2012 Subaru Outback Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Subaru Outback has a complaint index of 40, ranking 13th worst out of 21 model years, and carries a Caution verdict capped due to 16 recall campaigns. Transmission & Powertrain issues lead complaints at 37% of the total, with a median failure mileage of 90,000 miles overall.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 40/100
- #13 of 21 Outback years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 292
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 16
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 15
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 11
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 11 / 0
Top 2012 Subaru Outback problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain107 (37%)
- Engine59 (20%)
- Electrical System51 (17%)
- Brakes41 (14%)
- Airbags39 (13%)
- Other24 (8%)
- Steering9 (3%)
- Structure & Body9 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers8 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report airbags failing to deploy in moderate-speed frontal or side crashes, resulting in injuries.
- Vehicles reportedly rolled away unexpectedly after being placed in park or neutral, in some cases pulling in a person standing nearby.
- Electrical system complaints describe smoke or fire originating near the starter, alternator, or transmission area, sometimes preceded by shifting or all-wheel-drive traction problems.
- Owners describe engine compartment fires that spread quickly while driving on the highway.
- Some complaints note the parking brake design as inadequate for holding the vehicle in place on an incline.
2012 Subaru Outback recalls
16 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- NHTSA 20V002000Jan 2, 2020Airbags127,547 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 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." 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 TKB-20.
2012 Subaru Outback fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 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 Outback years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Subaru Outback reliable?
- NHTSA lists 292 complaints for the 2012 Outback with a complaint index of 40, ranking 13th worst among 21 model years. The verdict is Caution, driven mainly by 16 recall campaigns rather than complaint volume alone.
- What is the top problem area for the 2012 Outback?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 37% of complaints (107 of 292), with a median failure mileage of 101,000 miles.
- Does the 2012 Outback have airbag recalls?
- Yes, several campaigns address Takata front passenger airbag inflators, along with recalls covering the ignition switch and, on manual-transmission models, the electronic parking brake.
- How does the 2012 Outback compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 40, 2012 sits in the middle of the pack; years like 2017 and 2019 score much higher (90 and 95) and carry Avoid verdicts, while 2006 and 2023 rate Good.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Outback?
- EPA rates it at 22 mpg combined (19 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.