2012 Subaru Forester Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Forester most often describe two themes: engine oil that disappears between changes, sometimes ending in engine seizure, and reports of the vehicle accelerating on its own at very low speeds, usually while parking or pulling into a driveway or lot. Brake complaints also show up in the sample, mainly a soft or sinking pedal and brake fluid loss, while several owners mention sun visors dropping out of their mounts. Oil-related reports tend to arrive at higher mileage, while the unintended-acceleration and brake-pedal accounts are often at low mileage.

1. 1
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption and engine seizure

   • 25 complaints (24%)
   • median 86,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners describe the dipstick reading low or dry well before the next scheduled change, with some adding a quart every several hundred to a thousand miles. Several say the low-oil warning came only as the engine began ticking or knocking, and in some cases the engine then seized and was replaced or declared not drivable. Complaints mention dealers topping off oil, replacing gaskets, or saying no leak could be found; some owners refer to a warranty extension for oil consumption. Mostly reported between roughly 22,000 and 130,000 miles, with many clustered from 65,000 miles up.

   Recall 16V738000

   What to check: Check the oil level cold and again after a few hundred miles of use, and ask for oil-change and top-off records. Ask whether any oil consumption test was performed and whether a warranty extension applies to the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car suffered a catastrophic oil event without an indicator light or any other warning that is nesitating a new engine. The car had less than 70,000 miles on it. I had informed some ticking noise from the engine in previous maintenance events. I was driving on the interstate, and my engine seized and locked-up, and I had to slowly pullover on an interstate highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11426454, filed 2021-07, 69,999 miles

   “Engine seized during straight road, uphill ascent. Oil light blinked twice quickly then went solid and then immediately lost power at 60mph on freeway. No previous issues with engine. I was in far left lane with no emergency parking so I navigated to the far right emergency shoulder and stopped. Car required tow truck to shop.”

   NHTSA complaint #11192998, filed 2019-04, 107,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Vehicle accelerates on its own at low speed

   • 16 complaints (15%)
   • median 34,500 mi at 4.7 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners describe the car surging forward or backward while creeping or parking, often with a foot on the brake, and in several accounts it could not be stopped before hitting a wall, garage door, or another vehicle. Some say the pedal felt stuck or that braking had no effect during the event. A few report the dealer found nothing or said the vehicle was operating as designed. Spread across the sample from very low mileage up to about 130,000 miles, and often at parking-lot or driveway speeds.

   What to check: During a test drive, try slow creeping in a lot and check that the pedal returns freely and that nothing is trapped near the pedal. Ask the seller whether any diagnosis or repair was done for an unintended-acceleration report.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While pulling into a parking stall at approximately 2-3 MPH I went to press the brakes when all of the sudden the car accelerated at full speed without touching the accelerator causing me to hit the concrete wall in front of me. Airbags did not deploy and neither me or my passenger were not hurt. Damage to the bumper, frame, grill and various components just inside the engine compartment.”

   NHTSA complaint #11204536, filed 2019-04, 91,575 miles

   “Vehicle experienced an occurrence of sudden unintended acceleration. I had my foot on the brake and was easing into a parking space. All of a sudden, the engine revved, and the vehicle surged and began to move forward on its own accord. I was unable to stop it using the brake. The vehicle went over 2 parking curbs and shrubbery and was headed into traffic. Vehicle was moving at about 20-25 MPH so I was able to steer it and avoided traffic by turning right, staying on parking lot grass & rock barrier. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11204672, filed 2019-04, 93,400 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Soft or sinking brake pedal and brake fluid leaks

   • 15 complaints (14%)
   • median 31,327 mi at 3.0 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Complaints describe a pedal that sometimes goes near the floor before the car slows, or that feels soft and inconsistent from stop to stop, with extra distance needed to stop. Some owners report leaking brake fluid or a stiff pedal that failed to stop the vehicle, and repairs described include replacement of brake lines or hoses. Several owners link their experience to a brake-line corrosion recall campaign. Mostly reported under about 45,000 miles in the sample, though a few appear at higher mileage.

   Recall 14V311000Recall 14V830000

   What to check: Ask whether the brake-line corrosion recall work was completed and check for fluid at the lines and around the calipers. On the test drive, press the pedal firmly at a stop and note whether it holds or slowly sinks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our Forester has an inconsistent brake pedal. Sometimes the pedal is firm and responsive. Sometimes the pedal goes towards the floor before it responds. We never know how far in the pedal will go. Thus far the brakes have always worked but extra time and distance are needed to stop. The problem is intermittent and has been there ever since we purchased the vehicle. The following from Subaru's recall of other 2012 models explains almost exactly how this manifests for us. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10449990, filed 2012-03, 20 miles

   “On june 9, 2015 I brought my 2012 Subaru Forester (mileage 41184) into the Subaru dealer for a brake pipe inspection recall and to replace a broken plastic molding in the front of the car. Inspection by the mechanic at this time stated that all the brakes were in good shape according to their rating system. One month later, on july 8, 2015, I brought my 2012 Subaru Forester (mileage 42513) back to the Subaru dealer because of vibration and noise emanating from the front of the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10734163, filed 2015-07, 42,513 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Warning lights, stalling and electrical faults

   • 20 complaints (19%)
   • median 48,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2022

   Owners describe clusters of warning lights (check engine, stability/traction control, cruise) coming on together after hard acceleration, with cruise control dropping out until codes are cleared. Others report intermittent loss of power or stalling, dashboard electrical failures, or a wiring connector near an oxygen sensor that burned. Dealers are described as resetting the computer without finding a lasting fix. Reported from about 1,600 to 146,000 miles, with several accounts at low mileage shortly after purchase.

   Recall 19V297000Recall 16V7380003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch replacement recall was completed, and have a shop check for stored codes and battery drain if the car has needed frequent jump-starts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While idling in a parking lot, my Forester caught fire. The fire was put out quickly. So, the damage was fortunately isolated to the location where the fire started. It seems that the connector between the wiring harness and one of the o2 sensors on the front of the vehicle ignited. The fire burned the wiring harness near the connector and damaged the o2 sensor. Both needed to be replaced to repair my vehicle. This fire happened spontaneously and seems to be a safety risk . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10807884, filed 2015-12, 48,000 miles

   “When in heavy traffic and it was necessary to accelerate at a high RPM, the traction control light and check engine light come on and start flashing and the cruise control light also flashed. This is the 3rd time this has happened. First time all the lights went out, second time it happened my cruise control was disabled and the other lights continued to be on and flash and I had to take it the dealership to be reset . Dealership told me it was a computer problem and Subaru has not fixed it. Yesterday it happened again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10459088, filed 2012-05, 6,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on oil level and consumption history, brake line condition, and the state of the visor mounts, and ask for records showing which open recalls have been completed. A documented oil consumption test or recent engine work is worth asking about directly, since that is the most-reported concern for this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.