2012 Subaru Impreza Problems

What owners report

Owners of this Impreza most often report the front passenger airbag indicator turning off or the airbag warning light coming on while the seat is occupied, frequently tied to moisture in the seat or to the occupant detection system. A second common theme is higher-than-expected oil consumption, with owners adding oil between changes; some describe engine stalling traced to valve springs. Many complaints are filed at low mileage, and a share involve the CVT transmission at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag light goes off with someone in the seat

   • 88 complaints (36%)
   • median 32,500 mi at 3.6 yrs old (75 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners describe the passenger airbag indicator switching to off or the airbag warning lamp lighting while an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, sometimes intermittently and sometimes after the seat becomes damp or wet. Several report that the dealer could not reproduce the condition, while others had the occupant detection unit or seat sensor replaced, with the light sometimes returning afterwards. Some owners note the vehicle must be stopped and restarted before the indicator returns to normal. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles up to well over 100,000, with many cases appearing after the seat was damp from detailing, weather or clothing.

   Recall 15V419000

   What to check: Sit in the passenger seat with the ignition on and confirm the passenger airbag indicator reads on and stays on, then try it with the seat slightly damp. Ask whether the occupant detection system or seat sensor has been replaced, and keep any repair invoice.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Passenger air bag light turns from on to off with a passenger sitting there. Manual says this happens when there is moisture in the seat. First of all, the airbag should not turn off for that reason, that is a safety problem. Second, it turns off even when there is no moisture. It scares me. I need to know that the airbag is still working even if that off light is on if my son is sitting there.”

   NHTSA complaint #10556661, filed 2013-12, 3,000 miles

   “When driving my vehicle the passenger airbag warning would go off with no passenger in the vehicle. When I have a passenger in my vehicle, the airbag sensor can't detect a passenger which is extremely dangerous. Also, for whatever reason the drivers seat isnt detecting a driver so the airbag light is on. After googling this issue I see that many other 2012 Subaru Impreza owners are having the same issue with no resolve.”

   NHTSA complaint #11373499, filed 2020-11, 122,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine oil consumption between changes

   • 32 complaints (13%)
   • median 29,750 mi at 3.0 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners report the low oil light coming on well before the next scheduled change, and at oil changes find the level a quart or more low with no visible leak or smoke. Some say the dealer described this as normal for the engine, while others were told they had exceeded the mileage limit on an extended warranty covering the condition. A few describe bluish smoke on cold starts or an engine that eventually stalled and required major work. Often reported in the first 30,000 miles, with additional cases at higher mileage where consumption was found alongside other engine damage.

   What to check: Check the oil level on the dipstick before and after a test drive, look for a low-oil light on the dash, and ask for oil change records showing how much was added between services.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 150,000 miles I noticed that in the mornings on cold start up I will get a large cloud of bluish smoke that smells like it's burning, I understand that this is indicative of burning oil. I only knew till recently there was a campaign to fix this issue and that it is now closed but at 150,000 miles it seems like it may be pretty excessive.”

   NHTSA complaint #11302710, filed 2020-01, 151,050 miles

   “The check engine light, the traction light and oil warning light came up on the dashboard. Initially, the dealer recommended replacing the oil valve. I did but the the problem persist. Now the engine is hunting. The dealer informs me that engine is not pumping enough oil despite the fact that service has been done regularly at interval recommended by the Subaru dealership. Now I am told that I need a new engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11384756, filed 2020-12, 68,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT shudder, warning lights and loss of acceleration

   • 17 complaints (7%)
   • median 103,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners describe multiple dash warning lights coming on at once while driving, followed by shuddering, failure to accelerate, or revving without movement. Repairs are commonly reported as replacing the valve body or the solenoid inside it, with some transmissions replaced entirely. Several mention that a warranty extension for the transmission had already expired, and a few say they were never notified of it. Usually reported past 90,000 miles, with several cases over 120,000; some owners report repeat failures after a valve body repair.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed and watch for shudder or delayed engagement, ask for CVT fluid service records, and ask whether the valve body has ever been replaced under warranty or a service program.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hit a bump and dashboard lit up with sensor lights. Subaru repair shop inspected with codes and said I need a new valve body for $1700. The warranty extension for this ended july 2018, but I never received a notification from Subaru or from my Subaru dealer regarding this known problem with the CVT.”

   NHTSA complaint #11193666, filed 2019-04, 141,000 miles

   “Bought the car used 90k miles in 2017. It is now at 125,000 and the transmission has completely failed. The car is accelerating and reving even when decelerating. I took it to the mechanic and was told I need a total replacement. I drive less than 20 mi/wk with the occasional roadtrip. This car should have lasted for many years but, this problem is known given that Subaru has offered extended warranties in regards to this transmission failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317251, filed 2020-03, 125,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Low speed stalling or loss of power (valve springs)

   • 27 complaints (11%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2024

   Complaints describe rattling or screeching from the engine, rough idle, loss of power and stalling at low speed or on the highway, sometimes with the car failing to restart. Owners who had the engine opened report a fractured valve spring; some note the dealer said their vehicle was outside the affected VIN range. Others report diagnostic trouble codes pointing to camshaft timing being logged before the engine quit. Mostly reported between roughly 70,000 and 130,000 miles, though some owners connected the symptoms to the car's early years.

   Recall 18V772000

   What to check: Ask whether the valve spring recall work was performed for this VIN, listen for rattling or ticking on a cold start, and have a mechanic check for stored timing-related fault codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have been experiencing a rattling noise accompanied by loss of power and a rough idle at low speeds. I thought it mught be the idler pulley--replaced that along with the serpentine belt and tensioner. Did not fix the problems. Yesterday it began to stall at idle and low speeds. Car will not start. Symptoms match those related to the wty 84r bulletin and the 18v772-7070 recall for broken valve springs but the dealership says my vehicle is not in the VIN range. The car is a 2012 Impreza--the problem matches the problems for the 2012 Impreza.”

   NHTSA complaint #11319924, filed 2020-04, 120,000 miles

   “Driving on a city street when car suddenly stalled. Had to have car towed to the dealer and after opening the engine the final diagnose was that the valve spring failed”

   NHTSA complaint #11280617, filed 2019-11, 120,888 miles

Buying note. Check the passenger airbag indicator with the seat occupied, the oil level between services, and the CVT behaviour on a highway test drive, since these are the areas owners write about most. Ask for records of recall and service bulletin work and any transmission or sensor repairs before deciding.

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.