Used BRZ inspection checklist

Before the viewing

Ask the seller for the VIN, service invoices, title history, and a list of modifications. Write down what remains unknown. Do not fill gaps with assumptions based on a clean photograph or a familiar badge.

Confirm the model year and transmission using vehicle documents. Ask which parts were changed, who installed them, and whether the original parts remain available. For a modified car, request any relevant alignment, calibration, and installation records.

During the inspection

Use an independent shop familiar with the vehicle. These are questions to discuss with the technician, not model-specific failure claims or a substitute for a professional inspection:

• Is there evidence of leaks, corrosion, collision repair, or damaged mounting points?
• Do tire condition and wear patterns call for further investigation?
• Are brakes, steering, suspension, and wheel installation appropriate for the vehicle?
• Do warning lights, fault codes, or incomplete readiness checks need diagnosis?
• Does operation of the clutch or automatic transmission warrant additional checks?
• Do the fitted components agree with the seller's description?

Ask the shop to record findings and proposed work. A symptom is a starting point for diagnosis; it is not proof that every BRZ has the same issue.

After the inspection

Separate the report into immediate concerns, scheduled maintenance, and preferences. Price the first two before negotiating. If the report raises a question that neither the seller nor the technician can resolve, keep it open rather than treating it as a favorable answer.

Check the specific VIN through NHTSA, and use Subaru's vehicle resources to find the relevant owner information. Return to the buying guide to put those findings into your total purchase budget.

Editorial note

This checklist has not been used by Gearline to inspect the pictured vehicle. It does not rank BRZ failure rates or identify a universally safe model year.