The 2013 FR-S is a beloved lightweight sports car with the FA20 boxer engine, but early production units suffer from a catastrophic engine failure issue due to inadequate piston ring sealing and lubrication starvation, primarily affecting models built before mid-2013 VIN cutoff.
FA20 Engine Failure - Piston Ring / Valve Spring Issue
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: excessive oil consumption (1+ quart per 1,000 mi), blue smoke on cold starts or deceleration, misfires or rough idle, CEL with low compression codes, catastrophic failure: rod knock, spun bearings
Fix: Early FA20 engines (pre-mid-2013 production) had defective valve springs and inadequate piston ring tension causing oil burning and eventual starvation. Many require complete short block replacement or full engine rebuild with updated parts. 18-25 labor hours for short block swap, more for full rebuild.
Estimated cost: $5,000-8,500
Throwout Bearing / Clutch Chatter (Manual)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: chirping or squealing when clutch pedal depressed, chatter or vibration during engagement in first/reverse, noise disappears when pedal released, worse in cold weather
Fix: OE throwout bearing design is marginal; develops noise and chatter. Must drop transmission to replace. Many shops replace entire clutch assembly while in there. 6-8 labor hours for clutch job.
Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking when shifting or letting off throttle, excessive driveline movement, vibration at idle in gear, visible torn rubber on mount
Fix: OEM rubber transmission mount deteriorates from heat and stress, especially with spirited driving. Straightforward replacement, accessible from underneath. 1.5-2.5 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Fuel Pump Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: stumbling or hesitation under load, intermittent stalling, especially when fuel tank below 1/4, long crank times, no-start condition, fuel pump whine audible from rear seat
Fix: In-tank fuel pump fails, often suddenly. Must drop fuel tank for access. Common enough that many owners carry a spare. 3-4 labor hours for pump replacement.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Valve Cover Gasket Leaks
Common · low severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: oil seepage visible on valve covers, burning oil smell after hard driving, oil spots under car, oil residue on exhaust headers
Fix: Boxer engine configuration means both valve covers are prone to leaking. Not urgent but messy. Should replace both gaskets together. 3-4 labor hours due to tight engine bay.
Estimated cost: $450-700
Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks (Auto only)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid puddles under front of car, low fluid level on dipstick, slipping or delayed engagement if fluid very low, pink/red fluid visible
Fix: Cooler lines develop leaks at crimped connections. Lines run to front-mounted cooler. Replace both lines as preventive measure. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $400-650
Steering Wheel Vibration at Highway Speed
Common · low severitySymptoms: steering wheel shake at 60-75 mph, worse after wheel/tire changes, not resolved by balancing, no pull to either side
Fix: Combination of lightweight chassis and tight tolerances makes FR-S sensitive to wheel balance and tire uniformity issues. Often requires road-force balancing and sometimes hub-centric rings. Not a mechanical failure but common complaint. 1-1.5 hours for proper diagnosis and balancing.
Estimated cost: $100-200
Buy a late-2013+ build or verify engine health thoroughly—post-recall examples are excellent drivers, but early cars are ticking time bombs requiring expensive engine work.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.