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EnginePart report

2013 Subaru BRZ Engine Problems

Complaints
47about this part
Share
73%of 64 total for the year
Median mileage
61,174miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 47 complaints about the engine of the 2013 Subaru BRZ, 73% of the 64 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,174 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Valve spring recall - had the valve spring recall performed and roughly 10k miles later my car has stalled and when won't stay running when you try to start and if you do get it running there is a loud clunky noise that sounds like a valve tap. I was driving and coming off the off ramp and the car just died on me. I rolled to the shoulder of the road.”

NHTSA complaint #11217301, filed 2019-06, 111,302 miles

“Had the valve spring recall done on my vehicle. After my vheicle was fixed car was making ticking noise. Brang the car back to dealership to chick on ticking noise and said that the car was fine, brang vehicle in a few times and always get the same answer on 7/19/18 was driving on the highway and car was making rapid ticking noise engine started losing power and engine died on highway.”

NHTSA complaint #11233523, filed 2019-07, 102,500 miles

“After I picked up my car from completing the valve spring recall work at a local Subaru dealer, my car check engine light and the traction light turned on in less than 6 miles driving. I drove my car back to the dealer on the next morning, and the dealer told me there were ECM, cam gears and wiring harness issues and need replacement. Issues are still unresolved and I am waiting for the dealer and Subaru investigation.”

NHTSA complaint #11230582, filed 2019-07, 59,844 miles

“My 2013 Subaru BRZ was recalled and repaired for faulty valve springs at maguire Subaru in ithaca, ny in spring 2019 at 45,000 miles. 700 miles later on june 6, 2020, I experienced a catastrophic engine failure while I was driving in motion! Maguire has had my car for 8 weeks now. After a short block replacement, they decided to replace whole engine which is now also experiencing more valve problems. When will this be resolved???? Recall the recall??”

NHTSA complaint #11340873, filed 2020-07, 46,000 miles

“I brought my 2013 Subaru BRZ on 01/19/2018 from a private owner. I received a recall letter on 01/23/2019, so I went to the closest dealer in my area which is the camelback Subaru at phoenix, az. I made an appointment with sheldon v pinto, he told me that there are 50 cars are waiting for the recall fix, so they put me in the waiting list and said will contact me in march. I waited for their phone calls for the whole month, they seem to forget my appointment. …”

NHTSA complaint #11197045, filed 2019-04, 27,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2022660%
2014583%
20134773%

Other parts of the 2013 Subaru BRZ

Other or unknown
7 complaints
Fuel system
5 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints
Electrical system
3 complaints
Brakes
2 complaints
Engine cooling
2 complaints
Equipment
2 complaints
Exterior lighting
2 complaints
Body and structure
2 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
2 complaints
Seats
1 complaints
Steering
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2013 Subaru BRZ

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology