Home › Cars › Subaru › BRZ › 2013
2013 Subaru BRZ problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
79% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2013 Subaru BRZ are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 97% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 2 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 77%).
Does the 2013 Subaru BRZ have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 49 of 62 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru BRZ concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (79%), and the largest group is filed under engine (47). On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Subaru BRZ
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 Subaru BRZ said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 49 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Subaru BRZ engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Subaru BRZ involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Subaru BRZ? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2013 Subaru BRZ
Does the 2013 Subaru BRZ have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 49 of 62 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru BRZ concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (79%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Subaru BRZ?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Subaru BRZ is engine: 47 of 64 complaints (73%) name it, followed by fuel/propulsion system (3) and visibility/wiper (3). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2013 Subaru BRZ reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 79% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 97% of the 1,790 model years we track. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Subaru BRZ?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Subaru BRZ involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 18V772000 (engine and engine cooling: engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru BRZ years are better?
The 2013 is the only Subaru BRZ year with enough complaints on record to score, so there is no better year to point to yet.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.