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

Service Brakes complaints

13 reports

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26,500 miles · Jan 8, 2014

EngineService Brakes

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ADDENDUM TO 12/30/13 COMPLAINT: IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUSLY OUTLINED PROBLEMS: 1. CAR IS NOW LOOSING OIL. AT 26,500 MILES THE LOW OIL LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED OIL LEVEL AND REVEALED CAR HAD LOST APPROX 1.5-2 QT SINCE LAST REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. 2. BRAKES SQUEAL WHEN YOU FIRST COMPRESS THE PEDAL. I HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THEM OR THE BRAKE PAD. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS NORMAL TO OCCUR EVERY TIME YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES UNLESS SOMETHING IS WRONG. BRAKES DID NOT START MAKING NOISE UNTIL 25,000 MILES. **NO CONFIDENCE THIS CAR IS TRUSTWORTHY. SERIOUSLY WORRIED ABOUT ITS RELIABILITY/ COST TO REPAIR AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES.** *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559037

47,000 miles · Jan 29, 2013

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CONSTANT PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V562000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10495087

9,441 miles · Jan 14, 2013

Service Brakes

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THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TWICE, SO I FEEL IT'S NECESSARY TO REPORT IT TO THE NHTSA. THE FIRST TIME THIS ISSUE WAS HAPPENING, I WAS FOLLOWING ANOTHER CAR GOING SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL AT ABOUT 30MPH. THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WAS 35MPH SO I FELT LIKE I WAS CONSTANTLY SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THROTTLE AND BRAKE, BUT NOT SO QUICKLY AS TO PRESS THEM AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURED, THERE WERE THREE SOLID YELLOW/ORANGE/GOLD (DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT COLORS) LIGHTS LIT UP SOLIDLY IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER: THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, THE ABS LIGHT, AND THE HILL HOLD ASSIST LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT WHICH WAS ABOUT 15 FEET AWAY. I TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET THE LIGHTS TO GO AWAY BEFORE TURNING THE CAR OFF, AND WHEN NOTHING WORKED I FINALLY JUST CYCLED THE IGNITION OFF THEN BACK ON. ALL THREE MAGICALLY WENT AWAY BY DOING THIS. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO AND I WAS LITERALLY JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY ON A LEVEL SURFACE. MY HOUSE IS RECESSED INTO THE GROUND ABOUT 10 FEET FROM THE TOP OF MY DRIVEWAY, WHERE THE TOP IS ACTUALLY LEVEL AND IT IS WHERE I WAS SITTING AT. SITTING THERE, I REVVED MY ENGINE AND SLOWLY ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY (IN NEUTRAL, SO I DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE). BEFORE THE RPMS WENT BACK TO AN IDLE I STARTED ROLLING DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY (WHICH IS AT LEAST A 30 DEGREE SLOPE DOWNHILL) BUT WHEN ROLLING DOWN I WAS DEFINITELY ON THE BRAKES A LITTLE AS TO NOT GO EVEN PAST 1MPH -- SO VERY SLOW. I NOTICED ALL THREE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME I DECIDED TO LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE SO I CAN TRY EVEN MORE TROUBLESHOOTING. STILL NO RESULTS UNLESS I CYCLED THE IGNITION. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER TODAY FOR AN ECM UPDATE THEY SENT ME IN THE MAIL, AND THEY SAID THEY DID SEE A "BRAKE SWITCH ERROR" FOR CODE "HISTORY" BUT THERE WERE NO CURRENT CODES. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10492916

Official recalls

19V149000 · 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

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

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

PE15012 · 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.