2012 Subaru Impreza: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Subaru Impreza: 6 recalls, 243 owner complaints and up to 30 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #11V562000 · 2011 · 32,685 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Equipment, Electrical Vehicle recall #13V061000 · 2013 · 47,419 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the res key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V419000 · 2015 · 30,348 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Electrical Vehicle recall #16V738000 · 2016 · 100,127 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the air injection pump overheats, it May melt and increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #18V772000 · 2018 · 165,534 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #19V149000 · 2019 · 1,303,530 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (105): the most common themes are warning light on (36), fails to deploy (13).
- Engine (55): the most common themes are warning light on (14), excess oil use (13), stalls / loses power (11).
- Electrical (30): the most common themes are warning light on (9), electrical failure (6), fire / smoke (5).
- Transmission & drivetrain (26): the most common themes are warning light on (10), hard / delayed shifting (8), stalls / loses power (4).
The 2012 Subaru Impreza has 243 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 35 Impreza model years for complaints (3.2× the average Impreza year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (38 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 45,825 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (58 complaints, 14 recalls), 2013 (249 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | All-Wheel Drive | 27 | 35 | 30 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 24 | 33 | 28 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 21 | Premium |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Subaru Impreza.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Subaru Impreza have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Subaru Impreza. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Subaru Impreza problems?
Owners have filed 243 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (105), engine (55), electrical (30).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Subaru Impreza get?
EPA ratings run up to 30 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Subaru Impreza repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.