2012 Subaru Forester problems and recalls
Owners have filed 105 complaints on the 2012 Subaru Forester, and NHTSA has issued 15 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (27 complaints).
105
Complaints
15
Recalls
15
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
9
Injuries
108.8
Severity index
Severity index 108.8 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.
Ranked 12 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 91% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.
Components cited in complaints
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 27 | 25.7% |
| AIR BAGS | 20 | 19.0% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 18 | 17.1% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 15 | 14.3% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 10 | 9.5% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 8 | 7.6% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 6 | 5.7% |
| STRUCTURE | 5 | 4.8% |
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 1 |
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.3x those in 2020 to 2022 (6 against 19).
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V008000 | 09/01/2019 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, |
| 19V007000 | 09/01/2019 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texa |
| 19V009000 | 09/01/2019 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michi |
| 19V297000 | 11/04/2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as |
| 17V014000 | 10/01/2017 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, |
| 16V738000 | 13/10/2016 | 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 fa |
| 18V012000 | 09/01/2018 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Te |
| 14V311000 | 10/06/2014 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, |
| 14V830000 | 31/12/2014 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, M |
| 12V099000 | 13/03/2012 | SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 FORESTER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 26, 2007, THROUGH MARCH 13, 2012. THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR in the SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES LOCATED IN THE REAR CENTER SEATING OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DO NOT MEET LOCKABILITY REQUIRE |
| 12V602000 | 26/12/2012 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650 of these vehicles m |
| 20V001000 | 02/01/2020 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Flo |
| 20V002000 | 02/01/2020 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, |
| 20V003000 | 02/01/2020 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Conne |
| 22V838000 | 10/11/2022 | SEAT BELTS | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles. The front seat belt assembly force-limiter may not operate correctly in the event of a crash. |
Other Subaru Forester model years
Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.
- 2013sev 120.3
- 2014sev 98.4
- 2015sev 82.3
- 2016sev 71.0
- 2017sev 64.3
- 2018sev 41.0
- 2019sev 50.5
- 2020sev 49.0
- 2021sev 71.3
- 2022sev 85.8
- 2023sev 90.7
- 2024sev 70.5
- 2025sev 107.9
- 2026sev 53.0
Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.