2017 Subaru Brz problems
The Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ are 2+2 sports cars jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, manufactured at Subaru's Gunma assembly plant.
The 2+2 fastback coupé has a naturally-aspirated boxer engine, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive configuration, 53/47 front/rear weight balance and low centre of gravity; it was inspired by Toyota's earlier AE86, a small, light, front-engine/rear-drive Corolla variant widely popular for Showroom Stock, Group A, Group N, Rally, Club and drift racing.
For the first-generation model, Toyota marketed the sports car as the 86 in Asia, Australia, North America (from August 2016), South Africa, and South America; as the Toyota GT86 in Europe; as the 86 and GT86 in New Zealand; as the Toyota FT86 in Brunei, Nicaragua and Jamaica and as the Scion FR-S (2012–2016) in the United States and Canada.
The second-generation model is marketed by Toyota as the GR86 as part of the Gazoo Racing family.
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Common 2017 Subaru Brz problems
The 2017 Subaru BRZ is known for its reliability, with a low number of technical service bulletins (TSBs) compared to previous years. However, some owners have reported specific issues with their vehicles.
One common problem is condensation in the rear lights, which can be noticed after heavy rainfall or by using a watering can or garden hose to test for leaks around the unit seal.
Another issue reported by some owners is a lumpy idle, which can be fixed with a visit to a Subaru dealer and may also be addressed during a service.
For the 2017 model year, there have been no consumer issues reported to carcomplaints.com or NHTSA, and Subaru has released 125 TSBs for this model year, primarily involving electrical and fuel systems.
In summary, while the 2017 Subaru BRZ is generally reliable, some owners have reported issues with condensation in the rear lights and a lumpy idle. These problems can be addressed with simple repairs or servicing.
What are the main issues with the Subaru BRZ?
Subaru BRZ Most Common Problems
- Valve spring recall saga.
- Second gear grind.
- Weak brake pads.
- Worn clutch throw bearings.
What is the weakness of the BRZ?
We embarked on this undertaking to see if budget-minded upgrades could address the BRZ's (and the GR86's) primary shortcoming: weak brakes that don't stand up well to heavy abuse, which result in longer braking distances on the track and, ultimately, slower lap times.
Is a Subaru BRZ a reliable car?
The Subaru BRZ Reliability Rating is 3.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 20th out of 21 for subcompact cars. The average annual repair cost is $672 which means it has average ownership costs. The frequency of repairs is average, but when issues do arise, they are more likely to be severe than with other models.
Is BRZ high maintenance?
A Subaru BRZ will cost about $6,393 for maintenance and repairs during its first 10 years of service. This beats the industry average for popular coupe models by $1,030. There is also a 18.74% chance that a BRZ will require a major repair during that time. This is 2.76% better than similar vehicles in this segment.
Does the Subaru BRZ have engine problems?
Undaunted, die-hard GR86 and BRZ fans nevertheless put their efforts into investigating both causes and potential solutions. Early on, forum critics suspected the popped engines were the result of oil starvation at the oil pickup, caused by a material known as RTV (room-temperature vulcanizing silicone).
What is the weakness of the BRZ?
We embarked on this undertaking to see if budget-minded upgrades could address the BRZ's (and the GR86's) primary shortcoming: weak brakes that don't stand up well to heavy abuse, which result in longer braking distances on the track and, ultimately, slower lap times.
Is a Subaru BRZ a reliable car?
The Subaru BRZ Reliability Rating is 3.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 20th out of 21 for subcompact cars. The average annual repair cost is $672 which means it has average ownership costs. The frequency of repairs is average, but when issues do arise, they are more likely to be severe than with other models.
How long do BRZ engines last?
Although only a few owners have claimed to have driven their BRZs for over 200,000 miles, and there is little evidence to support these claims, many other owners have reported driving their cars reliably for between 170,000 to 180,000 miles – an excellent lifespan for a sports car.
2017 Subaru Brz car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Subaru Brz problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Air bags problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Power train problems
- Seats problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2017 Subaru Brz vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2017 Subaru Brz complaints
The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2017 Subaru Brz.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-01
- VIN: JF1ZCAC19H9
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: -Manual Transmission issues with grinding or failure to go into gear. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. -Merging into highway traffic can be dangerous when I'm more focused on my transmission grinding loudly and having difficulty shifting gears to get up to speed. -Unknown -Unknown -No warning lights of any kind
AIR BAGS,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-02-19
- VIN: JF1ZCAC18H9
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: This week when I started my car, a yellow caution light appeared on my dash and a “check SRS warning light” appeared next to it. It would turn on and off, so i am unsure of what the problem is. I brought my car in for an inspection on January 28th, and they didn’t detect any issue regarding airbags or anything related to it. One thing i noticed is whenever the passenger seat is pulled forward or backward, it then turns on.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-04-05
- Crash: 1
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JF1ZCAC13H9
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: 2017 SUBARU BRZ LIMITED WITH PERFORMANCE PACKAGE WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT ON 4-5-21. SUBJECT VEHICLE HAD STOPPED AND WAS SLOWLY ENTERING TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION OF A DIVIDED HIGHWAY WITH A 50 MPH SPEED LIMIT WHILE BEING STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING CAR AT AN APPROXIMATE 90 DEGREE ANGLE WHICH IMPACTED THE LEFT FRONT FENDER NEAR THE HEADLIGHT AND BUMPER AREA.. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT ENGINE PORTION BURST INTO FLAMES. THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WAS NOT IMPACTED AND DRIVER WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE AS FLAMES IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED THE PASSENGER SECTION. WHAT WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED IN A REPAIRABLE LEFT FRONTAL DAMAGE CLAIM ACTUALLY BECAME A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE FIRE DESTRUCTION. THIS AUTOMOBILE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A SUBARU DEALERSHIP ON 10-9-17 AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT APPROXIMATELY 3,300 MILES. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO JIM KARAS SUBARU IN MEMPHIS, TN FOR REPAIRS. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FOR REPAIRS. ACCORDING TO MECHANIC'S INSPECTION AND REPAIR REPORT 521894S DATED 4-20-18, 'FOR P219A AND P119F PULLED VALVE COVERS AND INSPECTION VALVE CLEARANCE AND FOUND THAT ALL INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE ARE OUT OF SPEC AND TO TIGHT. REPLACED VALVES, ALL VALVE SHIMS TO BRING ALL INTAKE AND EXHAUST CLEARANCES INTO DESIGN SPEC. REPLACED ALL GASKETS AND ORINGS AS WELL AS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE'. IT IS NOTED THAT SUBARU MAY HAVE HAD FIRE HAZARD ISSUES WITH OTHER REPAIRED SUBARU BRZ MODEL YEARS WITH THE FA 20 D BOXER ENGINE MANUFACTURED FOR YEARS BEGINNING IN 2013. MANUFACTURER MADE NO ADAS AVAILABLE ON THIS CAR.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-06-14
- VIN: JF1ZCAB13H9
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR STALLED THREE TIMES; THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN TURNED OFF. WHITE, SWEET SMELLING SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. I PULLED OVER SAFELY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE VALVE SPRING COVER CAME OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) ENGINE HEAD. SEE ATTACHMENT FOR A LIST OF ALL PARTS AFFECTED.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-06-06
- VIN: JF1ZCAC13H9
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: THE PASSAGER AIR BAG TURNED OFF WITH ME IN THE SEAT
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-10-10
- VIN: JF1ZCAC10H8
- Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
- Summary: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ,TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON, LIGHT PLATES OFF. ACCELERATOR STUCK WHILE DRIVING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. CAR HAD WATER DAMAGE FEW DAYS AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA. INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO) IN THE REPAIR PROCESS DECLARED ONCE TOTAL LOST THEN CHANGE ITS MIND. I HAD BEEN OFF AND ON THE SHOP SINCE THAT DATE. STUCK WITH THIS LEASED CAR
Negative 2017 Subaru Brz car reviews
Positive 2017 Subaru Brz car reviews
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As others have mentioned, a lot has been written about this car and most of it is true. The car is very well balanced and great on backroads. The power is adequate given the weight of the car. Too much more power would affect the driving dynamics of the vehicle. Shifting is very precise and short, just the way you want it. However, in cold weather, until the car warms up, shifts from 1st to 2nd can be a bit clunky. The layout of the interior is fantastic, and the seats are supportive. However, being sport seats, they can be a little snug for larger people. The back seat, to me, is just there to save insurance costs and is not very practical at all. The car is very well appointed for the money, but the stock tires are way too brutal over road transitions.
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This car is fantastic! I purchased it for my wife back in April 2014 in Portland and she absolutely adores it. We have been the only owners and have taken great care of it, always using the correct oil and premium gas. While I was working out of town, we needed a third car and ended up buying a big, old American land yacht. Now that I am back in town, we have decided to let go of one of our cars. Since my daughter occasionally needs a car to drive when she is home from college, we figured a Towncar with automatic transmission would be better for her to drive than a sports car with a manual transmission. This car is a blast to drive! The GPS works perfectly and the stereo sounds amazing. The back seat is spacious enough for one teenager or for groceries. Additionally, it is built to accept a bike rack, which is a great feature.
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As a fellow driving enthusiast, I have to say that I absolutely love the 6-speed manual gearbox! When people ask me if I like my car, I can't help but gush about how much fun it is to toss into corners and how excellent the steering response and braking are. Of course, there's always room for improvement, and I think adding some aftermarket brakes and more personalized wheels would really take it to the next level. The touch screen audio/navigation system and voice activated command system could also use some work, but I understand that they come with the upgraded interior. While road noise is noticeable, I don't mind it because I'm too busy enjoying the experience of driving. If you're someone who sees driving as just another chore, then this car probably isn't for you. The deep bucket seats are perfect for spirited cornering, and the heaters in the Limited trim are a great addition for winter driving. Overall, this car may not be the most practical choice, but it's definitely a blast to drive, especially when you're shifting gears manually. And let's be honest, who needs a radio when you have that amazing exhaust note at full throttle above 4,000 RPM? ;-)
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Congratulations on your first Subaru! As someone who previously owned a Celica, I can imagine how at home you must feel in this car, especially since it was made jointly by Toyota and Subaru. The engineers did an amazing job with this one - the 200hp to weight ratio is perfect and the handling is great. Although you had a couple of issues with the nav system, it's still a fantastic car to drive and definitely not one that any car enthusiast should pass up.
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This car is an absolute joy to drive, and you don't even need to be speeding to enjoy it. I love the sleek exterior design, and the interior is just as impressive. The seats are incredibly comfortable (even for someone as tall as me at 6'4
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2017 Subaru Brz problems:
MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY NEW 2017 BRZ!!!! HELP! - Toyota ...
May 26, 2017 ... So a short background, I just got my 2017 Subaru BRZ Limited Inazuma edition a month ago, and the car just reached 1000 miles last weekend.
2017 Subaru BRZ Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2017 Subaru BRZ? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
Here Are The Subaru BRZ Years To Avoid - CoPilot
Sep 6, 2022 ... Common Subaru BRZ Problems · Noisy transmission: One of the most common complaints about the Subaru BRZ is its noisy transmission. · Infotainment ...
Subaru BRZ: Common Problems and Solutions | BreakerYard.com
Subaru BRZ Common Problems and Solutions · Knocking From Steering Rack · Unusual Noise From Clutch (Manuals) · Condensation In Rear Lights · Poor engine idling ...
Long term reliability FR-S/86/BRZ? : r/ft86
Sep 1, 2021 ... It is a Subaru boxer AND a high compression engine. ... Known issues with 2017s? 6 upvotes · 17 ... Any common faults or specific maintenance ...
Other years of Subaru Brz
Are you having problems with your 2017 Subaru Brz?
Angus Bayer 2024-08-05
I recently upgraded my 2013 BRZ to a 2017 model, but unfortunately, I found it to be a bit disappointing. While it does have some nice improvements like a shark-fin antenna and LED lighting, there are several areas where Subaru missed the mark. As a sports car, it should have better acceleration, but it feels slow and unresponsive. The standard OEM navigation map is no longer available, leaving a large dead area on the dash. Additionally, the Bluetooth connection to my iPhone is unreliable, and the steering wheel doesn't feel as nice as the previous model. The rear seating area is also smaller, making it difficult to comfortably seat four adults. Despite these issues, I still appreciate the improvements that were made and look forward to seeing what Subaru does in the future.I'm disappointed with my factory-ordered brand new car. There are various rattles and vibrations that shouldn't be happening. Even though the car is blue, the pearl blue color isn't impressive. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have traded in my 2013 for this car. However, I appreciate the opportunity to update my review. I've decided to trade in this car for a 'real' American sports car - the C8 Corvette. Thank you, Subaru.
Dan Robel 2024-07-14
I recently experienced an issue with my 2017 Subaru BRZ Limited's manual transmission. The car had less than 50,000 miles and was 5 years old at the time. After taking it to a Subaru dealer near me, Subaru of North Tampa, they diagnosed the issue as worn synchronizers on the gears and recommended a transmission replacement. Unfortunately, the cost of repair was $5,000.00 and Subaru of America would not cover it due to the warranty being over 5 years and a few miles over 50,000. While I understand the warranty has expired, I was disappointed that the transmission and engine did not last longer than 5 years or 50k miles. As someone who has owned several cars over the past 45 years, including Toyotas with over 80k miles, I have never experienced any issues with the transmission or engine. Although I will not be purchasing a Subaru again, I hope that the company can improve their customer care and reliability for future customers.
Buster Beer 2024-05-18
If you're considering purchasing this car, it's important to keep in mind the potential expense of walnut shell blasting for your intake valves. It's unfortunate that Subaru hasn't followed Toyota's lead in combining Direct Injection with Port Injection to automatically clean the intakes. However, despite this issue, these cars handle wonderfully and are a blast to drive. It's just a shame that some owners have experienced blown head gaskets, especially on vehicles that are pushed to their limits like the BRZ. Hopefully, Subaru will eventually realize that the boxer design is becoming outdated, as even Porsche is moving away from it. While the design may look and sound great, it's important to consider the potential maintenance costs. Overall, these cars are a joy to drive, but it's important to keep in mind the potential expenses and issues that may arise.