2012 Subaru IMPREZA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Subaru IMPREZA has 337 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: while driving the vehicle, the passenger air bag indicator was indicating that it was off while a passenger was sitting in the seat. this is unusual because if something such as a purse is placed in the seat, the indicator will change from off to on due to the seat being occupied. i think this is ve. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 15 crash reports 7 injuries

337

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

116 complaints

34%

• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS INDICATING THAT IT WAS OFF WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE IF SOMETHING SUCH AS A PURSE IS PLACED IN THE SEAT, THE INDICATOR WILL CHANGE FROM OFF TO ON DUE TO THE SEAT BEING OCCUPIED. I THINK THIS IS VE
• DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A PASSENGER, AIRBAG LIGHT SWITCHES TO OFF AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATES. PASSENGER CAN THEN UNBUCKLE SEAT BELT AND NO ALARMS SOUND ALERTING THAT THE SEATBELT IS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY BLAMED IT ON A PAIR OF JUMPE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR DETECTED WETNE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS INDICATING THAT IT WAS OFF WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE IF SOMETHING SUCH AS A PURSE IS PLACED IN THE SEAT, THE INDICATOR WILL CHANGE FROM OFF TO ON DUE TO THE SEAT BEING OCCUPIED. I THINK THIS IS VE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

56 complaints

17%

• I PURCHASED MY 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT PREMIUM ON 12/24/2011. IT HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES WHEN PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. AT 1200 MILES, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS VERY LOW. I CALLED BROADWAY SUBARU IN OAKLAND,CA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED, HOW CAN A BRAND NEW CAR
• FOLLOWED TOO CLOSELY THROUGH A DOUBLE INTERSECTION WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHT. POLICE OFFICER DIRECTED TRAFFIC THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BUT APPARENTLY WE HAD TO STOP BEFORE THE SECOND INTERSECTION. APPARENTLY I SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I INDICATED 20 BUT SURELY MY AIRBAG
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO SAW OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A ROD LOOSE IN CYLINDER FOUR. THE ENGI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I PURCHASED MY 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT PREMIUM ON 12/24/2011. IT HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES WHEN PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. AT 1200 MILES, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS VERY LOW. I CALLED BROADWAY SUBARU IN OAKLAND,CA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED, HOW CAN A BRAND NEW CAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

30 complaints

• THE AIRBAGS IN THIS VEHICLE TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD ICONS INDICATE AIRBAGS ARE TURNED OFF). VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED AND RESTARTED FOR THE AIRBAGS TO TURN BACK ON. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RELATIONSHIP TO ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE - PASSENGER USE OF IPHONE OR IPAD MAY BE
• FOLLOWED TOO CLOSELY THROUGH A DOUBLE INTERSECTION WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHT. POLICE OFFICER DIRECTED TRAFFIC THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BUT APPARENTLY WE HAD TO STOP BEFORE THE SECOND INTERSECTION. APPARENTLY I SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I INDICATED 20 BUT SURELY MY AIRBAG
• 2012 IMPREZA... BOUGHT NEW, NOTHING BUT HEADACHES. ALL PROBLEMS LISTED BELOW OCCURRED BEFORE I HAD EVEN OWNED THE CAR 2 YEARS. 1. AT 8-10K MILES - WHILE DRIVING CAR WOULD RANDOMLY TURN OFF PASSENGER AIRBAGS AND ILLUMINATE NO PASSENGER SEATBELT ON THE DASH. TOOK CAR TO DEALER 3 TIMES. DEALER REFUS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“THE AIRBAGS IN THIS VEHICLE TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD ICONS INDICATE AIRBAGS ARE TURNED OFF). VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED AND RESTARTED FOR THE AIRBAGS TO TURN BACK ON. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RELATIONSHIP TO ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE - PASSENGER USE OF IPHONE OR IPAD MAY BE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

26 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CV
• I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 65 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE ACTED AS IF I HAD SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IT STARTED TO DECELERATE AND WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR, IT ONLY REVVED THE RPM'S HIGHER. IT DID NOT SPEED UP TO ALLOW ME TO SAFELY GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TRIE
• I BACKED UP IN MY DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND I NOTICED A LAG TIME OF ABOUT 2 SECONDS SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THE STAFF ASSURED ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE CVT TRANSMISSION. WHEN I TOOK THE SUBARU IMPREZA FOR THE 2500 MILE CHECK UP AND SPOKE TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

19 complaints

• DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A PASSENGER, AIRBAG LIGHT SWITCHES TO OFF AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATES. PASSENGER CAN THEN UNBUCKLE SEAT BELT AND NO ALARMS SOUND ALERTING THAT THE SEATBELT IS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY BLAMED IT ON A PAIR OF JUMPE
• PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR STATED THAT IT WAS DISABLED RANDOMLY (WHETHER CAR WAS IN MOTION OR NOT), EVEN THOUGH SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON DASHBOARD. TO CORRECT ISSUE, VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED MULTIPLE TIMES, SO THAT AIRBAG WOULD REACTIVATE. THIS WOULD NEED TO BE REPEA
• THE AIRBAGS IN THIS VEHICLE TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD ICONS INDICATE AIRBAGS ARE TURNED OFF). VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED AND RESTARTED FOR THE AIRBAGS TO TURN BACK ON. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RELATIONSHIP TO ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE - PASSENGER USE OF IPHONE OR IPAD MAY BE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A PASSENGER, AIRBAG LIGHT SWITCHES TO OFF AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATES. PASSENGER CAN THEN UNBUCKLE SEAT BELT AND NO ALARMS SOUND ALERTING THAT THE SEATBELT IS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY BLAMED IT ON A PAIR OF JUMPE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 337 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS INDICATING THAT IT WAS OFF WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE IF SOMETHING SUCH AS A PURSE IS PLACED IN THE SEAT, THE INDICATOR WILL CHANGE FROM OFF TO ON DUE TO THE SEAT BEING OCCUPIED. I THINK THIS IS VE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I PURCHASED MY 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT PREMIUM ON 12/24/2011. IT HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES WHEN PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. AT 1200 MILES, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS VERY LOW. I CALLED BROADWAY SUBARU IN OAKLAND,CA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED, HOW CAN A BRAND NEW CAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE AIRBAGS IN THIS VEHICLE TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD ICONS INDICATE AIRBAGS ARE TURNED OFF). VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED AND RESTARTED FOR THE AIRBAGS TO TURN BACK ON. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RELATIONSHIP TO ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE - PASSENGER USE OF IPHONE OR IPAD MAY BE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)