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2022 Subaru BRZ Owner Complaints

Updated May 30, 2026
Ethan Miller

Complaint Summary

The 2022 Subaru BRZ has 12 reported complaints.

  • Top issues involve engine and exterior lighting.

Reliability Score

Reliability Score

7.7/ 10

Based on 12 complaints

Most Frequent Issues

ENGINE

6 50%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

3 25%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 8.3%

SERVICE BRAKES

1 8.3%

WHEELS

1 8.3%

Quick Insights

  • The top category is ENGINE, accounting for 50% of all complaints.

  • Owners have reported issues across 5 distinct vehicle systems.

  • Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.

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Complaint Summary

What owners keep reporting on the 2022 Subaru BRZ

The 2022 Subaru BRZ has 12 owner complaints in this dataset. ENGINE is the most common complaint category, representing about 50% of the reports shown here.

Most common complaint categories

The top complaint groups for the 2022 Subaru BRZ are ENGINE (6), EXTERIOR LIGHTING (3), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1).

Are these complaints a serious red flag?

Potentially. 8 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.

What should buyers inspect on a used 2022 Subaru BRZ?

Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.

Read the full buyer guideRecall report and remedy notesMaintenance costs and intervals2023 BRZ complaints2021 BRZ complaints2020 BRZ complaints

Detailed Complaint Log

Showing 5 of 5 systems

ENGINE

6 Reports50% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

The new 2022 Subaru BRZ's and Toyota GR86's have been found to have an excessive amount of RTV silicone on the engine oil pan. This can clog up the oil pickup filter and cause oil starvation leading to catastrophic engine failure. A few engines have already failed and more people have been finding RTV silicone in their oil filters and dipsticks including me.

8/5/2022

My car has excess RTV sealant on the oil pan that has now gotten into my engine and is causing oil starvation.

8/5/2022

4 more complaints are available in this category.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

3 Reports25% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

When the sun is facing the rear of the car, the rear turn signals do not activate, and the turn signals flash rapidly. It is exactly what happens in this youtube video: https://youtu.be/dHwMCdlJfYQ This is a danger, because my car will not properly signal when I change lanes or take a turn. Subaru will not look at the vehicle. In this post in a community of owners for this vehicle, an owner states that the dealer ignored the issue, and Subaru of America sent a generic, irrelevant response. https://www.gr86.org/threads/fast-blinker-caused-by-low-sun.4733/post-96056 This behavior by the dealer and the manufacturer is irresponsible and dangerous. This issue needs to be resolved at the federal level to ensure the safety of myself and others on the road.

2/7/2023

During my early commute on a sunny morning shortly after sunrise with the sun at the rear of the vehicle, when selecting the turn signal, the dash display flashes rapidly, i.e., hyperflashing, and it has been confirmed that the rear signal light does not operate during this anomaly. The forward turn signal does function but flashes at a rapid rate. This is a repeatable occurrence when the sun is behind the car in the early morning from early sunrise to about 60 minutes later. Once the sun is high in the sky, the turn signals operate normal. This condition occurs on either turn signal and I have also experienced this with late afternoon sun. I have captured this anomaly on video but this site does not allow upload of .mp4 files. This is a link to a video I uploaded on YouTube showing the anomaly in later afternoon sun. https://youtu.be/dHwMCdlJfYQ I have communicated this concern to Subaru of America and shared the video links to them. Their last communication was to contact a dealer. I understand that the dealer would need to confirm my concern. However, it would need to be a sunny day on the time of appointment plus the duty hours for the technicians are outside the window of the sun elevation when this problem occurs. Other owners of the 2022 BRZ and Toyota GR86 have reported similar experiences on the web forums with turn signals behaving as I have detailed.

2/8/2023

1 more complaint is available in this category.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 Report8% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

This is a new car. There’s was only 31 miles when I purchased. One day, there’s some sound when I driving the vehicle. Once I parked, all the warning lamps was on, then my car wasn’t able to move. When the incident happened, it was only 4 months of using it and only 5,498 miles. Then I bring my car back to retailer and they inform me I need to replace the whole engine because of lack of oil. Even though they Silas’s my car was lack of oil, but there’s no light on the dashboard lights up and told me I need to add more oil. The process of repairing took 5 months. After I read other owners post on social media, I believe I have the similar situation. It says “ RTV is a sealant used as a gasket for the Subaru FA24D engine in the car and is allegedly applied too liberally at the factory. When RTV is dislodged in the engine's oil, it can clog the pickup. That can cause oil starvation“ Roughly a month later of fixing it(5 months of repairs) , there’s a strong scent of gas when I open the door of my car. And I can’t turn it on the first time. Second time of trying turning it on, all the warning lamp went off again. And the car couldn’t drive again. I bring back to the retailer and this is their respond, “ the technician found fuel is pouring out of the pressure relief valve of the left side head due to a possible failing injector on cylinder #3. We must do a teardown to verify the initial diagnosis.” And the final diagnosis The technician found two injector o-rings that were defective, causing fuel to leak and flood the cylinder chamber, which in turn caused the vehicle to stall. Parts can fail for many reasons, in this case we can attribute it to the quality of the parts themselves.“

2/20/2023

SERVICE BRAKES

1 Report8% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

I purchased a new 2022 Subaru BRZ. Shortly after the purchase, the wheel bolts loosened which caused catastrophic damage to the wheel, and all brake components. Upon further research, we believe this may be an inherent vehicle defect. This problem is subject to a recall involving hub bolts which can loosen to the point where the wheel can detach from the vehicle damaging the brake components and posses serious safety issue. The consumer is requesting to reimbursed for repairs, rental, and legal fees.

3/7/2023

WHEELS

1 Report8% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

I purchased a new 2022 Subaru BRZ. Shortly after the purchase, the wheel bolts loosened which caused catastrophic damage to the wheel, and all brake components. Upon further research, we believe this may be an inherent vehicle defect. This problem is subject to a recall involving hub bolts which can loosen to the point where the wheel can detach from the vehicle damaging the brake components and posses serious safety issue. The consumer is requesting to reimbursed for repairs, rental, and legal fees.

3/7/2023

About This Data

Data and Methodology

MethodologyHow we score →

Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.

FAQ

What are the most common owner complaints for the 2022 Subaru BRZ?

The most reported complaint category for the 2022 Subaru BRZ is ENGINE, with 6 owner reports. That is about 50% of all complaints logged here. Other recurring themes include ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.

Are complaints about the 2022 Subaru BRZ a serious warning sign?

Potentially. 8 complaint reports fall into higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components. That does not prove every vehicle has a defect, but repeated complaints in those systems justify a more careful pre-purchase inspection.

How should buyers use complaint data for the 2022 Subaru BRZ?

Use complaints as an early pattern to investigate, not a standalone verdict. Start with the top complaint categories, compare those themes against the recall report and maintenance guide, then inspect service records for evidence that the same problem areas were already addressed. If the same issue appears repeatedly across complaints and recalls, treat it as a real ownership-risk flag.

Are complaints about the 2022 Subaru BRZ severe?

8 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection before purchase.

Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.

Read complaint summaries

Subaru BRZ: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?

Use complaint patterns together with recalls and maintenance guidance to estimate ownership risk and inspection priorities.

Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.

Return to full vehicle report
Complaint entries
12
Top-topic view
5 grouped topics shown
Primary source
NHTSA ODI owner complaint records

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In this guide

  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Common Problems
  3. 03Owner Complaints
  4. 04Data and Methodology

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