2012 Subaru Forester Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Subaru Forester carries a Caution verdict, driven by 15 recall campaigns rather than its complaint index of 30. NHTSA lists 105 complaints, with Engine the top problem area at 44% of reports and a median failure mileage of 66,000 for that system.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 Forester years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 105
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 15
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 15
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 9
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 21 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 9 / 0
Top 2012 Subaru Forester problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine46 (44%)
- Airbags20 (19%)
- Brakes19 (18%)
- Electrical System11 (10%)
- Fuel System8 (8%)
- Other8 (8%)
- Structure & Body6 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds, including while parking or reversing, leading to collisions.
- Some report the accelerator pedal sticking to the floorboard during slow-speed driving.
- Brake pedal reportedly sank to the floor or failed to respond after a prior recall repair, resulting in a crash.
- Electrical fires were reported near the O2 sensor wiring harness and under the hood after the vehicle powered down unexpectedly.
- A seat heater reportedly overheated and burned through the seat and a driver's clothing.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy or brakes locked up during a crash on icy roads.
2012 Subaru Forester recalls
15 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V838000Nov 10, 2022Seat Belts16 vehicles
Seat belts
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles. The front seat belt assembly force-limiter may not operate correctly in the event of a crash.
Risk: The seat belt assembly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRJ-22.
- NHTSA 20V001000Jan 2, 2020Airbags258,813 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- NHTSA 20V003000Jan 2, 2020Airbags111,562 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
2012 Subaru Forester fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other Forester years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Subaru Forester reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2012 Forester a Caution verdict with a complaint index of 30 out of 105 total complaints. The verdict is capped at Caution mainly because of 15 recall campaigns, not the complaint volume alone.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Subaru Forester?
- Engine issues are the top complaint area, making up 44% of the 105 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 66,000.
- Does the 2012 Subaru Forester have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns for this year, covering seat belts, airbags, and the electrical/ignition switch system.
- How does the 2012 Forester compare to other years?
- It ranks 15th worst out of 21 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 30, better than 2009, 2010, 2011, and several later years like 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, which earned Avoid verdicts.