YearToAvoid

2013 Subaru BRZ Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 11 BRZ years

The 2013 Subaru BRZ ranks worst of 11 model years, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 64 complaints, 77% engine-related. NHTSA lists 2 recalls, including a valve spring fix, and median mileage at engine failure is 52,400.

Complaints
64
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26
22.5 city / 31 hwy

Top 2013 Subaru BRZ problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine49 (77%)
  2. Other9 (14%)
  3. Fuel System5 (8%)
  4. Electrical System4 (6%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers4 (6%)
  6. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  7. Brakes2 (3%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain2 (3%)
  9. Steering1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Engine can suffer a blown short block, cracked cylinder head, or broken connecting rod, sometimes leading to stalling on the freeway.
  • A chirping or squeaking sound from the engine area occurs during deceleration around 28 mph while in neutral.
  • Check engine light appears with a cylinder misfire traced to a failing direct injector.
  • Window and triangular pane gaskets fail to seal properly, letting rain or wash water enter the cabin.
  • Electrical faults cause the passenger window switch to work intermittently and occasionally prevent the car from starting despite lights and radio functioning.
  • The Homelink rear-view mirror mount can fail, causing the mirror to fall and interfere with the shifter.
2013 Subaru BRZ complaints: complaints filed per month8Jul 2012Jul 2014Oct 2017Apr 2019Sep 2019Apr 2020Nov 2020Aug 2022
79 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2012 to Jul 2026; peak Apr 2019 (8).

2013 Subaru BRZ recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V772000Nov 1, 2018Engine165,534 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    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.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 12V254000Jun 5, 2012Other1,886 vehicles

    Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual

    Subaru is recalling certain model year 2013 brz vehicles manufactured from november 25, 2011, through may 25, 2012. The ownerâ’s manual contains an inaccurate description of the actual operation of the front passenger occupant classification system. Other portions of the ownerâ’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, â“occupant crash protection.â”

    Risk: 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 ownerâ’s manuals, free of charge. The safety recall began on june 19, 2012. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.

2013 Subaru BRZ fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22.5 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,075
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other BRZ years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020132014201520162017201820192020202220232024
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid10064226
2014Caution606026
2015No verdict403026

All Subaru BRZ years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Subaru BRZ reliable?
Among BRZ model years, 2013 has the highest Complaint Index (100) and ranks worst of 11 years tracked, with 64 owner complaints, 77% concerning the engine.
What problems does the 2013 Subaru BRZ have?
The top problem area is the engine, covering 77% of complaints, with issues like cracked cylinder heads and misfires reported at a median of 52,400 miles. Fuel system, electrical, and visibility complaints also appear.
Does the 2013 Subaru BRZ have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2013 BRZ: one for engine valve springs that may fail, and one for an inaccurate owner's manual description of the passenger occupant detection system. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2013 BRZ compare to other years?
The 2013 BRZ has a Complaint Index of 100, higher than every other year listed, including 2017 (80) and 2022 (90), both also marked Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Subaru BRZ?
EPA rates the 2013 BRZ at 26 mpg combined (22.5 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,075.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.