2012 Subaru Forester Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 5%of 106 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 62,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Subaru Forester, 5% of the 106 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 62,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On 12/31/18, when driving home at 11p.m.,and an hour from my home, my oil light came on. I stopped at a service station and had 3 quarts of oil put in my oil tank. Two days later, I took it to my mechanic who could not find a leak but over the next 9 months, at approximately every 2 week intervals, he put between 1/2-3 quarts of oil in my car. In may 2019 the north end Subaru service dept. Checked over my car and could not find a oil leak either. On 9/21/19, my mechanic read an article online about the excessive oil consumption in most Subaru models between 2011-15. …”
NHTSA complaint #11321334, filed 2020-04, 129,000 miles“Since march, 2017 my Forester began making a grinding noise when I first started the car and pressed the clutch in to reverse out of the garage. My mechanic said it was too early for the clutch to fail at only 74,000 miles and lubricated it-- twice over the insuring months as the noise not only persisted but got louder and more persistent. In august, I took the car to another independent shop out of town and they confirmed my suspicions that the throw out bearing was failing. To repair it involved a new clutch kit and a day of labor for a $1300 bill. …”
NHTSA complaint #11019179, filed 2017-08, 75,647 miles“Vehicle transmission shifted into neutral while in cruise control on the highway. The vehicle had to be powered off and back on before the transmission would reengage. Dtc was p2138. This is the fourth incidence over a 14 month period. After power cycle reset, the issue doesn't recur for one to three months. In two instances, the vehicle was in cruise control but not in the other two.”
NHTSA complaint #11088744, filed 2018-04, 62,000 miles“After sharp acceleration the check engine light came on and stayed on. No other issues noted. Two months later with 7500 miles on the odometer, the same thing occurred but this time the cruise control light and the vehicle stabilization light came on as well. Cruise control did not work and I assume the stabilization didn't either.”
NHTSA complaint #10472165, filed 2012-08, 5,325 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11033056May 4, 2026This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
- 11032040Apr 24, 2026This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
- 11022305Aug 11, 2025Subaru Service Technical Support Newsletter special edition.
- 11005624Jul 24, 2024This annoucement provides parts personnel information about remanufactured transmissions that will no longer be available.
- 10188219Feb 19, 2021As part of our dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is initiating a program to extend the original New Car Powertrain Limited Warranty coverage for…
- 10188218Feb 19, 2021As part of our dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is initiating a program to extend the original New Car Powertrain Limited Warranty coverage for…
- 10186419Jan 26, 2021As part of our dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is initiating a program to extend the original New Car Powertrain Limited Warranty coverage for…
- 10186364Jan 12, 2021This bulletin announces a design change to the clutch release bearing.
- 10150949Oct 26, 2018This Service Information bulletin announces a design change to the clutch release bearing used on the models as listed above. During assembly of the bearing, a different type of…
- 10150924Oct 26, 2018This Service Information bulletin announces a design change to the clutch release bearing used on the models as listed above. During assembly of the bearing, a different type of…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 6% |
| 2025 | 4 | 4% |
| 2023 | 5 | 7% |
| 2022 | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 | 15 | 7% |
| 2020 | 32 | 5% |
| 2019 | 38 | 5% |
| 2018 | 23 | 5% |
| 2017 | 46 | 8% |
| 2016 | 51 | 12% |
| 2015 | 95 | 15% |
| 2014 | 41 | 10% |
| 2013 | 6 | 8% |
| 2012 | 5 | 5% |
| 2011 | 8 | 5% |
| 2010 | 7 | 3% |
| 2009 | 17 | 10% |
| 2008 | 2 | 4% |
| 2007 | 11 | 15% |
| 2006 | 4 | 5% |
| 2005 | 5 | 5% |
| 2004 | 12 | 5% |
| 2003 | 9 | 5% |
| 2002 | 16 | 18% |
| 2001 | 23 | 17% |
| 2000 | 21 | 28% |
| 1999 | 32 | 24% |
| 1998 | 23 | 23% |
Other parts of the 2012 Subaru Forester
27 complaintsAir bags
20 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsBrakes
16 complaintsElectrical system
10 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsElectronic stability control
4 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsWheels
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology