Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ years to avoid

The year to be most careful with is 2013. It's the only model year in the valve spring recall, and it collected more early-build bulletins and owner complaints than any other. You don't have to avoid it, but you need proof the recall work was done.

The 2018 and 2019 cars had a fuel pump recall. The 2017 and 2020 cars have the cleanest records. The second-generation GR86 and BRZ, sold from 2022, have no engine recall, but there are documented oil-pressure drops on track.

The short list

This covers US-market cars: the Scion FR-S, Toyota 86, Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ. There was no 2021 model in the US.

Model year	Main issue	Recall or bulletin	Our view
2013	Valve springs can fracture and stall the engine	NHTSA 18V772	Buy only with the recall done
2013	High-pressure fuel pump chirp at warm idle	Toyota TSB SSB-0023-12	Check it's been fixed
2013 BRZ	Oil seepage at cam carriers, timing cover, oil pan	Subaru TSB 02-136-12R	Look underneath
2013 to 2016 FR-S	Automatic key can come out when not in Park	NHTSA 16V075	Minor, check it's done
2017 86	Same key issue on automatics	NHTSA 16V920	Minor
2018 to 2019	Low-pressure fuel pump can fail and stall the engine	NHTSA 21V587	Buy only with the recall done
2020	No NHTSA recalls	None	A good year
2022 GR86 and BRZ	Rear turn signals can stop working	NHTSA 23V609	Minor
2022 on GR86 and BRZ	Oil pressure drops in hard right-hand corners on track	No recall	Fine for road use; care on track

Recall numbers and model years come from NHTSA's recall database, checked in October 2026.

Timeline of Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ model years from 2013 to 2024 with recalls and known issues — 2013 and the first FA24 years need the most checking

2013: the valve spring recall

The valve spring recall is the big one. NHTSA campaign 18V772 covers the 2013 BRZ and the 2013 Scion FR-S, along with some Impreza and XV Crosstrek models. The springs "may fracture causing an engine malfunction," and a stall raises the crash risk (NHTSA).

The campaign covered 165,534 vehicles in the US. Consumer Reports put about 25,000 of them at Toyota. Subaru estimated about 0.1 percent of recalled cars would see the failure and said cars built after May 2013 weren't affected (Consumer Reports). Dealers replace the springs free.

Early 2013 cars had smaller problems too. Toyota issued a bulletin for a "high pitch chirp or squeak noise from the high pressure fuel pump assembly" at warm idle. It applied to FR-S cars with a VIN ending 09026 or lower, and the fix was a new pump (AutoGuide).

Subaru's bulletin 02-136-12R covers oil seepage on 2013 BRZs. It lists the timing chain cover, front camshaft cap, camshaft carrier and upper oil pan, and the repair is a clean and reseal (Subaru TSB).

Clutch complaints cluster here as well. TrueDelta's owner reports for the FR-S list 13 transmission and clutch repair trips, and 11 are 2013 cars. Several mention a squeal late in the pedal travel and a replaced release bearing or fork (TrueDelta). It's a small sample, so treat it as a pointer rather than proof.

2014 to 2016: minor recalls only

The middle years are the quiet ones. The FR-S picked up recalls for accessory fasteners and load labels. It also got 16V075, where an automatic's key can come out without the car in Park (NHTSA). None touch the engine.

NHTSA lists no recalls at all for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 BRZ.

2017 to 2020: the updated cars

The 2017 facelift brought 205 hp for manual cars and a shorter 4.30 final drive (Wikipedia). We cover what else changed in Toyota 86 vs GR86.

The one recall that matters is the fuel pump. Campaign 21V587 covers the 2018 and 2019 86 and BRZ, along with other Subarus, 175,968 vehicles in all. The low-pressure pump in the tank can fail and stall the engine. Dealers replace it free (NHTSA).

The 2020 Toyota 86 and BRZ have no NHTSA recalls. The 2017 BRZ has none either.

Grouped bars of NHTSA recall counts by model year for the Scion FR-S, Toyota 86 and GR86 against the Subaru BRZ — Most recalls are labels and keys; only 2013 and 2018–19 touch the engine

Recall counts can mislead. The FR-S has more recalls than the BRZ mostly because of Toyota accessory and label campaigns. Look at what each recall covers, not just the count.

GR86 and BRZ from 2022: the FA24 oil question

There's no engine recall for the second generation. The only 2022 recall is 23V609, for rear turn signals that may stop working. Some 2023 and 2024 GR86s with Gulf States Toyota accessories had a load-label recall.

The open question is oil pressure on track. In 2023, BRZ owner Brian Armstrong logged oil pressure on a BRZ, a GR86 and an older FA20 BRZ at Thunderhill. The FA24 cars dropped from 62 psi to 28 psi in one hard right-hander, while the FA20 car showed much smaller blips (The Drive).

His view: "We believe these pressure drops are significant enough to cause bearing damage." The Drive noted at least two GR86 engine failures in Toyota warranty disputes. Hagerty reported one owner whose spun rod bearing was eventually covered with a new engine (Hagerty).

Both makers have defended the engine. Subaru told Hagerty the FA24 is used reliably in thousands of vehicles. Toyota said it would "honor our warranty" and judges track-related claims case by case.

A second theory blames excess RTV sealant breaking loose and blocking the oil pickup. FTSpeed, which sells a pickup pre-filter, calls the failures "mainly isolated incidents" (FTSpeed). Nobody has published a failure rate, so treat this as a track issue to manage.

What isn't worth worrying about

Not every noise is a fault. We didn't find a recall or bulletin for injector ticking in the NHTSA and TSB lists we checked. A chirp at warm idle on an early car is different, and points to the fuel pump bulletin above.

Interior rattles are common. PistonHeads lists trim rattles, gear lever buzz above 4,000 rpm and condensation in the rear lights as known items (PistonHeads).

Best years to buy

2020 Toyota 86 or BRZ: no recalls, the 2017 updates, and the newest first-generation cars.
2017 Toyota 86 or BRZ: the updated car, with only a minor key recall on automatics.
2018 to 2019: good cars once the fuel pump recall is done. Check the VIN.
2022 on GR86 or BRZ: the best car to drive. For track use, keep the oil level right and log oil pressure.
2013: fine with paperwork for the valve springs and fuel pump. Otherwise walk away.

How to check a used car

Six-step checklist for inspecting a used Toyota 86, Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ or GR86 — Start with the VIN. Most of the risk is in unfinished recall work

Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask for dealer paperwork on any recall.
Start the car cold and let it warm up. Listen for a high-pitched chirp at idle.
Press the clutch slowly to the floor and back. Squeal or grinding near the end of travel needs a look.
Look under the engine for wet seams at the cam carriers, timing cover and oil pan.
On a GR86 or 2022-on BRZ, ask about track days, oil changes and oil level checks. Our oil change interval guide covers the basics.
Drive it through 4,000 rpm in third gear. A flat spot there is normal on the FA20.

Modified cars need extra care. Our Toyota 86 Hot Lava build shows which first mods are common, so you can spot them on a used car.

Common questions

Is the 2013 Scion FR-S reliable?

It can be. Subaru estimated only about 0.1 percent of recalled cars would see a valve spring failure, and dealers replace the springs free. Buy one with the recall done.

Did Toyota or Subaru recall the GR86 engine?

No. As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no engine recall for any 2022 to 2024 GR86 or BRZ.

Which is more reliable, the 86 or the BRZ?

They're the same car, built by Subaru. The FR-S and 86 have more recalls on paper, mostly for Toyota accessories and labels.

Is the FA20 torque dip a fault?

No. Car and Driver noted the sag around 4,000 rpm in its 2017 test. No recall or bulletin we found treats it as a defect.

Sources

Featured image: 2013 Subaru BRZ by MSVG, CC BY 2.0. Source