CarRecallWatchThe 2012 Subaru Outback has 16 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 295 complaints with NHTSA, including 15 crashes, 6 fires, 11 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Power Train (108 reports).
2012 Subaru Outback recalls
Passenger Airbag May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Some vehicles had their passenger frontal airbag inflators replaced under an earlier recall, but the replacement inflators use the same design.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal shrapnel
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture.
Ignition Switch May Turn Off Engine, Disabling Airbags
The ignition switch on these vehicles may have a ball spring inside that can break, weakening the switch.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode in a crash
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles may rupture during deployment in a crash.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Certain Subaru vehicles have a passenger-side frontal airbag inflator that can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Passenger airbag may explode and send metal fragments into occupants
The passenger-side front airbag inflator can degrade over time from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
Parking Brake May Fail, Letting Car Roll Away
The electronic parking brake on certain manual-transmission vehicles may not engage as intended.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Passenger airbag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments at occupants
The passenger-side front airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Wiper Motor May Overheat and Melt, Risking Fire
Contamination inside the windshield wiper motor's bottom cover can cause its internal parts to interfere with each other.
Most common 2012 Subaru Outback problems
Problem areas named in the 295 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 108 |
| Engine | 50 |
| Air Bags | 39 |
| Electrical System | 37 |
| Service Brakes | 36 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Structure | 6 |
What owners report
The front sub-frame assembly has rusted through in several areas. This problem was discovered by the mechanic while preparing to make an unrelated repair. There were no indications of the problem until is was discovered by the mechanic.
While driving on I-5 at about 70 mph, I made a normal upshift from 5th to 6th gear in my 6-speed manual transmission. The shift lever went past the reverse lockout without my lifting the reverse pull collar (the owner's manual says the collar must be raised to select reverse) and the transmission briefly went into reverse at highway speed. The lever was in reverse for only a fraction of a second, but that was enough to strip the reverse gear teeth. There was no warning beforehand. I kept driving without knowing anything was wrong and found out later, when I tried to back up, that the vehicle has no reverse. The reverse lockout should make it impossible to select reverse during a forward ups
The brake line junction box rusted through. This is a known issue with Subarus of this general era but the 2012 Outback is not on the recall list. Owner noticed brake fluid was getting low, after recently refilling the reservoir. Took the car to a shop and the brake light came on day of. The shop confirmed the brake line junction box was rusted through and leaking. Owner was advised that they were days away from a complete brake failure from a larger leak developing and brake pressure dropping catastrophically. As stated before this is a known issue Subaru recall campaign WQK-47. Looking online has revealed numerous Subaru owners experiencing the same problem.
Brakes failed completely due to excessive rust / corrosion on brake line junction area. Brake pedal suddenly went to floor and fluid leaked out near right rear quarter of vehicle in-front of right rear tire.
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
2012 Subaru Outback questions
Does the 2012 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls for the 2012 Subaru Outback: Passenger Airbag May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments; Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments; Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal shrapnel; Ignition Switch May Turn Off Engine, Disabling Airbags; Passenger airbag inflator may explode in a crash. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Subaru Outback?
Based on 295 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Power Train (108), Engine (50), Air Bags (39).
How do I check if a recall on my 2012 Subaru Outback has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.