2012 Subaru OUTBACK

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Subaru OUTBACK has 367 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: i was setting the homelink mirror on my car to recognize a particular garage door opener. the mirror is powered so i needed to leave the car idling. i put the car in neutral and began the programming process. the last step in the process is to engage the garage door opener from the motor head. t. ⚠️ 11 fire reports filed.

11 fire reports 14 crash reports 10 injuries

367

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

107 complaints

29%

• I WAS SETTING THE HOMELINK MIRROR ON MY CAR TO RECOGNIZE A PARTICULAR GARAGE DOOR OPENER. THE MIRROR IS POWERED SO I NEEDED TO LEAVE THE CAR IDLING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND BEGAN THE PROGRAMMING PROCESS. THE LAST STEP IN THE PROCESS IS TO ENGAGE THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER FROM THE MOTOR HEAD. T
• IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2011 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, CVT TRANSMISSION. WE HAD TO WAIT A DAY FOR OUR OUTBACK BECAUSE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED DO TO A BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL. EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE OUTBACK WE HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN USING THE PADDLE
• SITUATION: TRAVELING AT 60MPH UP A STEEP HILL ON I70 WEST BOUND IN LEFT PASSING LANE. CARS FOLLOWING CLOSE, AND CARS IN THE RIGHT LANE. FOR THE FIRST TIME (NEW CAR) I USED THE DOWNSHIFT PADDLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO DOWNSHIFT TO ACCELERATE. I TAPPED IT TO DOWNSHIFT ONE GEAR. IT I

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

“I WAS SETTING THE HOMELINK MIRROR ON MY CAR TO RECOGNIZE A PARTICULAR GARAGE DOOR OPENER. THE MIRROR IS POWERED SO I NEEDED TO LEAVE THE CAR IDLING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND BEGAN THE PROGRAMMING PROCESS. THE LAST STEP IN THE PROCESS IS TO ENGAGE THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER FROM THE MOTOR HEAD. T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

52 complaints

14%

• IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2011 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, CVT TRANSMISSION. WE HAD TO WAIT A DAY FOR OUR OUTBACK BECAUSE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED DO TO A BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL. EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE OUTBACK WE HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN USING THE PADDLE
• SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR, WHILE DRIVING FOR 15-60 MINUTES WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS, MYSELF AND/OR ANOTHER PASSENGER WILL BEGIN TO FEEL VERY LIGHT HEADED, IRRITATED EYES, HARD TO FOCUS, AND NEARLY PASS OUT. IT'S A FORCED SITUATION LIKE BEING PUT IN A CHOKE HOLD OR SUFFOCA
• COOLANT LIGHT THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. AFTER DRIVING 2 1/2 HOURS COOLANT APPEARED TO BE LEAKING SO FILLED COOLANT TO TOP WITH WATER.. 12 MINUTES LATER, WHILE DRIVING, LIGHTS BACK ON/ENGINE REV/ENGINE DIES/ SMOKE. LIFTED HOOD/MANY FLAMES FROM CENTER /SLAMMED HOOD SHUT AND RAN FAR AWAY. SEVERAL SMA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2011 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, CVT TRANSMISSION. WE HAD TO WAIT A DAY FOR OUR OUTBACK BECAUSE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED DO TO A BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL. EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE OUTBACK WE HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN USING THE PADDLE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

39 complaints

11%

• DROVE THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES, MADE A QUICK STOP WITH CAR TURN OFF, WHEN RESTARTING CAR, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT SAID IT WAS OFF EVEN THOUGHT THEIR WAS AN ADULT PASSENGER ON THAT SIDE OF THE CAR. LIGHT STAYED ON EVEN AFTER RESTARTING CAR,
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE CONTACT'S CHEST. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPOR
• MY SUBARU WAS HIT HEAD ON DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER CAR GOING 35-40 MPH. MY SUBARU'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN 13K RANGE TO FRAME AND LEFT FRONT OF CAR. I HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO RIGHT HAND AND SHOULDER IN ATTEMPT TO BRACE MYSELF. OTHER CAR'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. OTHER DRIVER FLED SC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“DROVE THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES, MADE A QUICK STOP WITH CAR TURN OFF, WHEN RESTARTING CAR, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT SAID IT WAS OFF EVEN THOUGHT THEIR WAS AN ADULT PASSENGER ON THAT SIDE OF THE CAR. LIGHT STAYED ON EVEN AFTER RESTARTING CAR,”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

37 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V562000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES) AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WHEN AP
• DROVE DOWN A SHORT HILL UNDER ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. APPLIED BRAKES BUT THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM DID NOT WORK TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY, DID NOT CRASH INTO THE APPROACHING BARRIER. HAD TWO (2) CHILDREN WITH ME. NO ONE WAS INJURED. TOLD DEALER ABOUT T
• I HAVE HAD THE CAR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES SINCE THE BEGINNING. SEVERAL TIMES UPON COLD STARTUP THE BRAKES BARELY WORK. NOT ALWAYS BUT FREQUENTLY. I HAVE TO USE BOTH FEET TO PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND IT TRAVELS SEVERAL FEET BEFORE STOPPING. I HAVE BR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V562000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES) AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WHEN AP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

37 complaints

10%

• IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2011 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, CVT TRANSMISSION. WE HAD TO WAIT A DAY FOR OUR OUTBACK BECAUSE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED DO TO A BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL. EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE OUTBACK WE HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN USING THE PADDLE
• RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE IS AFFECTING THE SECURITY SYSTEM ON THE CAR. IMAGINE IF THE RFID INTERFERENCE COULD AFFECT STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROLS, THIS IS JUST THE START. THE KEY FAB DOES NOT WORK IN CERTAIN AREA, AND YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE CAR WHICH SETS OFF THE SECURITY SYSTEM.
• UPDATE I TOOK THE 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK TO THE DEALER, ABOUT THE KEY FOB NOT WORKING IN A CERTAIN AREA. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE KEY FOB UNTIL RECENTLY. THE KEY FOB WILL NOT WORK IN ONE PARTICULAR AREA WHERE IT DID WORK BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION AND THI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 367 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: I WAS SETTING THE HOMELINK MIRROR ON MY CAR TO RECOGNIZE A PARTICULAR GARAGE DOOR OPENER. THE MIRROR IS POWERED SO I NEEDED TO LEAVE THE CAR IDLING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND BEGAN THE PROGRAMMING PROCESS. THE LAST STEP IN THE PROCESS IS TO ENGAGE THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER FROM THE MOTOR HEAD. T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2011 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, CVT TRANSMISSION. WE HAD TO WAIT A DAY FOR OUR OUTBACK BECAUSE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED DO TO A BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL. EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE OUTBACK WE HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN USING THE PADDLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: DROVE THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES, MADE A QUICK STOP WITH CAR TURN OFF, WHEN RESTARTING CAR, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT SAID IT WAS OFF EVEN THOUGHT THEIR WAS AN ADULT PASSENGER ON THAT SIDE OF THE CAR. LIGHT STAYED ON EVEN AFTER RESTARTING CAR,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V562000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES) AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WHEN AP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)