2012 Subaru Impreza problems and recalls
Owners have filed 242 complaints on the 2012 Subaru Impreza, and NHTSA has issued 6 recalls. The most cited component is the Air Bags (105 complaints).
242
Complaints
6
Recalls
10
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
6
Injuries
50.6
Severity index
Severity index 50.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.
Ranked 96 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 26% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.
Components cited in complaints
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 105 | 43.4% |
| ENGINE | 55 | 22.7% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 30 | 12.4% |
| POWER TRAIN | 26 | 10.7% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 15 | 6.2% |
| SEATS | 15 | 6.2% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 12 | 5.0% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 11 | 4.5% |
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2015 | 36 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 38 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 1 |
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (17 against 31).
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V149000 | 28/02/2019 | 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 malf |
| 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 |
| 15V419000 | 01/07/2015 | 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 fro |
| 13V061000 | 25/02/2013 | 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 |
| 11V562000 | 29/11/2011 | 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 EQUIPP |
| 18V772000 | 01/11/2018 | 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 engin |
Other Subaru Impreza model years
Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 12 years side by side.
- 2013sev 53.6
- 2014sev 83.2
- 2015sev 63.1
- 2016sev 60.0
- 2017sev 77.8
- 2018sev 57.4
- 2019sev 44.5
- 2020sev 52.4
- 2021sev 64.0
- 2022sev 65.1
- 2024sev 67.9
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.