One of the better Forester years
Owners filed about 77% fewer complaints than a typical Forester year. The area owners reported most is the engine and cooling, which half of owners reported by about 86,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Forester years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Subaru Forester. The most reported problem area is the engine and cooling (29, 27% of complaints), followed by the brakes and stability control and the air bags. That ranks 9th of 13 Forester years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 15 recalls.
1 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2012 Subaru Forester before you buy.
Engine and cooling
29 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 86,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
I checked my oil level, fluids, and tire pressure before a drive on the highway. Driving on [XXX] South, faint ticking started, then a louder tapping, and I immediately pulled off, luckily, off an exit ramp. AAA towed the Forester to a certified repair shop and the mechanic stated that the engine was blown. The 2.5 boxster engine used…Owner complaint, filed 2025
my vehicle has 52460 miles and was in southern oregon subaru for an oil change, when i was informed the engine was leaking oil. the service advisor said the cam carrier reseal was needed and it would cost $3380.00. i checked youtube and found that subaru forester from 2012 to 2019 engines have this problem. why should i pay this if…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Brakes and stability control
20 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was brake fluid leaking from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact became aware that the two-way connector was severely corroded and the brake line had separated due to the failure. The contact stated that the brake warning light was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the brake pedal was inoperative. The contact then discovered that there was brake fluid leaking underneath of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 80,000 miles
Air bags
20 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
My 2012 Subaru forester had a recall on my passenger air bag that I had completed February 2019. It is now July 2022 and it’s displaying the same codes for a faulty air bag per my mechanic. I contacted Subaru of America and they stated that it’s not their problem because they have already complied with the recall. Clearly there is still…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 subaru forester. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 19v008000 (air bags) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. The contact received the recall notification in march of 2019. Subaru of richmond (9177 w broad st, richmond, va 23294) stated that the part was unavailable and they…Owner complaint, filed 2019
Cruise control and acceleration
18 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 29,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 subaru forester. While driving 1 MPH entering a driveway, the vehicle spontaneously [VIN] and crashed into the garage of a house. There were no warning indicators illuminated. There were no injuries. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to subaru of grand blanc (6061 s…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 66,000 miles
While backing up in reverse, vehicle suddenly [VIN]. Operator had foot on brake but vehicle did not respond to braking to stop the car and vehicle continued to accelerate until contact with a parked vehicle. Both vehicles sustained damage. Police observed skid marks from attempts to brake. Event occurred on july 24, 2018 at approximately…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 95,300 miles
Electrical system
10 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 56,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 subaru forester. While driving 5 MPH, the vehicle powered down on its own. The vehicle was able to restart after two attempts; however, smoke emitted under the hood near the driver's side windshield area. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that clutch fluid drained out of the reservoir, and…Owner complaint, filed 2016
The contact owns a 2012 subaru forester. While at a red light, the vehicle lost power and had electrical issues. The contact stated that the speedometer read 2 MPH over the actual speed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was unable to be restarted by the mechanic. The [VIN] was notified…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 56,000 miles
Fuel system
8 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 3,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
Keeps smelling like gas, and the check engine light, cruise light blinks, and tracktion control lightis blinking. Says code problem with the catalytic converter.Owner complaint, filed 2021
Engine seized during straight road, uphill ascent. Oil light blinked twice quickly then went solid and then immediately lost power at 60mph on freeway. No previous issues with engine. I was in far left lane with no emergency parking so I navigated to the far right emergency shoulder and stopped. Car required tow truck to shop.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 107,000 miles
Lights, wipers and visibility
6 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 39,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
The sun visor mount is of low quality and failure allowed the visor to fall in my lap while driving 50 MPH on a county highway. No vehicle damage occurred. The attached photo shows the reason for failure. Vehicle mileage at failure was approximately 70,000.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 subaru forester. While the vehicle was parked, a loud explosion was heard and the rear windshield shattered from the inside out. The contact stated that the windshield had not been struck by any object or debris. The dealer (piazza subaru of limerick, 105 w ridge pike, limerick, pa 19468, (888) 690-2369) was…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 80,000 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 62,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
On 12/31/18, when driving home at 11p.m.,and an hour from my home, my "oil light" came on. I stopped at a service station and had 3 quarts of oil put in my oil tank. Two days later, I took it to my mechanic who could not find a leak but over the next 9 months, at approximately every 2 week intervals, he put between 1/2-3 quarts of oil in…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 129,000 miles
Vehicle transmission shifted into neutral while in cruise control on the highway. The vehicle had to be powered off and back on before the transmission would reengage. Dtc was p2138. This is the fourth incidence over a 14 month period. After power cycle reset, the issue doesn't recur for one to three months. In two instances, the vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 62,000 miles
Seats and seat belts
5 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 subaru forester. While driving approximately 30 MPH, a burning odor filled the inside of the vehicle. The seat became very hot and burned a hole through the seat and the contact's clothing. There were no injuries. The contact turned off the seat heater. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 90,000 miles
Driver seatbelt buckle will not release. May take up to 10 firm pushes of release button before buckle releases. Engine oil was at 1 quart even after 1 quart of oil was added per month. Dealership diagnosed as rod knock. Second opinion LED to changing oil twice and checking pressures. Recommended change oil every 3000 miles on this…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 86,000 miles
Body, doors and structure
5 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
While opening the driver's side door, the top, right corner of the door struck my forehead, causing a gash just above my right eyebrow that required six stitches to close. A little lower and the sharp, pointed corner of the door frame could have caused the loss of my right eye. The problem is with the design of the door frame. In order…Owner complaint, filed 2012, at 2,800 miles
Both rear gate hydraulic arms failed at the same time. On or about 11/27/22, while retrieving items from the cargo compartment, I heard a pop and the door completely collapsed and struck me on the back of the head. Upon inspection the popping noise was the fracturing of the bolt which supported the right hydraulic arm. The left hydraulic…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Wheels and tires
4 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
2012 subaru forester. Consumer writes in regard to stud failure. The consumer stated the 3 of the 5 wheel studs experienced a shearing failure. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the failure due to it being a known issue.Owner complaint, filed 2022
2012 subaru forester. Consumer writes in regards to wheel issues. *ld the consumer stated the tires do not hold pressure. The tires were 2 years old with less than 20,000 miles. The tire pressure gauges were found not to be the cause of failure.Owner complaint, filed 2020
Steering
1 complaintLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
Purchased vehical 3-4 months ago w/ 86k miles. Oil leaks in head gasket ( quart every 6 weeks..researched this and turns out this is a very common problem from 1999- 2013. On all foresters. [VIN] used more sealant and less gasket on that engine.why wasn't this recalled?? Easily verified via tube or internet.the other issue is lower…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 86,000 miles
Suspension
1 complaintClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
Purchased vehical 3-4 months ago w/ 86k miles. Oil leaks in head gasket ( quart every 6 weeks..researched this and turns out this is a very common problem from 1999- 2013. On all foresters. [VIN] used more sealant and less gasket on that engine.why wasn't this recalled?? Easily verified via tube or internet.the other issue is lower…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 86,000 miles
Subaru Forester complaints by year
Compare the 2012 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2012 compact SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Subaru Forester | One of the better years | 15 |
| 2012 Toyota RAV4 | About average | 5 |
| 2012 Honda CR-V | About average | 3 |
| 2012 Ford Escape | One of the better years | 2 |
2012 Subaru Forester recalls
Seat belts
- Risk
- The seat belt assembly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assembly, if necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles. The front seat belt assembly force-limiter may not operate correctly in the event of a crash.
Air bags Inflator module
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify their owners.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags Inflator module
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify their owners.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags Inflator module
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify their owners.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Electrical system Switch
- Risk
- The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Air bags Inflator module
- Risk
- An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Air bags Inflator module
- Risk
- An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Air bags Inflator module
- Risk
- An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Air bags Inflator module
- Risk
- An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Air bags Inflator module
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Electrical system
- Risk
- If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Brakes
- Risk
- Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia that were remedied under recall 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. The brake lines may experience brake line corrosion due to salt water splashing on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector.
Brakes
- Risk
- Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Lights
- Risk
- Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity, may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle. A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source (such as road spray that has road salt in it) and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connector(s).
Seat belts Rear / other
- Risk
- An insecure installation of a child restraint can increase the risk of injury to a child during a crash.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear center seat belt assembly with a newly modified automatic locking retractor, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 forester vehicles manufactured from november 26, 2007, through march 13, 2012. The automatic locking retractor in the seat belt assemblies located in the rear center seating of the affected vehicles do not meet lockability requirements and fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, occupant crash protection. specifically, the assemblies may not permit proper installation and secure attachment of a child restraint in that seating position.
2012 Subaru Forester questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Subaru Forester?
The most reported problem areas on the 2012 Subaru Forester are the engine and cooling (29 complaints), the brakes and stability control (20 complaints) and the air bags (20 complaints).
Is the 2012 Subaru Forester a good year to buy?
One of the better Forester years. Owners filed about 77% fewer complaints than a typical Forester year. The area owners reported most is the engine and cooling, which half of owners reported by about 86,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Forester years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2012 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists 15 recalls for the 2012 Subaru Forester. The most recent, from Nov 2022, covers the seat belts. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2012 Subaru Forester problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 86,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the brakes and stability control gave a mileage of about 28,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Subaru Forester years should I avoid?
The Forester years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2019. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2012, 2013 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a 2012 Subaru Forester?
We inspect the car with a scan tool and paint gauge, read the history report and tell you whether it is worth the asking price, before you hand over any money.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model