Model year guide

2012 Subaru Impreza

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Subaru Impreza is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 175 on record.

2012 Subaru Impreza — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Subaru Impreza at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints242
Combined24 mpg
Typical price$15,086

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Subaru Impreza recalls 6

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch NHTSA Campaign #19V149000 · 28/02/2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transm…

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #16V738000 · 13/10/2016

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 relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification NHTSA Campaign #15V419000 · 01/07/2015

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012 model year Subaru Impreza 4-Door and Station Wagon vehicles (except WRX/STI models) manufactured April 21, 2011, to February 16, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may deactivate if a front seat passenger operates a device that is plugged into the power outlet such as a music player or cell phone, or touches a metal part of …

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Occupant Control Unit with a modified one, free of charge. The recall began August 21, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQT-55.

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #13V061000 · 25/02/2013

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year 2013 XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote …

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages NHTSA Campaign #11V562000 · 29/11/2011

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 IMPREZA SEDANS AND WAGONS (EXCEPT WRX/STI MODELS), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 21, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2011, AND LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 17, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 23, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER THAT COULD MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE REQUIRED TO SLOW …

Fix: SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine NHTSA Campaign #18V772000 · 01/11/2018

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center a…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Subaru Impreza common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 242 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.

2012 Subaru Impreza MPG & running costs

Combined24 mpg
City22 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,975

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Subaru Impreza worth?

Low
$8,999
Typical price
$15,086
High
$22,400

From 173 comparable 2012 Subaru Impreza listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Subaru Impreza costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,875
Depreciation (5 yrs)$5,450
Total$20,325
Per mile$0.27

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($15,086) with the same model 5 model-years older ($9,619), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Subaru Impreza trims & engines on record

Trims
2.0i Premium PZEV · 2.0i · 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV · 2.0i Limited PZEV · WRX STI · WRX · 2.0i Sport Limited PZEV · Prm+AWP · Base · Prm Plus+S/R
Engines
2.0L · 2.5L

2012 Subaru Impreza vehicles on record

Other Subaru Impreza model years

2012 Subaru Impreza — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Subaru Impreza have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2012 Subaru Impreza. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Subaru Impreza?

Based on 242 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, service brakes, power train.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Subaru Impreza get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Subaru Impreza at about 24 mpg combined (22 city / 29 highway).

How much is a 2012 Subaru Impreza worth?

Comparable 2012 Subaru Impreza listings run roughly $8,999–$22,400, typically around $15,086 (from 173 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.