2012 Subaru Impreza problems
The 2012 Subaru Impreza has 338 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (34%) concerns air bags. After that come engine (17%) and electrical system (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 338 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 34% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 19 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 45,000 miles 262 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 72 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 43 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 38 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 38 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 18 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 15 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 24 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 8 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 262 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 45,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 41,000 miles (96 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 19 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 11 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 27 model years of the Subaru Impreza with enough data (194 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Followed too closely through a double intersection with a non-functioning light. Police officer directed traffic through the intersection but apparently we had to stop before the second intersection. Apparently I slowed down enough that the airbag did not deploy. I indicated 20 but surely my airbag would have deployed at that speed. Was able to drive the car under its own power off the road into a subway parking lot. As I was maneuvering into a parking spot the engine caught on fire.
Usually it should be on, with a passenger sitting in the front passenger seat while driving. But since about 3 months ago, the passenger air bag off indicator light turned on when there was passenger sitting in the car. This.happened about 5-6 times during the last 3 months. We made an appointment and sent the car to garavel subaru dealer in norwalk, ct on 9/5/13 at the milage around 29,000miles. They looked at the car for just 10 minutes and could not find any issue related to this.
The airbag light for the passenger seat went off while occupied by a passenger. The dealership has determined that the passenger seat capacitive sensor has failed and has ordered a new seat. This appears to be related to your newly opened investigation NHTSA action number: pe15012 date investigation opened: apr 10, 2015. I will seek to retain the seat if you would like to have it. My repairs are scheduled for 6/1/2015.