2012 Subaru Outback problems and complaints
Owners have filed 292 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Subaru Outback. The most-reported areas: Power Train (107), Engine (50), Air Bags (39).
Key takeaways
- 292 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 15 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 11 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 107 | 37% |
| Engine | 50 | 17% |
| Air Bags | 39 | 13% |
| Service Brakes | 38 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 37 | 13% |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 | 8% |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 6% |
| Steering | 9 | 3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 3% |
| Structure | 5 | 2% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 | 2% |
| Seats | 4 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Subaru Outback SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Service Brakes - filed 2026-08-17
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.
Seats - filed 2026-07-21
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
Electrical System - filed 2026-03-02
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Subaru Outback. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 89,000. It was later discovered, when the title arrived, that the mileage on the title was 134,000.
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More for the 2012 Subaru Outback
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.