2012 Subaru Outback Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 1%of 294 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 130,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the seats of the 2012 Subaru Outback, 1% of the 294 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 130,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
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.
“Cold rainy morning, I started the car for the first time with no one in the passenger seat. The airbag light came on and stayed on, the passenger seatbelt light is on and car is dinging like someone in the passenger seat is not wearing a seat belt. Does not turn off when seat belt is clipped. I take it to the dealership and they say it's a bad electrostatic capacitance sensor ods. The 'part' aka replacing the whole seat is $900. Same year of Subaru that they recalled this part in the impreza. Nhtsa recall no. : 15v-419”
NHTSA complaint #11056208, filed 2017-12, 130,000 miles“We owned the car only 2 days and was out for our first drive owning our first brand new car. Things seemed all good until we stopped at a bank and I put my left foot on the foot rest and pressed my back into the seat to release the tension in my pants so I could pull out my wallet when all the sudden catching me by total surprise the seat gave way. A shock went up and down my spine as I got out of the car in awe of what just happened an the condition I was in I had to sit in the passenger seat to see if it was just a fluke or is this a real problem and I just got the worst of it. …”
NHTSA complaint #10509732, filed 2013-04, 250 miles“Driving on the highway was side swiped then rearended at high speed causing my driver seat to fly backwards. So the locking mechanism on the manual seat adjuster either failed or never locked”
NHTSA complaint #11751802, filed 2026-07Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 10% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 2 | 2% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 1 | 0% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0% |
| 2020 | 4 | 0% |
| 2019 | 5 | 0% |
| 2018 | 8 | 1% |
| 2017 | 2 | 0% |
| 2016 | 1 | 0% |
| 2015 | 4 | 1% |
| 2014 | 2 | 1% |
| 2013 | 9 | 3% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 4 | 1% |
| 2010 | 6 | 2% |
| 2008 | 1 | 0% |
| 2007 | 2 | 2% |
| 2006 | 3 | 1% |
| 2004 | 1 | 1% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 2 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2012 Subaru Outback
108 complaintsEngine
50 complaintsBrakes
40 complaintsAir bags
39 complaintsElectrical system
37 complaintsOther or unknown
24 complaintsExterior lighting
18 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsElectronic stability control
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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