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Pre-purchase inspection

Should you buy a used Subaru BRZ?

Whether a used Subaru BRZ is a good buy depends on the individual vehicle, not the model. Three checks matter before you pay: the NHTSA recall lookup by VIN for open recalls, the seller’s service and accident records, and an independent pre-purchase inspection of that specific vehicle. This page lists the most recent NHTSA recall campaigns for the Subaru BRZ and what an inspector checks.

As of NHTSA records retrieved 2026-08-27, NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the Subaru BRZ, model years 2016–2024, most often listing fuel system and visibility. A recall applies to specific VIN ranges, variants, trims or build dates, so any individual vehicle may be affected by all, some, or none of them, and a campaign count is not a reliability ranking. The most recent campaign on file is 23V609000 (August 2023, exterior lighting).

Which systems do Subaru BRZ recalls affect?

Recall campaigns by affected system, 2016–2024.

What are the most recent NHTSA recall campaigns for the Subaru BRZ?

Newest first, from NHTSA campaign records. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

23V609000NHTSA report received August 2023Model years: 2022

NHTSA campaign 23V609000: Subaru BRZ exterior lighting recall

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 BRZ and Toyota GR86 vehicles. The rear turn signals may intermittently become inoperative.

Consequence: Inoperative rear turn signals may not notify other drivers of a turning vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will replace both rear combination lamp assemblies, free of charge.

21V587000NHTSA report received July 2021Model years: 2018–2019

NHTSA campaign 21V587000: Subaru BRZ fuel system recall

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge.

18V935000NHTSA report received December 2018Model years: 2018

NHTSA campaign 18V935000: Subaru BRZ visibility recall

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the rearview image will not display while backing up the vehicle. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Consequence: Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge.

What does a pre-purchase inspection cover on a used Subaru BRZ?

The same full inspection at every tier, at the seller’s location, with a photo-documented report:

Bronze $249 · Silver $349 · Gold $449. Compare Bronze, Silver and Gold. The core inspection is the same at each tier; Silver and Gold add instrumented measurements.

Similar used sports cars

Other sports cars to weigh against the Subaru BRZ. Recall counts cover different model-year spans and are not a reliability ranking.

What does a pre-purchase inspection not do?

How inspections work · Sample reports · Customer reviews, verbatim from Google

Common questions about buying a used Subaru BRZ

How many recalls does the Subaru BRZ have?

As of NHTSA records retrieved 2026-08-27, NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the Subaru BRZ, model years 2016–2024. A recall applies to specific VIN ranges, variants, trims or build dates, so a particular vehicle may be affected by all, some, or none of them, and a campaign count is not a reliability ranking. Whether an open recall is a safety risk depends on the campaign, so read the NHTSA entry for the VIN. Each campaign below shows the remedy NHTSA records, which may be a dealer or service-center repair, an over-the-air software update, or, for some campaigns, a repurchase. This page details the most recent campaigns; the full record for any VIN is at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What should an inspector check on a used Subaru BRZ?

Beyond the standard pre-purchase checks, the recall history for this model concentrates in: fuel system, visibility, exterior lighting. An inspector documents the visible and operational condition of those systems without disassembly; internal parts, software-only issues and whether a recall remedy was performed are VIN-lookup questions, not inspection findings.

Can a pre-purchase inspection tell me whether a Subaru BRZ recall was done?

No. Whether a recall repair was performed is recorded against the VIN, so NHTSA's lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls (or the manufacturer's own) is the authoritative check. Run it before you travel. The inspection covers what a VIN lookup cannot: the physical condition of the vehicle in front of you.

Can you inspect a Subaru BRZ at a dealer, a private seller, or out of state?

Yes. The inspector usually travels to the vehicle at the seller's location — a dealer lot or a private seller — and you do not need to be there. Vehicle Inspectors dispatches an independent inspector within 50 miles of any US ZIP code, widening to 150 miles if needed; more remote locations are quoted case by case. You get a photo-documented PDF report in 24–48 hours.

How much does a Subaru BRZ pre-purchase inspection cost?

A pre-purchase inspection of a Subaru BRZ through Vehicle Inspectors: Bronze $249 · Silver $349 · Gold $449. Your card is saved at booking, not charged. A hold is placed when an inspector schedules, and you are charged after the inspection is completed. If no inspector accepts within 72 hours, the request auto-cancels and nothing is charged.

Where can I book a Subaru BRZ pre-purchase inspection?

Vehicle Inspectors matches buyers with independent inspectors nationwide. Local pages for cities with active inspectors:

Recall data from NHTSA recall records (NHTSA public recalls API), retrieved 2026-08-27. Vehicle Inspectors is not affiliated with Subaru. A recall is not a defect finding on any individual vehicle.

Inspect that Subaru BRZ before you pay

A vetted independent inspector usually goes to the seller’s location and documents the actual condition. Bronze $249 · Silver $349 · Gold $449.

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