VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Subaru BRZ2013–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Subaru BRZ
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Subaru BRZ Years to Avoid
1 recall · 49 complaints
Top issue: ENGINE
1 recall · 7 complaints
Top issue: ENGINE
2 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
Subaru BRZ — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 85 | 40 | 69 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 85 | 55 | 75 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 100 | 68 | 89 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 100 | 78 | 92 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 1 | 7 | — | — | 91 | 85 | 89 | Good |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 100 | 88 | 96 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 100 | 87 | 95 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 98 | 83 | 93 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 95 | 77 | 89 | Good |
| 2017 | 0 | 2 | — | — | 99 | 70 | 89 | Excellent |
| 2016 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 99 | 63 | 86 | Excellent |
| 2015 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 99 | 56 | 84 | Excellent |
| 2014 | 0 | 3 | — | — | 99 | 50 | 82 | Excellent |
| 2013 | 1 | 49 | — | — | 87 | 45 | 72 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Subaru BRZ Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the BRZ compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 96).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year BRZ to buy?+
The 2019 Subaru BRZ scores highest on our Buyer Score (93/100) — combining a reliability score of 98/100 with a value score of 83/100. It has 1 recall and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which BRZ years have the most problems?+
The 2013, 2022, 2018 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2013 BRZ leads with 1 recalls and 49 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common BRZ problems?+
The most frequently reported Subaru BRZ issues involve: ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.