2012 Subaru Impreza Reliability
The 2012 Subaru Impreza has 243 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with other Impreza model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Impreza's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
243
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
10
Complaints citing a crash
4
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Subaru Impreza complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 105 | 43% |
| Engine | 55 | 23% |
| Electrical system | 30 | 12% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 26 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 6% |
| Seats | 15 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 5% |
| Speed control / throttle | 11 | 5% |
2012 Subaru Impreza recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V562000 | Nov 29, 2011 | Service brakes — 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… |
| 13V061000 | Feb 25, 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… |
| 15V419000 | Jul 1, 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… |
| 16V738000 | Oct 13, 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… |
| 18V772000 | Nov 1, 2018 | 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… |
| 19V149000 | Feb 28, 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… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Impreza years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Impreza analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 46 | 15 | Unknown or other | Solid |
| 2011 | 58 | 14 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2012 (this page) | 243 | 6 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2013 | 251 | 4 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2014 | 108 | 3 | Air bags | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2012 Subaru Impreza on the used market
- 17 of 364 2012 Subaru Impreza listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2012 Subaru Impreza
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Subaru Impreza can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Subaru Impreza reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Subaru Impreza reliable?
The 2012 Subaru Impreza has 243 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with other Impreza model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Impreza's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Subaru Impreza problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Subaru Impreza are air bags (105), engine (55), electrical system (30), powertrain / transmission (26). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Subaru Impreza have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2012 Subaru Impreza, including 11V562000 (service brakes — pedals and linkages) and 13V061000 (electrical system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Subaru Impreza compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 58 complaints and 14 recalls (solid); the 2013 has 251 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid). The 2012 has 243 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Subaru Impreza?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Subaru Impreza research
Other Subaru Impreza model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Impreza, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.