2023 Toyota GR86 Recalls & Complaints

Incident: September 17, 2026 · Filed: October 2, 2026

My cylinder 2 misfired for the second time in less than 4 months and 4k miles after the first repair was done for the same issue. I have reason to believe the dealership (Glen Toyota of Fairlawn) that did the repairs the first time did not address the issue properly. This time at a different dealer (Paul Miller Toyota) they had found major issues along with low compression on all cylinders and engine bearing damage due to oil starvation. The oil starvation issue is a known issue with these engines. I did not feel safe driving this car and do not trust the engine that was manufactured. I felt unsafe on the highway as I had to pull over to the shoulder as cars were speeding by. My car needed to be towed to the dealership for repairs. There were no warnings or signs of failure before the failure had occurred. I feel as though my safety is in jeopardy and the vehicle is not reliable for me as I have responsibilities to take care of my family with this vehicle as my only form of transportation. It is truly unbelievable that a vehicle this new and low on mileage could have ongoing issues like this.

Incident: August 28, 2026 · Filed: August 30, 2026

it was an afternoon, I’m from [XXX] going to tempe my friends house which is estimated 34 miles. I took the loop XXX driving mid way there all of sudden my car made loud werid rattling noise coming from the engine area. when accelerating it made rattling sound and when i let go of the gas it also made loud noises also. FYI, no warning lights came on, no check engine, no errors came up. so then i arrived at stop light, while in neutral my car rpm was going up and down i would say on limp mode. still no warning lights on dash. so then i arrive at my friends house. 2 hours later I went to start my car, and even more loud weird noises never heard before sounds came up. put it in 1st gear drove about 200 yards, car completely shuts off and now all the warnings lights appear. Called tow truck and tow to toyota. My gr86 is all up to date with maintenance all from official toyota dealership. Got my oil change in start of May since then 6k miles. My car as total of 54k miles. I do have video of the noises it was making on the highway. Mainly hoping toyota will cover this since my car is still under powertrain/drivetrain warranty which is 60,000miles/5 years INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: October 20, 2023 · Filed: August 25, 2026

Had my engine spin a bearing in 2023 and was told to report what had happened. The car was used in track days prior to this but while driving down the highway afterwards it lost oil pressure and spun a nearing. Had it towed Twin City Toyota, a dealer and had them give me the run around with it. Saying it had hit the limiter 60 miles before the issue accrued and that it “over revved 13 rpms” and that since it had hit the limiter and being a stick shut it voided my warranty. Told me I would have to pay 26K for a new motor and if not to get my car out of there. They also refused to give me any documentation for it and what they claimed was on the cars data stream. Toyota corporate also got involved and said they changed the warranty terms after I bought the car and wouldn’t warranty it because of what the dealer was claiming.

Incident: October 31, 2025 · Filed: August 21, 2026

Vehicle experienced catastrophic engine failure while driving at 45mph. Inspection results from Toyota said the issue was a rod failure due to a spun bearing no cause ever determined by Toyota. Engine failure like this while in operation could lead to serious injury or death under the right circumstances. No engine lights to indicate prior problem and vehicle was serviced less than a month before incident occurred. Vehicle was under warranty but Toyota refused to honor the warranty. Oil starvation is the number one cause of spun bearing leading to engine failure Toyota didn't even consider this as a potential cause because of the implication. There are countless stories from GR86 and BRZ owners that have experienced the same engine failure. The RTV sealant Toyota is using to seal the oil pans is being over applied at production and leaking into the pan getting sucked into the oil pickup and causing the oil starvation that is destroying the engines. There needs to be a recall on all GR86 models that had RTV used to seal the pans and have them fitted with a proper gasket to eliminate this issue.

Incident: June 23, 2026 · Filed: August 20, 2026

My engine started smoking and eventually completely stopped on side of road. There were no warning lights or errors until issues started.it found have exploded or I could have been seriously injured as I was on expressway.

Incident: September 27, 2025 · Filed: August 14, 2026

While driving on the highway at approximately 80–90 mph, the vehicle experienced an unexpected RPM increase as I came off the accelerator, an engine-misfire warning, sudden loss of power, and engine shutdown. I immediately pulled over. Smoke came from the engine compartment, engine oil had been expelled throughout the engine bay, and oil was leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle became completely inoperable, creating a serious safety risk at highway speed. An independent Toyota Master Technician later documented catastrophic internal failure involving Cylinder No. 2. The piston and connecting-rod assembly were destroyed, the connecting rod contacted the engine block, a hole was present through the short block, extensive metal debris was found in the oil pan, piston material was crushed into the oil pan, an internal valvetrain component was also found there, and the engine was seized, limiting any teardown. The technician also observed material consistent with factory-applied FIPG/RTV sealant in the oil-pickup area and separate sealant-like material protruding into a head-gasket passage where it should not have been present. He stated that the location was consistent with excess sealant being applied during assembly and squeezed inward, supporting the possibility of a manufacturing-related defect. He stated that proper evaluation should have included measuring the amount of sealant and any obstruction, inspecting the oil pump, filter, bearings, oil-pan debris, and evaluating for restricted oil flow. Those measurements and results were not provided by the dealership or Toyota. Instead, I had to call law enforcement to receive a minimal repair order and my car at no cost from the dealership 8 months later. I am reporting this because excess factory sealant intruding into an oil-related or head-gasket passage could potentially restrict lubrication and create a serious safety concern if similar conditions exist in other vehicles, which have also been documented.

Incident: May 23, 2026 · Filed: August 11, 2026

Engine blew around May, what caused this issue would be unknown even though the dealership said it was excessive RTV on the oil pan, there was no RTV on the oil pan (i have a picture). I was driving on the highway and slowing down to take my exit, it happened around 25mph, car got stuck on 3rd gear if im not mistaken (its an automatic transmission by the way). Ended up with 3 holes in the engine block, a missing valve, oil all over the engine bay which caused the car to release white smoke through exhaust and hood.

Incident: August 7, 2026 · Filed: August 8, 2026

215 45 R 17 tire flew off the rim on a straight paved highway road going 45 mph. The sidewall separated all the way around and the tire was not torn anywhere else. The mileage was 29395.

Incident: August 22, 2025 · Filed: July 15, 2026

I was driving on US Hwy 89 in Arizona when the engine lost power at 60mph and was unable to restart after pulling over to the shoulder of the highway. There were no warning lights or indicators whatsoever. When the vehicle came to a stop, the entire dashboard lit up and the engine cut out while the vehicle was still on. Mechanic diagnostic found a thrown bearing and total engine failure due to low oil. Refused warranty on account of taking the vehicle to an oil change outside the dealership.

Incident: September 27, 2025 · Filed: June 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota GR86. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH, the engine blew up, causing the vehicle to stall, and there was a significant amount of smoke coming from underneath the hood. The message "Engine Misfire" was displayed. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that engine oil had leaked out and spread underneath the hood, and the oil was leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it remained for 8 months, and the contact was informed that there was sludge in the oil due to lack of maintenance. The dealer sent diagnostic pictures to an unauthorized party, who forwarded the pictures to the contact. However, the contact stated that the engine oil color was amber, and there was no sludge. The contacted stated that the diagnostic pictures also displayed fragments of a piston and a lifter in the oil pan. The contact contacted the Police, who arrived at the dealer with the contact and forced the dealer to release the vehicle with the service reports. The contact stated that the dealer had previously refused to disclose the diagnostic information. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was returned to the owner the same month the warranty had expired. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied the warranty coverage. The failure mileage was 35,053.