2012 Subaru Outback Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 59 engine complaints for the 2012 Subaru Outback, 20% of that year's 292 total complaints. Owners most often report the engine stalling at stops or when braking, plus oil consumption issues. Median mileage at failure was 102,773; no related recall is listed for this engine problem cluster.
- Engine complaints
- 59
- 20% of 292
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 102,773 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Engine stalls unexpectedly when braking or coming to a stop, sometimes at red lights or in reverse from a driveway.
- Engine hesitates on acceleration after stopping, which owners describe as dangerous in traffic.
- Vehicle burns through extra oil between changes, with owners reporting roughly a half quart used every 3,000 miles.
- Dashboard warning lights, including check engine and cruise control indicators, flash on and off before other engine symptoms appear.
- One owner reported a coolant leak followed by smoke and a fire after the check engine light came on.
When 2012 Subaru Outback engine complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 13, 2012, latest Mar 4, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2012 Subaru Outback
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Outback model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Subaru Outback?
- NHTSA lists 59 engine-related complaints for the 2012 Outback, which is 20% of the 292 total complaints filed for that model year.
- What is the most common engine problem reported on the 2012 Outback?
- Owners most frequently report the engine stalling when braking or stopping, along with hesitation on acceleration and increased oil consumption.
- At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2012 Outback?
- The median mileage at failure for engine-area complaints on the 2012 Outback is 102,773 miles.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Outback engine problems?
- No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaint patterns described by owners.
- Were there any fires linked to engine complaints on the 2012 Outback?
- NHTSA data shows 3 fires among the complaints filed in the engine problem area for the 2012 Outback.