YearToAvoid

2017 Subaru BRZ Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#3 most-complained of 11 BRZ years

The 2017 Subaru BRZ has 7 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 80 out of 100 — #3 highest of 11 BRZ model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is airbags (2 complaints, 29% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash and 1 fire.

Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25.5
22.5 city / 31 hwy

Top 2017 Subaru BRZ problems

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

  1. Other3 (43%)
  2. Airbags2 (29%)
  3. Brakes1 (14%)
  4. Electrical System1 (14%)
  5. Fuel System1 (14%)
  6. Structure & Body1 (14%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain1 (14%)
2017 Subaru BRZ complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2018Jun 2020Oct 2020Apr 2021Mar 2023Jun 2024Dec 2024
10 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2018 to Dec 2024; peak Mar 2023 (3).

2017 Subaru BRZ recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2017 Subaru BRZ fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22.5 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
25.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,125
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.

2017 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
2015No verdict403026
2016No verdict503026
2017Avoid807025.5
2018No verdict01224
2019No verdict101125.5

All Subaru BRZ years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Subaru BRZ a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 Subaru BRZ ranks #3 of 11 among BRZ model years (Complaint Index 80/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 7 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru BRZ?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (2 complaints), brakes (1 complaints), and electrical system (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 27,434 miles.
Does the 2017 Subaru BRZ have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2017 Subaru BRZ in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Subaru BRZ?
EPA rates the 2017 Subaru BRZ at 25.5 MPG combined (22.5 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,125. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.