Buyer Research

2012 Subaru Impreza — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $6,000–$11,000. There are 3 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.

Kestrel Take

The first year of the FB-engine, CVT Impreza — standard all-wheel drive at a compact price. The FB20 dropped the head-gasket curse but brought oil consumption, and the first-gen CVT is the component to watch. Check both, plus tire matching.

Known Issues for the 2012 Subaru Impreza

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Excessive oil consumption (FB20)High — wallet impact

Subaru settled a class action over oil consumption on these engines. A quart every 1,000 miles was called acceptable. Running low damages bearings.

Repair cost range: $0 if covered, $3,500+ for a short block

First-generation CVT concernsHigh — wallet impact

Early Lineartronic CVTs had shudder and failure issues; Subaru extended warranties on affected years. Fluid service history matters.

Repair cost range: $4,000-$6,000

Wheel bearing wearMedium

A hum that changes with steering input, an AWD-car staple.

Repair cost range: $350-$700 per corner

Mismatched tires damaging the drivetrainHigh — wallet impact

Uneven tire wear or mismatched brands stress the AWD center differential and CVT. This is a real, expensive risk.

Repair cost range: $1,500-$4,000

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Oil consumption the seller calls normal
✗CVT shudder or whine
✗Four mismatched tires
✗No CVT fluid service

Good Signs

✓Documented oil consumption test or short-block replacement
✓Four matched tires and CVT fluid service records
✓Under 90k miles with dealer history

Found a specific Subaru Impreza?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2012 Subaru Impreza in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.

Other Subaru Impreza years

2018 Subaru Impreza

$11,000–$16,000