IllustrationTRANSAXEL/TRANSMISSION FAILURE
2012 Subaru Impreza
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Impreza years
Owner complaints for the 2012 Subaru Impreza are substantially higher than the model-year median of 56.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impreza years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
600–25K
3925–50K
3550–75K
1675–100K
29100–150K
9150K+
188 reports with mileage · 55 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports
Power Train complaints
26 reportsMY SON'S 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA, WAS BOUGHT USED, WITH 59,000. MILES, WITH HOPE OF OWNING A RELIABLE, SAFE VEHICLE ON 2/11/16. ON 6/26/16 HE WENT FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND WITHIN ONE WEEK THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY SEIZED. HE WAS DRIVING HOME, NO WARNING LIGHTS, OR ANYTHING JUST MADE A LOUD SOUND THEN HE WAS JUST BARELY ABLE TO MAKE…
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MY SON'S 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA, WAS BOUGHT USED, WITH 59,000. MILES, WITH HOPE OF OWNING A RELIABLE, SAFE VEHICLE ON 2/11/16. ON 6/26/16 HE WENT FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND WITHIN ONE WEEK THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY SEIZED. HE WAS DRIVING HOME, NO WARNING LIGHTS, OR ANYTHING JUST MADE A LOUD SOUND THEN HE WAS JUST BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY 3 LANE ROAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. AT THE TIME, WE WORRIED THAT THE OIL CHANGE MAY HAVE BEEN DONE IMPROPERLY AND CAUSED THE ISSUE. WE CONTACTED THE BUSINESS, WHO THEN HAD A ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC/INSPECTOR VERIFY THAT IT WAS NOT THE OIL CHANGE BUT AN INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM. WE THEN HAD TOWED IT AGAIN TO SUBARU DEALER THAT WAS 7/12/16. THEN WE BEGAN CALLING- DAILY OR EVERY OTHER DAY; TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND EMAILING TO CORPORATE SUBARU- ASKING WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIS CAR? WHY DID IT HAPPEN? WHAT CAN BE DONE? WHAT WILL IT COST? FINALLY, ON 8/22/16, WE HEARD FROM SUBARU SAYING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY -BUT WILL AUTHORIZE A $2,000. TOWARD REPAIR OR NEW CAR. WE CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN BECAUSE WE STILL HAD NOT HEARD OR RECEIVED A REASON/QUOTE OF REPAIR. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS DAMAGE TO A PISTON AND IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $10,000. AND THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND IT; BETTER TO TALK TO SALES. THE WARRANTY IS FOR 60,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS ON THE POWERTRAIN, WE ARE AT 67,000 MILES AND 4 YEARS. SO NOW WE STILL OWE $8,000. AND HAVE $10,000. REPAIR, AND THEY ARE OFFERING $2,000. MONEY VS SAFETY AND NOW VS TRUST WE WANT A SAFE RELIABLE CAR, FROM A COMPANY THAT WE COULD TRUST. WE THOUGHT THAT WAS SUBARU.
GAS PEDAL IS ULTRASENSITIVE LEADING TO SURGING AT LOW SPEED. HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED MANEUVERING IN PARKING LOT. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. YOU WILL FIND MANY DISCUSSIONS ON THE WEB IF YOU SEARCH FOR "SUBARU SENSITIVE GAS PEDAL, A GENERALLY KNOWN ISSUE. FIND MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT "REMAPPING" AND JACK-RABBIT ST…
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GAS PEDAL IS ULTRASENSITIVE LEADING TO SURGING AT LOW SPEED. HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED MANEUVERING IN PARKING LOT. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. YOU WILL FIND MANY DISCUSSIONS ON THE WEB IF YOU SEARCH FOR "SUBARU SENSITIVE GAS PEDAL, A GENERALLY KNOWN ISSUE. FIND MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT "REMAPPING" AND JACK-RABBIT STARTS. *TR
I BACKED UP IN MY DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND I NOTICED A LAG TIME OF ABOUT 2 SECONDS SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THE STAFF ASSURED ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE CVT TRANSMISSION. WHEN I TOOK THE SUBARU IMPREZA FOR THE 2500 MILE CHECK UP AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEA…
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I BACKED UP IN MY DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND I NOTICED A LAG TIME OF ABOUT 2 SECONDS SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THE STAFF ASSURED ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE CVT TRANSMISSION. WHEN I TOOK THE SUBARU IMPREZA FOR THE 2500 MILE CHECK UP AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP, HE ALSO FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN BACKING UP INTO TRAFFIC AND WAITING FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND IT'S "SLOW ENGAGEMENT" INTO DRIVE. HE HAS EXPRESSED HIS VIEWS TO SUBARU AND LIKE ME HAS BEEN ASSURED IT'S OK. I STILL FEEL IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 65 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE ACTED AS IF I HAD SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IT STARTED TO DECELERATE AND WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR, IT ONLY REVVED THE RPM'S HIGHER. IT DID NOT SPEED UP TO ALLOW ME TO SAFELY GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TRIED MANUALLY SHIFTING THE AUTOMA…
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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 65 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE ACTED AS IF I HAD SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IT STARTED TO DECELERATE AND WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR, IT ONLY REVVED THE RPM'S HIGHER. IT DID NOT SPEED UP TO ALLOW ME TO SAFELY GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TRIED MANUALLY SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION, BUT THIS MADE NO DIFFERENCE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME. I TURNED ON MY FLASHERS AND WAS ABLE TO GO FROM THE LEFT LANE TO THE SHOULDER. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND LET IT SET FOR A MINUTE. I THEN RESTARTED THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THEY TESTED IT FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE INCIDENT. THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO CODES STORED AND I DID NOT SEE ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THEY ALSO SAID THEY FILED A CLAIM WITH SUBARU NORTH AMERICA. THE SERVICE TECH SAID HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING WITH SUBARU. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 500.
Official recalls
619V149000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Feb 28, 2019
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 & remedy
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.
18V772000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Nov 1, 2018
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 & remedy
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.
16V738000 · Electrical System
Oct 13, 2016
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 & remedy
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.
15V419000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
Jul 1, 2015
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 & remedy
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.
13V061000 · Electrical System; Equipment
Feb 25, 2013
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 & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment
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.
Electrical System
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.
11V562000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Nov 29, 2011
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE15012 · Passenger Front Air Bag Suppression
Opened Apr 10, 2015 · Closed Jul 15, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
The Office of Defects Investigation opened this investigation on April 10, 2015 based on 26 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire reports involving the passenger frontal air bag in MY 2012 Subaru Impreza vehicles.These vehicles use a capacitive type Occupant Detection System (ODS), which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full sized, small stature, a child seat, or other object.The reports alleged that the ODS failed to operate properly and incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied.In a frontal crash sufficient to warranty deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On June 25, 2015, Subaru of America, Inc. submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) advising NHTSA that it would conduct a safety recall to remedy the ODS in 32,400 MY 2012 Subaru Impreza vehicles equipped with a capacitance type ODS for the front passenger's seat.The DIR notes that the WRX/STI models are excluded from this recall as they are equipped with a different type (weight-recognition based) ODS for the front passenger's seat. ODI is closing this investigation based on Subaru's recall action.The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues under the following ID numbers:10668512, 10668243, 10662987, 10641835, 10640574, 10626384, 10622234, 10621456, 10619273, 10605789, 10604506, 10575908, 10559081, 10557856, 10556661, 10545059, 10538562, 10532118, 10481308, 10478660, 10473662, 10472608, 10470865, 10468157, 10463432, 10672345, 10712288, 10713178, 10731645.