The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 107 of 243 complaints (44%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 58 in 2011 to 243 in 2012.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 243
- Recall campaigns
- 6
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,100–$4,050
- Combined MPG
- 19–30
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–4,050 | 2,850–4,050 | 2,100–4,050 | 2,100–4,050 | 2,100–4,050 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–22 | 19–22 | 19–30 | 19–30 | 19–30 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–20 / 23–27 | 17–20 / 22–27 | 17–27 / 23–35 | 17–27 / 23–35 | 17–27 / 23–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 404–468 | 404–468 | 296–468 | 299–468 | 300–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 46 | 58 | 243 | 251 | 108 | |
| Recalls issued | 15 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 3 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 16 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport?
Airbags & Restraints: 107 of 243 NHTSA complaints (44%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport get?
EPA rates it 19–30 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport?
EPA estimates $2,100–$4,050 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 33 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,200 | 317 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 27 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | $2,100 (low) | 296 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 19 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 17 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $4,050 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 24 mpg | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 329 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 27 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | $2,100 (low) | 296 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 19 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 17 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $4,050 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 56 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 30 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 107 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 22 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
- Defect
- 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 light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
- Consequence
- Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
- Defect
- 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 or a possible engine stall.
- Consequence
- An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Defect
- 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 injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.
- Consequence
- If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
- Defect
- 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 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 touches a metal part of the vehicle such as the forward/rearward seat adjuster lever.
- Consequence
- If the ODS deactivates, the front passenger air bag will be turned off and the front passenger air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Occupant Control Unit with a modified one, free of charge. The recall began August 21, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQT-55.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
- Defect
- 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 and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year 2013 XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory. Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs. If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button.
- Consequence
- The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
- Defect
- 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 VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER THAT COULD MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE REQUIRED TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE.
- Consequence
- THE DRIVER MIGHT MISJUDGE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS COULD OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.