Car · Subaru problems

2012 Subaru Outback problems

294 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Subaru Outback. The most reported area is power train (transmission and drive) (37% of them). NHTSA also lists 151 service bulletins and 16 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: 11. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 294 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Power train (transmission and drive)108 · 37%
• Engine and engine cooling52 · 18%
• Air bags39 · 13%
• Service brakes39 · 13%
• Electrical system37 · 13%
• Other or unknown24 · 8%
• Exterior lighting18 · 6%
• Steering9 · 3%

11 smaller areas not shown (45 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 151 repair bulletins from Subaru for the 2012 Subaru Outback. 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

   Electrical system

   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. 01-167-08RReceived June 1, 2026

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

6. 03-97-26Received May 4, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

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

7. 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...

8. 07-240-26RReceived May 4, 2026

   This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for the 2012 Subaru Outback. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 20V002000January 2, 2020

   Air bags

   These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design.

2. 19V008000January 9, 2019

   Air bags

   These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.

3. 17V014000January 10, 2017

   Air bags

   These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment.

See all 16 recalls for the 2012 Subaru Outback, 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 Outback will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

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

Power train (transmission and drive) 108 complaints · 37%

• 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

Engine and engine cooling 52 complaints · 18%

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

Air bags 39 complaints · 13%

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

Service brakes 39 complaints · 13%

• Brake pad replacement (front)$190 to $400
• Brake rotors and pads (front)$320 to $790
• Brake pad replacement (rear)$180 to $420
• Brake caliper replacement (one wheel)$240 to $590
• Brake fluid flush$75 to $180

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)

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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.

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2012 Subaru Outback: questions

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

Of the 294 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Subaru Outback, 108 (37%) name power train (transmission and drive), and 52 (18%) 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 Outback 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 15 of the 294 complaints as involving a crash and 6 as involving a fire. They also reported 11 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 Outback have?

NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for the 2012 Subaru Outback. 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 151 repair bulletins for the 2012 Subaru Outback.

More

• 2022 Outback problems
• 2021 Outback problems
• 2020 Outback problems
• 2019 Outback problems
• 2018 Outback problems
• 2017 Outback problems
• 2016 Outback problems
• 2015 Outback problems
• 2014 Outback problems
• 2013 Outback problems
• 2011 Outback problems
• 2010 Outback 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.