U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Subaru OUTBACK problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

292 owner complaints analyzed

16 distinct recall campaigns

90,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 199 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 102 of 292 complaints (34.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	97	33.2%
Braking behavior	94	32.2%
Engine operation	83	28.4%
Steering behavior	14	4.8%
Electrical and battery issues	13	4.5%
Fuel system concerns	2	0.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train

102

Engine

Air Bags

Electrical System

Service Brakes

Unknown Or Other

Exterior Lighting

Steering

Power Train: 102; Engine: 50; Air Bags: 39; Electrical System: 35; Service Brakes: 35; Unknown Or Other: 24; Exterior Lighting: 16; Steering: 9

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 28; 100,000 to 149,999: 58; 150,000 and above: 27

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (58). 93 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2011: 1; 2012: 12; 2013: 17; 2014: 10; 2015: 8; 2016: 16; 2017: 48; 2018: 25; 2019: 60; 2020: 30; 2021: 23; 2022: 10; 2023: 13; 2024: 13; 2025: 3; 2026: 3

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 97 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 94 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 83 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10451209 · 2012-03-12 (March 12, 2012)

I WAS SETTING THE HOMELINK MIRROR ON MY CAR TO RECOGNIZE A PARTICULAR GARAGE DOOR OPENER. THE MIRROR IS POWERED SO I NEEDED TO LEAVE THE CAR IDLING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND BEGAN THE PROGRAMMING PROCESS. THE LAST STEP IN THE PROCESS IS TO ENGAGE THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER FROM THE MOTOR HEAD. TO PREPARE TO DO THIS, I EXITED THE CAR AND MOVED ON FOOT INTO THE GARAGE TO LOOK FOR A STEP LADDER. AS I WAS SEARCHING FOR A STEP LADDER AND AFTER A PERIOD OF AT LEAST ONE FULL MINUTE, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO "DRIVE" AT WHICH POI…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,692 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451209 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10467121 · 2012-07-23 (July 23, 2012)

IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2011 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, CVT TRANSMISSION. WE HAD TO WAIT A DAY FOR OUR OUTBACK BECAUSE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED DO TO A BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL. EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE OUTBACK WE HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN USING THE PADDLE SHIFTERS TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP. WHEN THE TACH SLOWS TO ABOUT 1100 RPM IN FIRST OR SECOND GEAR THE ENGINE THEN ACCELERATES TO UP TO 2500 RPM, SLOWING DOWN AND THEN SPEEDING UP AGAIN THEN REPEATING THE CYCLE OVER EVEN IF YOU APPLY THE BRAKES. SOMET…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467121 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10441373 · 2011-12-27 (December 27, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V562000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES) AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,464 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,464 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441373 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10445646 · 2012-01-27 (January 27, 2012)

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. WE HAD ONLY 2 INCHES OF SNOW DURING THE DAY, THE HWY. WAS MOSTLY CLEAR EXCEPT FOR SOME PACKED SNOW BECAUSE OF COLD TEMPS. BUT IT WAS MOSTLY CLEAR. WE COULD NOT KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT, IT WAS CONSTANTLY SWERVING. WE COULD NOT GO MORE THAN 45 MPH. ALL THE OTHER TRAFFIC WAS GOING AT NORMAL SPEED. NOBODY WAS SWERVING OR SPINNING OUT. WE WERE DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE HWY BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES BEHIND US AND THEN GO AROUND. WE HAD TO EXIT AT THE NE…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445646 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10619005 · 2014-08-05 (August 5, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR BRAKES WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE OTHER MECHANICS WHO DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT SOMEONE UNPLUGGED AND MISPLACED THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CLIP WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLIP NEEDED TO BE REPLA…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10619005 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10725259 · 2015-06-15 (June 15, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10725259 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10452906 · 2012-03-25 (March 25, 2012)

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS VERY POOR STRAIGHT LINE STABILITY. VEHICLE WANDERS WITHIN THE LANE AND REQUIRES EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL CORRECTION TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT DIRECTION. VEHICLE 500 MILES ON IT (350 DRIVEN BY OWNER) BUT IS NOW SITTING IN DRIVEWAY FOR FEAR OF PERSONAL SAFETY IF EMERGENCY MANEUVER IS NECESSARY ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10452906 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10464052 · 2012-07-03 (July 3, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DRIVER THEN TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH TO OFF AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO HIS DRIVEWAY WITH THE SWITCH STILL TURNED TO THE OFF OPTION AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES W…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464052 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10560704 · 2014-01-20 (January 20, 2014)

THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY OUTBACK HAVE BURNED OUT AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560704 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11427358 · 2021-08-01 (August 1, 2021)

Brake line failure. Burst under plastic gas tank cover.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11427358 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11551816 · 2023-10-25 (October 25, 2023)

No issues with the car since I bought it new and was dedicated to regular Maintenance. Less than a week after a regular scheduled oil change and driving on the main interstate highway cruising at 65mph, the car just suddenly jerked. I thought I had blown a tire but the Brake light came on and then soon after the engine light came on. I was able to get off the highway but the acceleration decreased to a slow crawl. I had it towed to the nearest Subaru dealership that morning in which they said the issue is that both 1 and 4 are not correctly fir…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11551816 at NHTSA ↗