2012 Subaru Forester Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 19 brake complaints for the 2012 Subaru Forester, 18% of that year's 105 total complaints. Two related brake recalls exist (campaigns 14V830000 and 14V311000), and owners reported 3 crashes and 2 injuries tied to brake issues, with median failure mileage at 28,000.
- Brakes complaints
- 19
- 18% of 105
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 28,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Brake pedal sinks to the floor or requires repeated pumping to stop the vehicle, sometimes even after a recall repair was performed.
- Soft or spongy brake pedal with extended pedal travel reported from the time of purchase, forcing pumping action to slow down.
- Brakes fail to respond or stiffen suddenly during low-speed driving, in one case preventing the vehicle from stopping and causing a crash.
- Brake hose replacement performed under warranty or recall did not resolve the stopping failure, with the problem recurring afterward.
- Intermittent clunking noise from the brakes when the pedal is depressed, sometimes accompanied by other electrical issues in the vehicle.
- Loss of braking response reported alongside unrelated stalling or steering loss while driving at highway speed.
When 2012 Subaru Forester brake complaints were filed
First complaint Dec 27, 2011, latest Apr 16, 2025.
Brakes recalls for the 2012 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 14V830000Dec 31, 2014Brakes200,064 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia that were remedied under recall 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. The brake lines may experience brake line corrosion due to salt water splashing on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector.
Risk: Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQQ-52. Notes: This recall is specific to affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI customers who had their car remedied under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. Subaru has determined that this remedy was inadequate due to incomplete repair instructions provided to dealers. Affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI vehicles that were not repaired under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014 will continue to be processed under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311. Affected vehicles not currently, or formerly, registered in the salt belt states identified in this recall are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
- NHTSA 14V311000Jun 10, 2014Brakes461,338 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Risk: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.
Brakes complaints by Forester model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many brake complaints does the 2012 Subaru Forester have?
- NHTSA lists 19 brake complaints for the 2012 Forester, which is 18% of the 105 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2012 Subaru Forester?
- Yes. Two recalls cover brake components: campaign 14V830000 addresses corrosion at a brake connector, and campaign 14V311000 covers brake system testing, both applying to the 2012 Forester.
- Did the 2012 Forester brake problems cause crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied 3 crashes and 2 injuries to brake-related complaints on the 2012 Forester.
- At what mileage do 2012 Forester brake problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on the 2012 Forester is 28,000 miles.
- How does the 2012 Forester compare to other years for brake complaints?
- The 2012 Forester's brake complaints made up 18% of its total complaints, a higher share than most other model years listed, which range from 2% to 15%.