One of the better Outback years
Owners filed about 49% fewer complaints than a typical Outback year. The area owners reported most is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 101,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Outback 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 295 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Subaru Outback. The most reported problem area is the transmission and drivetrain (108, 37% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the brakes and stability control. That ranks 10th of 13 Outback years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 16 recalls.
3 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 Outback before you buy.
Transmission and drivetrain
108 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 101,000 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
While driving on I-5 at about 70 mph, I made a normal upshift from 5th to 6th gear in my 6-speed manual transmission. The shift lever went past the reverse lockout without my lifting the reverse pull collar (the owner's manual says the collar must be raised to select reverse) and the transmission briefly went into reverse at highway…Owner complaint, filed 2026
When coming to a stop, the car shudders and often stalls just like if you didn't press in the clutch on a manual transmission. No warning lights or messages. See details in TSB- 16-90-13R. Subaru knows about this issue and it has been reported in many vehicles. My car was at a Subaru dealership at least half a dozen times during…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Engine and cooling
52 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 111,000 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
Just after 100k mile service, car began to shutter when slowing and then stalls at stops. Eventually after I leave it in neutral for up to 2-20 min it will finally restart. First time it happened it wouldn’t start. I had to push vehicle out of major intersection to avoid being hit then pay to tow it to nearest mechanic. Once there, it…Owner complaint, filed 2024
No issues with the car since I bought it new and was dedicated to regular Maintenance. Less than a week after a regular scheduled oil change and driving on the main interstate highway cruising at 65mph, the car just suddenly jerked. I thought I had blown a tire but the Brake light came on and then soon after the engine light came on. I…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Brakes and stability control
42 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 71,000 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 brake line junction box rusted through. This is a known issue with Subarus of this general era but the 2012 Outback is not on the recall list. Owner noticed brake fluid was getting low, after recently refilling the reservoir. Took the car to a shop and the brake light came on day of. The shop confirmed the brake line junction box was…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Brakes failed completely due to excessive rust / corrosion on brake line junction area. Brake pedal suddenly went to floor and fluid leaked out near right rear quarter of vehicle in-front of right rear tire.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Air bags
39 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.
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
Car was involved in a head on collision [XXX] with a concrete exit barrier after being pushed into the lane by a driver trying to in front of them trying to make a last second dash for the exit. Not sure if the driver was in blind spot, but the vehicle trying to merge did use turn signal or respond to horn honking from myself. In order…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Good morning. Had to replace 3 car battery in 3 years, can not leave key in Ignition car goes dead, have to jump to start car more times I can remember. It's take more time to start, sometimes won't start. Had to call aaa road service. Airbag light came on. Tuck to subaru dealer in quincy ma. Came back with numerous codes on airbags…Owner complaint, filed 2021
Electrical system
37 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 70,000 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
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Subaru Outback. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 89,000. It was later discovered, when the title arrived, that the mileage on the title was 134,000.Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 134,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 subaru outback. The contact stated while at a standstill while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact could not remove the key from the ignition and was unable to unlock front driver's side door. After activating the horn for approximately 10 seconds, the key was able to be removed from the ignition. The…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 56,000 miles
Lights, wipers and visibility
27 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 63,000 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 contact owns a 2012 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that vehicle was consistently burning out the headlight bulbs. The contact stated that within 3-years he had replaced the driver's and the passenger’s side headlight bulbs 7 times, and following one failure the passenger’s side headlight housing was replaced. The contact stated…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 subaru outback. The contact stated that the bulbs in the headlamps needed to be replaced quite frequently. The vehicle was taken to miller subaru (1592 nj-38, lumberton, nj 08048) however, the contact was unsure if a diagnostic test was performed. The [VIN] was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 175,000 miles
Steering
9 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 2,000 miles.
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
Steering wheel locked-up while attempting to turn left in an intersection. The light turned green and my wife pulled forward about 10 to 15 feet and began turning the wheel for a left turn. However, the wheel would not budge to the left. She screamed out (to me) that the car would not turn left and we found ourselves perilously in the…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 23,000 miles
Stiff/tight steering without much feel, and lane wandering, and trouble keeping the car centered in the lane due to bad center feel.Owner complaint, filed 2013, at 23,000 miles
Cruise control and acceleration
8 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 4,000 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 last incident? I couldn't recover my intentions. (Incidents of random acceleration seem to only happen when I am turning). The last incident occurred in my mall parking lot.. I was about to turn and suddenly the car shot forward. I could have fought to maintain my turn but that would have been aggressive maneuvering. Nothing…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The vehicle will accelerate all on its own I was pulling into a parking spot and the vehicle just accelerated thank god there was not another car in from of me or I would have hit them. Then later that same day with the cruise on the vehicle just started speeding up. I had to hit the brakes to turn cruise off or who knows how fast it…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Body, doors and structure
6 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
The front sub-frame assembly has rusted through in several areas. This problem was discovered by the mechanic while preparing to make an unrelated repair. There were no indications of the problem until is was discovered by the mechanic.Owner complaint, filed 2026
It was looked at by a subaru dealer but claims fault isnt on subaru. The paint is chipping around the trunk and other areas and has been getting progressively worse over the last several years. Paint ahould not chip at all unless its damaged and due to this now rust is starting to form i continually have to touch up new spots and try to…Owner complaint, filed 2023
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
Driving on the highway was side swiped then rearended at high speed causing my driver seat to fly backwards. So the locking mechanism on the manual seat adjuster either failed or never lockedOwner complaint, filed 2026
We owned the car only 2 days and was out for our first drive owning our first brand new car. Things seemed all good until we stopped at a bank and I put my left foot on the foot rest and pressed my back into the seat to release the tension in my pants so I could pull out my wallet when all the sudden catching me by total surprise the…Owner complaint, filed 2013, at 250 miles
Fuel system
4 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
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
The warning lights stay on constantly. I have changed the mass flow air sensor, O2 sensors, serpentine belt, gas cap, treated the fuel system and the lights are still on. This is a common problem with Subaru Outback Owners.Owner complaint, filed 2024
2012 Subaru Outback stalls when braking. It stalls going up hills, on flat roads, after high speeds and after city driving too. The vehicle has shut off at stop lights, on/off ramps, and stop signs putting me and my family at risk of being rear-ended. It also stalls when parallel parking, increasing risk of being hit on city streets. No…Owner complaint, filed 2021
Suspension
4 complaintsClunks 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
I was driving on a interstate highway when the rear of the car started to wander from right to left, it acted like it was floating on the highway. I took the next exit to check for a tire losing air pressure or loose lug nuts. They were fine. I slowed down to 50 -55 MPH for the rest of the trip. Every bridge and overpass I slowed down to…Owner complaint, filed 2013, at 19,000 miles
When driving on the highway the vehicle exhibits very poor straight line stability. Vehicle wanders within the lane and requires excessive steering wheel correction to maintain straight direction. Vehicle 500 miles on it (350 driven by owner) but is now sitting in driveway for fear of personal safety if emergency maneuver is necessary on…Owner complaint, filed 2012
Wheels and tires
2 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
Odd noise arising from Front driver side wheel while driving on the interstate at 70mph. No indicator/warning lights/messages. Noise became much louder prompting us to stop driving and inspect. One of the 5 lug studs had broken off. Two of the 5 lug nuts were loose enough to hand rotate. Once diagnosed, we tightened all 4 remaining lug…Owner complaint, filed 2023
When driving on the highway the vehicle exhibits very poor straight line stability. Vehicle wanders within the lane and requires excessive steering wheel correction to maintain straight direction. Vehicle 500 miles on it (350 driven by owner) but is now sitting in driveway for fear of personal safety if emergency maneuver is necessary on…Owner complaint, filed 2012
Driver assist systems
1 complaintPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
Have been driving my car on the interstate for 6 hours and when this problem happened I was in cruise control. Out of no where a bunch of dash lights come on, (E brake and cruise control lights start blinking, traction control light comes on, and my check engine light comes on). I tried turning my car off for a few minutes and turning it…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Subaru Outback complaints by year
Compare the 2012 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2012 midsize 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 Outback | One of the better years | 16 |
| 2012 Toyota Highlander | About average | 2 |
| 2012 Honda Pilot | One of the better years | 9 |
| 2012 Ford Explorer | One of the better years | 7 |
2012 Subaru Outback recalls
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.
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.
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.
Parking brake
- Risk
- A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPB actuator assembly, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.
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.
Windows, mirrors and wipers Motor
- Risk
- If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor bottom cover assembly, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Legacy vehicles manufactured November 26, 2008, to June 7, 2013, and 2010-2014 Outback vehicles manufactured January 9, 2009 to June 7, 2013. Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If an obstruction, such as a buildup of snow or ice prevents the wiper arms from being able to stop in the parked position, the wiper motor may overheat and the bottom cover may melt.
Wipers
- Risk
- If the components overheat, the wiper motor bottom cover may melt and potentially catch fire.
- Fix
- Subaru has notified all affected owners, and dealers will replace the front wiper motor bottom cover assembly free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2012 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from April 6, 2011, through May 12, 2011. Components inside the wiper motor bottom cover may overheat.
Windows, mirrors and wipers Sun / moon roof assembly
- Risk
- The moonroof glass can loosen and detach from the vehicle during driving, resulting in a potential road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Subaru has notified the affected owners, and dealers will inspect the glass adhesion condition and either apply additional adhesive or replace the moonroof glass, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2012 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from April 6, 2011, through May 12, 2011. The moonroof glass may come loose or detach. The amount and position of the adhesive between the glass and retainer was inadequately applied.
Electrical system
- Risk
- The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Air bags
- Risk
- The side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bag modules, free of february 21, 2012.
Full recall summary
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2012 legacy and outback vehicles, manufactured from december 1, 2011, through december 23, 2011. These vehicles may be equipped with side curtain air bags that contain an incorrect propellant mixture for the initiator component used, resulting in insufficient output of compressed gas.
Brakes Pedals and linkages
- Risk
- The driver might misjudge the amount of brake pedal travel required to achieve the desired stopping distance.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder and if necessary, replace it, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
2012 Subaru Outback questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Subaru Outback?
The most reported problem areas on the 2012 Subaru Outback are the transmission and drivetrain (108 complaints), the engine and cooling (52 complaints) and the brakes and stability control (42 complaints).
Is the 2012 Subaru Outback a good year to buy?
One of the better Outback years. Owners filed about 49% fewer complaints than a typical Outback year. The area owners reported most is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 101,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Outback 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 Outback have?
NHTSA lists 16 recalls for the 2012 Subaru Outback. The most recent, from Jan 2020, covers the inflator module. 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 Outback problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 101,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 111,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Subaru Outback years should I avoid?
The Outback years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2019. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2012, 2013 and 2014. 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 Outback?
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