Problems · NHTSA complaints

2014 Subaru BRZ problems

Owners filed 6 complaints about the 2014 Subaru BRZ with NHTSA between Aug 2014 and Jun 2024. The most-cited component is engine (5).

Complaints
6
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine5
  2. Fuel/propulsion system1
  3. Power train1
  4. Fuel system, gasoline1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20141
20150
20160
20170
20180
20192
20202
20210
20220
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

5 reports1 fire
“I was driving the car on the Highway & the car caught on fire from the engine bay area. I drover the car for about 5 miles before the fire. the car has no modification & everything in OEM/Stock condition. Many people reported having the same issue with engine catching on fire for Subaru BRZ Toyota 86 & Toyota FRS since they all share the same engine & mechanical component”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2024Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11597783

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report1 fire

Power train

1 report
“TERRIBLE RATTLING/KNOCKING ENGINE SEEMS TO STRUGGLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND WILL UNEXPECTEDLY STALL/SHUT OFF ON HIGHWAY AND STREET USE *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2020Power train, EngineODI 11327530

Fuel system, gasoline

1 report
“SUBARU BRZ FUEL PUMP DEFECTIVE FILING COMPLAINT FOR THE RECORD - THE 2014 SUBARU BRZ FUEL PUMP WHEN WARM MAKES A METALLIC CHIRP (VERY AUDIBLE - FILE VIDEO WITH SOUND AVAILABLE) AS IF ITS VALVES ARE EXPANDING AND CAUSING FRICTION RELATED METALLIC SOUNDS. SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGES THERE ARE KNOWN ISSUES AND GETTING IT REPLACED SHOULD BE AS EASY AS ASKING - DEALERSHIP NOTED TO ME IT IS A NUISANCE AND NOT A PROBLEM (COULD NOT CONFIRM THEY WOULD GET PAID UNDER WARRANTY) - CALLS TO CORPORATE WERE MADE AND ALTHOUGH A RETURNED VOICE CALL SAID IT WAS SAFE - MY REQUEST FOR THIS STATEMENT IN WRITING HAS NOT BEEN GRANTED. HOPING IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINT - A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED AND NOT SELECTIVE BASED ON A DEALERSHIPS PROFIT. A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND FRICTION NOISES WHEN HEATED ARE A DANGEROUS COMBINATION. CONFIRMED A SUBARU TECHNICAL NOTE EXISTS FOR THIS PROBLEM - THEY STATED MY MODELS VIN# WAS UNDER THE TECH NOTE FOR REPLACEMENT BUT NOW WEEKLY CALL ARE NOT RETURNED AFTER 5 WEEKS REQUESTING STATUS OF REPLACEMENT PART. YOU CAN SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR MANY OTHER EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM (ONE NOTED HIS CAR DID CATCH FIRE AND BURN - ROOT CAUSE FUEL PUMP…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2014Fuel system, gasolineODI 10618377
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.