILING A COMPLAINT.
ON JULY 17 2019 WE BOUGHT THE 2013 SUBARU BRZ FROM A BMW DEALERSHIP. AT THE TIME OF SALE WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN OPEN RECALL, THEREFORE WE HAD ASKED THAT THE RECALL BE SERVICED PRIOR TO TAKING POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETED AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP ON JULY 26, 2019. LESS THAN 4 MONTHS LATER ON NOVEMBER 17, 2019, SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A CLICKING TYPE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND WOULD NO LONGER MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THE CODE WAS READING 'INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE'. WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RECALL, IT WAS DISMISSED SAYING THAT THE RECALL HAD TO DO WITH THE TOP PART OF THE ENGINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM. THEY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO TAKE APART THE ENGINE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE TO HAVE IT COVERED UNDER THE LIMITED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. BASED ON ALL COMPLAINTS IT APPEARS THIS ISSUE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SERVICE PROVIDED ON THE RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU BRZ. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COURTESY SUBARU OF CHICO (896 EAST AVE, CHICO, CA 95926) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE KNOCKING SOUND PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KNOCKING SOUND WAS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
IN APRIL 2019, I BROUGHT MY 2013 SUBARU BRZ TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR VALVE SPRING RECALL. ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATER WHILE I'M DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY CAR MAKING LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND VIBRATE AGGRESSIVELY. I'M VERY FORTUNATE THAT I MAKE IT HOME SAFE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAD ENGINE FAILURE AFTER VALVE SPRING RECALL DONE. I TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST $1800 TO TEAR MY ENGINE APART AND CHECK FOR PROBLEM. I CALLED SUBARU CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THIS IS WORKMANSHIP ISSUE AND I NEED TO DEAL WITH THE DEALERSHIP. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A DEAD CAR. MY CAR WAS PERFECTLY FUNCTION BEFORE THE RECALL DONE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU BRZ. THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED FROM AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. PRIOR TO THE CONTACT TAKING POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS SERVICED AT WILSONVILLE SUBARU, 9200 SW BAILEY ST, WILSONVILLE, OR 97070, 503-946-9203) PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). UPON TAKING POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR LATER ILLUMINATED AS THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO BUD CLARY SUBARU (961 COMMERCE AVE, LONGVIEW, WA 98632, 360-575-6868) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IF THE FAILURE WAS LINKED TO THE RECALL, THE DEALER WOULD SERVICE THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. IF THE FAILURE WAS NOT LINKED TO THE RECALL, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,743.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU BRZ. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
HAD THE VALVE SPRING RECALL DONE ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER MY VHEICLE WAS FIXED CAR WAS MAKING TICKING NOISE. BRANG THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO CHICK ON TICKING NOISE AND SAID THAT THE CAR WAS FINE, BRANG VEHICLE IN A FEW TIMES AND ALWAYS GET THE SAME ANSWER ON 7/19/18 WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAR WAS MAKING RAPID TICKING NOISE ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER AND ENGINE DIED ON HIGHWAY.
AFTER I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM COMPLETING THE VALVE SPRING RECALL WORK AT A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER, MY CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION LIGHT TURNED ON IN LESS THAN 6 MILES DRIVING. I DROVE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER ON THE NEXT MORNING, AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WERE ECM, CAM GEARS AND WIRING HARNESS ISSUES AND NEED REPLACEMENT. ISSUES ARE STILL UNRESOLVED AND I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALER AND SUBARU INVESTIGATION.
Showing 1–20 of 44 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026