2012 Subaru Impreza Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

55Engine complaints

22.7%Of all 242 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS105 · 43.4%

ENGINE55 · 22.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30 · 12.4%

POWER TRAIN26 · 10.7%

SEATS15 · 6.2%

Share of the 242 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Subaru Impreza overview page.

What owners report

“MY SON'S 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA, WAS BOUGHT USED, WITH 59,000. MILES, WITH HOPE OF OWNING A RELIABLE, SAFE VEHICLE ON 2/11/16. ON 6/26/16 HE WENT…”NHTSA complaint 10903535 — filed 09/04/2016

“AFTER LAST OIL CHANGE AT 43,000 MILES THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 2,000 MILES. OIL LEVEL WAS OVER A QUART LOW. I FOUND NO…”NHTSA complaint 10789826 — filed 11/11/2015

“I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY 2012 AND HAVE CONSISTENTLY ADDED 1 QUART +/- APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1,200 MILES, MORE OFTEN…”NHTSA complaint 10731342 — filed 06/30/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Subaru Impreza have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Subaru Impreza: 55 of 242 complaints on file (22.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Subaru Impreza have in total?

242 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 10 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 6 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.