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Subaru BRZ check engine light comes on

16 of the 102 owner complaints about the Subaru BRZ describe check engine light, most of them for the 2013 model year.

owner complaints
16
worst model year
2013
typical mileage
61,312
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Stalling 5Loss of power 5Engine failure 3Knocking 2Misfire 1Jerking 1Headlights 1Fire or smoke 1

Trouble codes mentioned

P219A 1P119F 1P0171 1P0017 1

What owners say

Filed Aug 9, 2022 · Engine · OR

We took the car into the dealership due to an engine light being on and the recall was something they informed us about and we decided to take care of it all at the same time. We have never recieved safety recall information from Subaru. My Son owned the car prior to us and purchased from Subaru dealership. After several weeks of the car being at the dealership and a very large bill we picked up the car and drove 14 miles and the engine light went on again. We returned the car to dealership and they had it another week at least and we picked it up again with no further engine light coming back on. The engine light never turned back on even when the car stalled out and heard a banging sound. We had car towed to Subaru dealership. The car has been there for several weeks and now they are telling us we need to pay 8000.00 to fix. The car seemed to have lost power after we had recall and feel that the our safety was at risk and my Sons safety as well due to not receiving safety recall notification and service of the recall not resolving the issue with the motor in fact making it worse. Subaru of America has let us know they have no responsibility and will not assist us with any repairs even though our car is stuck in another state and clearly this has been an ongoing issue with this make, model, and year. I had experienced the pressing on the brake and feeling acceleration but I thought maybe my foot had slipped or something as it only happened once. I am thankful that we were only driving between 35 and 45mph when the car actually died while driving.

Filed Jan 18, 2022 · Engine · WA

Took my 2013 BRZ Limited in for the Valve Spring recall. After work completed I was unable to get my car home before I had severe knocking, CEL, and power failure. Car was at dealership for over a month. After I got it back it's been driven 10k miles and has a rod bearing failure and all the same symptoms - power loss, grinding/knocking, and dash lights lit up.

Filed Apr 20, 2021 · 15,000 miles · MS · crash · fire

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.

Filed Jan 17, 2021 · Engine · 21,000 miles · NY

I had my brz recall repair in the spring of 2019. It took about 3 weeks for the subaru dealer to fix the spring valve. When I received it back, my engine felt a little rough and had a high idle and made some noise. Due to the pandemic I have not driven much since the repair, so I didn't notice too much of an issue, but was planning to go back to the dealer when covid was less of a risk. Today, I drove my car maybe 500 miles since the repair, and as I accelerated on to the highway my car started revving really high, check engine line flashed on and the car lose power and stopped. If I pressed on the gas, it started to decline in speed and ultimately stopped. I made my way to the right lane, hit the hazards and waited stressfully for a tow truck as cars sped by me on the highway. I understand that there are issues like I just experienced since the recall fix and wanted to advise you of my issue. Please let me know what I can do to get the car back up to safety standards.

Filed Oct 17, 2020 · Fuel system · 39,867 miles · TX

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.

Filed Jun 15, 2020 · Engine · 93,000 miles · MD

In late 2018 I was notified by subaru of the valve spring recall for my 2013 brz. I carried my car in on march 31st 2020 to have the recall done. I picked my car up on april 9th 2020. On april 14th 2020, after exiting the highway, my engine stalled at a red light. It restarted on the first try with check engine light and traction light on. I drove the car directly back to the dealer to check that everything was done correctly. The diagnosis was fault p0017 and throttle body carbon up. The technician performed an ECM update and cleaned the throttle body and returned the car to me. No charges were incurred. On may 12th 2020 while driving, the check engine light and traction light came on once again. I again brought the car back into the dealer to be checked out. The diagnosis was fault p0171 system too lean. Checked for leaks and found none. The mass air flow sensor was cleaned and the car returned to me. No charges were incurred as it was admitted that debris could have gotten in the sensor while the engine was open performing the recall. On june 4th 2020 , after exiting the highway, the engine stalled again. This time 5 tries to restart the engine were to no avail. On the 6th try the engine finally restarted with no warning lights on. I drove the car back to the dealer. My car was kept for 1 week and the diagnosis was a bad mass air flow sensor. I was charged $651.44 to replace the sensor. My car was returned to me on june 12th 2020. On june 13th 2020 the check engine light and traction light was back on. When I carried my car in on march 31st 2020, there were no prior issues with the engine or any other component on the vehicle. The car drove and functioned perfectly fine. There have many complaints about the brz recall making engines. I believe I've fell victim to this. Please investigate the subaru/toyota valve spring recall for 2013 brz and frs.

Filed Nov 21, 2019 · Engine · 91,000 miles · OR

On july 17 2019 we bought the 2013 subaru brz from a bmw dealership. At the time of sale we were advised that the vehicle had an open recall, therefore we had asked that the recall be serviced prior to taking possession of the vehicle. The service was completed at another dealership on july 26, 2019. Less than 4 months later on november 17, 2019, shortly after driving on the freeway the check engine light illuminated and there was a clicking type noise coming from the engine, the vehicle seized and would no longer move. The vehicle was towed to a subaru dealership who advised the code was reading 'internal engine failure'. When confronted with the complaints about the recall, it was dismissed saying that the recall had to do with the top part of the engine and this appears to be coming from the bottom. They are currently working to take apart the engine to determine the cause to have it covered under the limited powertrain warranty. Based on all complaints it appears this issue is directly related to the service provided on the recall.

Filed Nov 7, 2019 · Engine · 68,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 subaru brz. While the contact's son was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The driver heard an abnormal noise and then the vehicle seized. The vehicle was towed to the driver's residence. Ocean subaru of fullerton (located at 1100 s euclid st, fullerton, ca 92832, (888) 428-2419) was called and informed of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact stated that an independent mechanic came to the driver's residence to replace the engine. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v772000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.

Filed Aug 13, 2019 · Engine · 64,000 miles · OH

In march 2019 I took my car into subaru for a factory recall on the valve springs. They did the work and I received my car back about two weeks later. About two months after that my car died while driving on a highway for no apparent reason. I called subaru and told them what happened and that I think something went wrong due to the recall work they did on my valve springs. They assured me it had nothing to do with the work they did but that they would inspect my vehicle. After returning the car to the retailer that worked on it previously I was told that I needed to purchase a new short block because of "oil starvation in cylinder 3" and that nothing was wrong with the top end of the engine where they worked at previously. I authorized the work and they did not give me a rental/ loner vehicle for the two moths they had my car working on it. I paid the $2,311.25 to get my car back and before I drove it off the lot the car had a check engine light on. I took it back and told them my car was not fixed. Since, they told me that the cam sprocket went bad ( in the top end of the motor where they said they inspected and everything was fine before ) and that I may need a new ecu. I called subaru corporate and started a claim with their customer service department for some help but that got me nowhere and it has been difficult getting any information from the service department in charge of fixing my vehicle. I did some research and found that I am not the only one who has suffered catastrophic engine failure after the factory recall on the valve springs which leads me to making a complaint with the federal safety agency 3 moths after I took my car back to get serviced.

Filed Jul 9, 2019 · Engine · 59,844 miles · CA

After I picked up my car from completing the valve spring recall work at a local subaru dealer, my car check engine light and the traction light turned on in less than 6 miles driving. I drove my car back to the dealer on the next morning, and the dealer told me there were ECM, cam gears and wiring harness issues and need replacement. Issues are still unresolved and I am waiting for the dealer and subaru investigation.

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported November 1, 2018 · 165,534 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
Risk
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1‑888‑270‑9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.

Recall number 18V772000 · Recall details

Questions about the Subaru BRZ check engine light

Why does the check engine light come on in the Subaru BRZ?

Owners who report it most often also describe engine stalls while driving, sudden loss of power and engine failure, and the codes they mention most are P219A, P119F and P0171.

Which Subaru BRZ years have check engine light problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2013 (12 complaints), 2017 (3 complaints) and 2014 (1 complaints).

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