Car · Subaru problems

2012 Subaru Impreza problems

243 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Subaru Impreza. The most reported area is air bags (43% of them). NHTSA also lists 227 service bulletins and 6 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 6. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 243 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Air bags105 · 43%
• Engine and engine cooling56 · 23%
• Electrical system30 · 12%
• Power train (transmission and drive)26 · 11%
• Seats15 · 6%
• Service brakes15 · 6%
• Other or unknown12 · 5%
• Speed control and throttle11 · 5%

13 smaller areas not shown (55 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 227 repair bulletins from Subaru for the 2012 Subaru Impreza. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. 13-109-26Received October 5, 2026

   Paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.

2. 15-304-22RReceived October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.

3. 15-333-25RReceived October 5, 2026

   Illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.

4. 15-308-23RReceived September 3, 2026

   Electrical system

   This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to...

5. 16-156-25RReceived September 3, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   A design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body.

6. 01-167-08RReceived June 1, 2026

   Additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

7. 03-97-26Received May 4, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   The service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.

8. 05-97-26Received May 4, 2026

   Wheels

   The diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is...

Recalls

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2012 Subaru Impreza. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 15V419000July 1, 2015

   Air bags

   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...

2. 18V772000November 1, 2018

   Engine and engine cooling

   The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.

3. 16V738000October 13, 2016

   Electrical system

   The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.

See all 6 recalls for the 2012 Subaru Impreza, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Impreza will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Air bags 105 complaints · 43%

• Airbag clockspring replacement$230 to $670
• Airbag / occupant sensor replacement$220 to $750

Engine and engine cooling 56 complaints · 23%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Electrical system 30 complaints · 12%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Power train (transmission and drive) 26 complaints · 11%

• Transmission fluid service$140 to $480
• Transmission solenoid replacement$290 to $1,200
• Torque converter replacement$880 to $2,475
• Clutch replacement (manual transmission)$1,000 to $2,050

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

0 of 17 characters

Look up this VIN

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

Get quotes for your Subaru Impreza

Tell us the job and your ZIP. Free, takes a minute.

Job

ZIP

WhenAs soon as possibleThis monthJust planning

Your name

Phone

Email

Add a phone, an email, or both.

Anything we should know? (optional) I agree that Fair Price and the car repair shops and lead marketplaces listed on our Partners page, or their agents, may call and email me at the number and email I provided about my request, including by automated technology, even if my number is on a Do Not Call list. Ticking this box is how I give this consent. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms. Get quotes

Fair Price is not a contractor or a repair shop. Who sees your request

2012 Subaru Impreza: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2012 Subaru Impreza?

Of the 243 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Subaru Impreza, 105 (43%) name air bags, and 56 (23%) name engine and engine cooling. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2012 Subaru Impreza reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 10 of the 243 complaints as involving a crash and 4 as involving a fire. They also reported 6 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2012 Subaru Impreza have?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2012 Subaru Impreza. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 227 repair bulletins for the 2012 Subaru Impreza.

More

• 2013 Impreza problems
• 2012 recalls
• All Subaru recalls
• Subaru problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.