What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 Subaru Impreza

No clear pattern

13.3% of complaints about the 2012 Subaru Impreza arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2012 vehicle, but with only 338 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is air bags (116 complaints), typically at 4.3 yr or about 41,000 miles.

Complaints
338
Median age at failure
5.3 yr
Median mileage
45,000 n=262
Crash / fire / tow
7.1% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
116 reports · 41,000 mi
4.3 yr
6%
Engine
55 reports · 34,310 mi
7.1 yr
7.3%
Electrical system
30 reports · 45,000 mi
5.8 yr
13.3%
Power train
26 reports · 71,000 mi
7.5 yr
0%
Seats
15 reports · 40,000 mi
5.2 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V149000 2019-02-28
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

18V772000 2018-11-01
Engine and engine cooling:engine

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.

An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

16V738000 2016-10-13
Electrical system

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.

If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.

15V419000 2015-07-01
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012 model year Subaru Impreza 4-Door and Station Wagon vehicles (except WRX/STI models) manufactured April 21, 2011, to February 16, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may deactivate if a front seat passenger operates a device that is plugged into the power outlet such as a music player or cell phone, or touches a metal part of the vehicle such as the forward/rearward seat adjuster lever.

If the ODS deactivates, the front passenger air bag will be turned off and the front passenger air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

13V061000 2013-02-25
Electrical system

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year 2013 XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory. Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs. If the RES fob is droppe

The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.

11V562000 2011-11-29
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 IMPREZA SEDANS AND WAGONS (EXCEPT WRX/STI MODELS), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 21, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2011, AND LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 17, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 23, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER THAT COULD MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE REQUIRED TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE.

THE DRIVER MIGHT MISJUDGE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS COULD OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Power train 500 mi 5 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 500.
Power train 5,000 mi 2.3 yr in service
GAS PEDAL IS ULTRASENSITIVE LEADING TO SURGING AT LOW SPEED. HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED MANEUVERING IN PARKING LOT. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. YOU WILL FIND MANY DISCUSSIONS ON THE WEB IF YOU SEARCH FOR "SUBARU SENSITIVE GAS PEDAL, A GENERALLY KNOWN ISSUE. FIND MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT "REMAPPING" AND JACK-RABBIT STARTS. *TR
Power train mileage not reported 6.4 yr in service
CAR WON'T SHIFT INTO PROPER GEAR HAS A JERKY FEEL CVT WON'T ALLOW TO MANUAL SHIFT ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS ON INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE.
Air bags 6,400 mi 9 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS INDICATING THAT IT WAS OFF WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE IF SOMETHING SUCH AS A PURSE IS PLACED IN THE SEAT, THE INDICATOR WILL CHANGE FROM OFF TO ON DUE TO THE SEAT BEING OCCUPIED. I THINK THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND I FEAR DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS IS VERY ALARMING TO ME BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY TIMES I HAVE 4 CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME. 3 IN THE BACK OF COURSE AND ONE IN THE FRONT. *TR

Other Impreza model years

20202019201820172016201520142013201220112009200820072006200520042002

How to read this