YearToAvoid

2018 Subaru BRZ Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#11 most-complained of 11 BRZ years

The 2018 Subaru BRZ has a complaint index of 0, the lowest of the 11 model years with data, and ranks 11th (best) worst-first. NHTSA lists just 1 complaint and 2 recalls, one for a fuel pump and one for the audio display software.

Complaints
1
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 29 hwy

Top 2018 Subaru BRZ problems

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

  1. Engine1 (100%)

2018 Subaru BRZ recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V587000Jul 29, 2021Fuel System175,968 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.

  2. NHTSA 18V935000Dec 31, 2018Visibility & Wipers71,190 vehicles

    Visibility:rearview mirrors/devices

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the rearview image will not display while backing up the vehicle. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

    Risk: Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.

    Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTZ-85.

2018 Subaru BRZ fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,300
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.

2018 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
2016No verdict503026
2017Avoid807025.5
2018No verdict01224
2019No verdict101125.5
2020No verdict302024

All Subaru BRZ years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Subaru BRZ reliable?
Among the 11 BRZ model years with NHTSA data, 2018 has a complaint index of 0, the lowest of any year, and ranks 11th worst-first, meaning it has fewer reported problems than other BRZ years.
What problems does the 2018 Subaru BRZ have?
NHTSA lists only 1 complaint for the 2018 BRZ, filed under the Engine category, which makes up 100% of the complaints on record for this year.
Does the 2018 Subaru BRZ have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 BRZ: one for a low-pressure fuel pump that may fail, and one for a software issue that can prevent the audio display and rearview camera image from initializing. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
What year Subaru BRZ should I avoid?
Based on NHTSA complaint index data, 2013 (index 100), 2022 (index 90), and 2017 (index 80) are marked Avoid, while 2018 has the lowest complaint index of any BRZ year at 0.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Subaru BRZ?
EPA rates the 2018 BRZ at 24 mpg combined, 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300.

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.