105 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Engine · verdict CAUTION 53/100
“I purchased the car Feb. 2026 from [XXX] in Seagirt. There were no problems with it. In Saturday April 18 , 2026 I was driving on Parkway north. As I paid toll at Tinton Falls toll I proceeded to go and the car made weird noises followed by a loud pop and black smoke and flames appeared under the hood. The car was engulfed in flames. I exited the car right away and starting walking away from it and called 911. They ”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Subaru Forester owner
“The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the brake pedal was inoperative. The contact then discovered that there was brake fluid leaking underneath of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Subaru Forester owner
“my vehicle has 52460 miles and was in southern oregon subaru for an oil change, when i was informed the engine was leaking oil. the service advisor said the cam carrier reseal was needed and it would cost $3380.00. i checked youtube and found that subaru forester from 2012 to 2019 engines have this problem. why should i pay this if subaru's engines have this problem.”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Subaru Forester owner
| Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 09/01/2019 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module SAFETY | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, A |
| 09/01/2019 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module SAFETY | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, G |
| 09/01/2019 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module SAFETY | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Col |
| 11/04/2019 | Electrical System:Ignition:Switch SAFETY | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles |
| 10/01/2017 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module SAFETY | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold |
| 13/10/2016 | Electrical System SAFETY | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The |
| 09/01/2018 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module SAFETY | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, |
| 10/06/2014 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings SAFETY | 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 Conne |
| 31/12/2014 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic SAFETY | 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, |
| 13/03/2012 | Seat Belts:Rear/Other SAFETY | SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 FORESTER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 26, 2007, THROUGH MARCH 13, 2012. THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR in the SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES LOCATED IN THE REAR CENTER SEAT |
On the federal record it scores 53/100: 105 owner complaints (7.5 per year on the road) and 12 recall campaigns, 11 touching safety-critical systems.
The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Engine, with 27 of 98 categorised reports.
The 2012 Subaru Forester scored 53/100 on the federal record.