Subaru BRZ FA20D

The Subaru BRZ FA20D has a reliability score of 74/100, rated "GOOD". Fun and mechanically sound, oil consumption is the main watch-out

The most frequently reported issues are Excessive Oil Consumption, Camshaft Position Sensor / VVT System Fault (P0018), Clutch Wear and Gearshift Issues, Electrical Gremlins and Grounding Issues. See the Known Issues section above for symptoms, affected mileage, and repair costs.

Yes, this is a documented issue on the FA20D, typically appearing around 30,000-100,000 km. The FA20D is known for consuming oil at an elevated rate, with some owners reporting up to 1 litre per 1,000 km, particularly on pre-2017 engines. This is linked to piston ring design and was significant enough that Subaru/Toyota extended warranty coverage on affected VINs. Switching to a higher-viscosity oil such as Motul 300V 10W-40 has been reported to reduce consumption. An Air/Oil Separator (AOS) is a commonly recommended aftermarket fix to reduce oil blow-by into the intake. Typical repair cost: €200-1,500. DIY difficulty: Easy to monitor; AOS installation is Moderate.

Yes, this is a documented issue on the FA20D, typically appearing around 60,000-150,000 km. P0018 fault codes relating to camshaft correlation have been reported on FA20-series engines. Causes include faulty OCV (Oil Control Valve) sensors, cam solenoids, or timing chain stretch. Oil quality and change intervals are critical to keeping the VVT system healthy. Typical repair cost: €150-800. DIY difficulty: Moderate.

Yes, this is a documented issue on the FA20D, typically appearing around 40,000-120,000 km. Clutch burn-out and difficulty finding gears have been reported, particularly on modified or enthusiast-driven examples. Short-throw shifter modifications can contribute to harder gear engagement over time. Many used BRZs will have been driven hard or track-used. Typical repair cost: €600-1,800. DIY difficulty: Hard.

Yes, this is a documented issue on the FA20D, typically appearing around 50,000-150,000 km. Some owners have reported intermittent electrical faults and fault codes that were resolved by installing an aftermarket grounding kit. These issues can trigger misleading ECU codes and cause erratic behaviour. Typical repair cost: €50-300. DIY difficulty: Easy.

The FA20D in the Gen1 BRZ is a genuinely enjoyable and mechanically sound engine when properly maintained, but oil consumption is a real and documented concern that demands attention, especially on pre-2017 examples. Prioritise cars with documented short oil change intervals, ask whether the piston ring warranty work was ever carried out, and avoid examples with heavy modification history unless you can verify professional tuning. Budget for an Air/Oil Separator installation as a preventive measure shortly after purchase. Overall, a well-maintained BRZ is a rewarding buy, just go in with eyes open on the oil situation and check the clutch carefully if the car has seen track use.

If choosing between transmissions, the manual gets a genuinely different and better tune, not just a marketing distinction, so a 2017+ manual is the strongest all-round pick for driving feel. This does not mean earlier or automatic cars are unreliable: the oil consumption and piston ring issue affected both transmissions and both pre- and post-2017 engines, so do not assume a facelift car is automatically safer on that front. Judge each car on its own documented oil consumption history and whether any warranty ring/piston work was completed, rather than relying on model year or hp figure alone.

Before buying, check: Check oil level and condition, low or dirty oil may indicate poor maintenance or unmanaged consumption; Scan for OBD-II fault codes including P0018 and any VVT/cam-related codes before purchase; Test drive through all gears under load to detect clutch slip or difficult gear engagement; Ask for full service history and verify oil change intervals of no more than 5,000-6,000 km; Inspect intake tract and air filter housing for oil residue indicating significant blow-by.

There's no fixed mileage limit, it depends on maintenance. The parts worth budgeting for proactively are: Oil Control Valve (OCV) / Cam Solenoids (80,000-140,000 km), Piston rings (pre-2017 engines) (30,000-100,000 km), Clutch Assembly (60,000-120,000 km), Air/Oil Separator (PCV system) (Preventive from 30,000 km). Engines that clear these checkpoints with documented maintenance commonly continue well beyond typical ownership periods.

Early production FA20D engines were built with piston rings that could wear faster than specification, leading to elevated oil consumption and, in some cases, warranty-covered short block or ring replacement. Subaru and Toyota extended warranty coverage on affected VINs rather than treating it purely as a standard recall in all markets. Remedy: Dealer inspection against VIN, with piston/ring or engine replacement carried out under warranty on confirmed cases

Estimated ownership cost is €2,000-4,500 over 3 years depending on oil consumption management, clutch condition, and modification history, based on known issues and typical service needs.

Owners report real-world fuel consumption of around 8.7 L/100km.

Community-reported real-world usage suggests changing oil every 5,000 km using 5W-30 or 10W-40 full synthetic; community recommends 10W-40 (e.g. Motul 300V) to reduce oil consumption, often more conservative than the official service schedule.

The FA20D is also found in: Toyota 86 / GT86 (ZN6), Scion FR-S (ZN6).

Generally positive with strong enthusiasm for the platform. Oil consumption is a widely accepted known issue that most owners manage proactively, and many treat it as a fact of ownership rather than a dealbreaker. Modified examples are common and require closer scrutiny. The community is well-informed and resourceful, with active forums covering nearly every failure mode.