2012 Subaru Outback problems and recalls
Owners have filed 292 complaints on the 2012 Subaru Outback, and NHTSA has issued 16 recalls. The most cited component is the Power Train (107 complaints).
292
Complaints
16
Recalls
15
Crash reports
6
Fire reports
11
Injuries
62.5
Severity index
Severity index 62.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.
Ranked 66 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 49% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.
Components cited in complaints
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 107 | 36.6% |
| ENGINE | 50 | 17.1% |
| AIR BAGS | 39 | 13.4% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 38 | 13.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 37 | 12.7% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 24 | 8.2% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 18 | 6.2% |
| STEERING | 9 | 3.1% |
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 48 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 60 |
| 2020 | 30 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 3 |
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (29 against 63).
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, |
| 18V626000 | 13/09/2018 | PARKING BRAKE | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear w |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 16V694000 | 27/09/2016 | VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Legacy vehicles manufactured November 26, 2008, to June 7, 2013, and 2010-2014 Outback vehicles manufactured January 9, 2009 to June 7, 2013. Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper m |
| 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 |
| 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, |
| 13V078000 | 05/03/2013 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Subaru is recalling certain model year 2012 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from April 6, 2011, through May 12, 2011. Components inside the wiper motor bottom cover may overheat. |
| 13V077000 | 05/03/2013 | VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | Subaru is recalling certain model year 2012 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from April 6, 2011, through May 12, 2011. The moonroof glass may come loose or detach. The amount and position of the adhesive between the glass and retainer was inadequately applied. |
| 12V047000 | 09/02/2012 | AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 1, 2011, THROUGH DECEMBER 23, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS THAT CONTAIN AN INCORRECT PROPELLANT MIXTURE FOR THE INITIATOR COMPONENT USED, RESULT |
| 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 |
Other Subaru Outback model years
Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.
- 2013sev 79.0
- 2014sev 93.8
- 2015sev 48.4
- 2016sev 36.5
- 2017sev 40.0
- 2018sev 38.0
- 2019sev 27.6
- 2020sev 21.2
- 2021sev 34.1
- 2022sev 30.8
- 2023sev 65.1
- 2025sev 55.1
- 2026sev 64.6
Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-22. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.