2013 Subaru BRZ

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Subaru BRZ has 80 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (61% of all complaints), specifically: chirping/squeaking sound possibly from the engine's high pressure fuel pump noise occurs upon de-acceleration at 28mph w/ car in neutral see subaru tsb 2013my brz no. 09-54-12r dated 10/03/12. *tr. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

49 complaints

61%

• CHIRPING/SQUEAKING SOUND POSSIBLY FROM THE ENGINE'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NOISE OCCURS UPON DE-ACCELERATION AT 28MPH W/ CAR IN NEUTRAL SEE SUBARU TSB 2013MY BRZ NO. 09-54-12R DATED 10/03/12. *TR
• I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY OCCUR ON MY CAR AS WELL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A MISFIRE IN ONE OF THE CYLINDER. DIRECT INJECTOR WENT BAD CAUSING DETONATION. THIS IS NOW BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. YET, THE MANUFACTURE REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS
• DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND STARTED HEARING SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE FIREWORKS UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PARKED IT AND RESEARCHED. THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE A FAILURE OF THE SEAL ON THE DIRECT INJECTOR FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“CHIRPING/SQUEAKING SOUND POSSIBLY FROM THE ENGINE'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NOISE OCCURS UPON DE-ACCELERATION AT 28MPH W/ CAR IN NEUTRAL SEE SUBARU TSB 2013MY BRZ NO. 09-54-12R DATED 10/03/12. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

11%

• THE RADIO HEAD UNIT TOUCHSCREEN IS FAIRLY UNRESPONSIVE TO THE TOUCH AND BUTTONS ARE TOO SMALL. FORCES DRIVER TO SPEND MORE TIME LOOKING AT UNIT WHILE DRIVING THAN A RESPONSIVE TOUCH SCREEN WITH LARGER BUTTONS. SEVERAL TIMES I WAS FRUSTRATED WHEN SCREEN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE TOUCH OR WHEN THE "S
• THE RADIO HEAD UNIT TOUCHSCREEN IS FAIRLY UNRESPONSIVE TO THE TOUCH AND BUTTONS ARE TOO SMALL. FORCES DRIVER TO SPEND MORE TIME LOOKING AT UNIT WHILE DRIVING THAN A RESPONSIVE TOUCH SCREEN WITH LARGER BUTTONS. SEVERAL TIMES I WAS FRUSTRATED WHEN SCREEN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE TOUCH OR WHEN THE "S
• THE HOMELINK MIRRORS IN THESE CARS HAVE BEEN A VERY BIG ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN IN FOR AT LEAST THREE REPAIRS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. THE FIRST NIGHT I TOOK MY CAR HOME, THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF AND HIT THE DASH OF THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE DISTRACTED SOMEONE AND MADE THEM RUN OFF THE ROAD. THEY RE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE RADIO HEAD UNIT TOUCHSCREEN IS FAIRLY UNRESPONSIVE TO THE TOUCH AND BUTTONS ARE TOO SMALL. FORCES DRIVER TO SPEND MORE TIME LOOKING AT UNIT WHILE DRIVING THAN A RESPONSIVE TOUCH SCREEN WITH LARGER BUTTONS. SEVERAL TIMES I WAS FRUSTRATED WHEN SCREEN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE TOUCH OR WHEN THE "S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints

• CHIRPING/SQUEAKING SOUND POSSIBLY FROM THE ENGINE'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NOISE OCCURS UPON DE-ACCELERATION AT 28MPH W/ CAR IN NEUTRAL SEE SUBARU TSB 2013MY BRZ NO. 09-54-12R DATED 10/03/12. *TR
• THIS VEHICLE MAKES A "CHIRPING" FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT WHICH SUBARU OF AMERICA CLAIMS YIELDS NO DANGER OR EFFECT TO THE VEHICLE. FROM MY OBSERVATION WITH THE SUBARU BRZ IT MAKES SOUNDS SUCH AS THE ENGINE IS CUTTING OUT AND STARTING BACK IMMEDIATELY, ALSO DIED ON THE ROAD WHILE SITTING IN NEUTRAL
• DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND STARTED HEARING SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE FIREWORKS UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PARKED IT AND RESEARCHED. THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE A FAILURE OF THE SEAL ON THE DIRECT INJECTOR FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

4 complaints

• GASKETS AROUND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS (INCLUDING STATIONARY TRIANGULAR PANES) AS WELL AS PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS DO NOT CREATE A GOOD SEAL AND ALLOW MOISTURE TO ENTER FROM OUTSIDE FROM THINGS SUCH AS RAIN OR REGULAR HAND WASHING. *TR
• THE HOMELINK REAR VIEW MIRROR MOUNT FAILED AND THE MIRROR FELL ONTO THE CENTER CONSOLE, HITTING THE CENTER AIR VENTS AND DAMAGING THE MOLDING, ALSO HITTING THE SHIFT KNOB AND INTERFERING WITH SHIFT MANEUVERS. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN ONE YEAR LATER ON JULY 18, 2014. *TR
• THE HOMELINK MIRRORS IN THESE CARS HAVE BEEN A VERY BIG ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN IN FOR AT LEAST THREE REPAIRS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. THE FIRST NIGHT I TOOK MY CAR HOME, THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF AND HIT THE DASH OF THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE DISTRACTED SOMEONE AND MADE THEM RUN OFF THE ROAD. THEY RE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“GASKETS AROUND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS (INCLUDING STATIONARY TRIANGULAR PANES) AS WELL AS PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS DO NOT CREATE A GOOD SEAL AND ALLOW MOISTURE TO ENTER FROM OUTSIDE FROM THINGS SUCH AS RAIN OR REGULAR HAND WASHING. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

• 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.
• 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 WHE
• 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 A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 80 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: CHIRPING/SQUEAKING SOUND POSSIBLY FROM THE ENGINE'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NOISE OCCURS UPON DE-ACCELERATION AT 28MPH W/ CAR IN NEUTRAL SEE SUBARU TSB 2013MY BRZ NO. 09-54-12R DATED 10/03/12. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE RADIO HEAD UNIT TOUCHSCREEN IS FAIRLY UNRESPONSIVE TO THE TOUCH AND BUTTONS ARE TOO SMALL. FORCES DRIVER TO SPEND MORE TIME LOOKING AT UNIT WHILE DRIVING THAN A RESPONSIVE TOUCH SCREEN WITH LARGER BUTTONS. SEVERAL TIMES I WAS FRUSTRATED WHEN SCREEN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE TOUCH OR WHEN THE "S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: CHIRPING/SQUEAKING SOUND POSSIBLY FROM THE ENGINE'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NOISE OCCURS UPON DE-ACCELERATION AT 28MPH W/ CAR IN NEUTRAL SEE SUBARU TSB 2013MY BRZ NO. 09-54-12R DATED 10/03/12. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: GASKETS AROUND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS (INCLUDING STATIONARY TRIANGULAR PANES) AS WELL AS PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS DO NOT CREATE A GOOD SEAL AND ALLOW MOISTURE TO ENTER FROM OUTSIDE FROM THINGS SUCH AS RAIN OR REGULAR HAND WASHING. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)