2012 Subaru Impreza problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (71) · Engine (42) · Power Train (22)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Impreza model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
186 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2019-02-28 · campaign 19V149000 · 1,303,530 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2018-11-01 · campaign 18V772000 · 165,534 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.
Electrical System 2016-10-13 · campaign 16V738000 · 100,127 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2015-07-01 · campaign 15V419000 · 30,348 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Occupant Control Unit with a modified one, free of charge. The recall began August 21, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQT-55.
Equipment 2013-02-25 · campaign 13V061000 · 47,419 vehicles
Defect: 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 201
Risk: 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.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages 2011-11-29 · campaign 11V562000 · 32,685 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Service bulletins (522)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Electrical System 2026-09-14 · 15-304-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of infotainment concerns. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Power Train 2026-08-20 · 16-156-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin announces a design change made to the cvt control valve body. the updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 522 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-11 · Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness“my chicco fit360 car seat’s magnetic chest clip is failing to stay clipped and is easily unclipped by the tug of one finger. children are able to easily unclip it as well. yes it is available for inspection upon request. my child’s safety was put at risk because the magnetic chest clip would unclip by him pulling on it while my vehicle was in motio…”
2026-05-23 · Unknown Or Other“my ignition key gets stuck when i shifted into park on my 2012 subaru impreza. …”
2025-08-23 · Electrical System“the fan controls in the center of the dash failed. fan speed 1&2 work, but 3&4 do not. after pulling the center dash controls out, i found that the plug connecting the fan speed controls to the wiring harness was burnt. this is a concern cause it could have burned other components or caused a fire.…”
2025-05-15 · Unknown Or Other“hvac plug pigtail blower motor resistor heater control harness is available for inspection hvac electrical plugin was badly burned and melted causing risk of fire summer months created dangerous interior temperatures winter months & inclement weather created physical distress- & created dangerous vision restrictions/blockage because unable to …”
2025-03-14 · Suspension:front:control Arm · 126,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 subaru impreza. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. the vehicle failed to stop immediately. the brake warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the control arms and brake lines were sever…”
2025-02-03 · Visibility:defroster/Defogger/Hvac System · 129,173 mi“the contact's son's father owns a 2012 subaru impreza. the contact stated that upon activating the heating system, a burning odor would emit from the vehicle without warning. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic discovered melted plastic; as well as black soot, inside the vehicle's instrument panel and harness blower resistor. the c…”
2025-02-03 · Steering · 164,964 mi“the contact owns a 2012 subaru impreza. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30-40 mph, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and was driven with manual steering. the failure occurred while driving at various speeds. the contact stated that approximately four days after the first failure, the steering wheel failed to move. ad…”
2025-01-05 · Seats“the airbag warning light has been lit within the dashboard. the front passenger seat airbag is faulty and is not able to correctly sense when a passenger is within the seat or not, which disables the airbags. this can be deadly to the passenger if in an accident. the issue seems to be in the ods passenger seat mat that determines when the airbag …”
2024-12-31 · Electrical System · 🔥 fire“the ac unit suddenly shutoff and there was a burning smell while i was driving. it turns out that the connector on the back of the climate control unit had either drawn too much current, or the resistance was too high, and the connector had started burning. fortunately, the melted plastic interrupted the electrical connection, and the fire had we…”
2024-09-06 · Air Bags · 88,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 subaru impreza. the contact stated that there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle. there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics and the contact was informed that there was a defective gasket on the transfer case and the transmission needed to be replaced. th…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.