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.

Deciding between model years? Compare the 15 Subaru Impreza years we've written up →

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.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25

NHTSA holds 242 owner complaints for the 2012 Subaru Impreza, and 6 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 43% of them are about one thing — airbags. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.

6 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Not written up yet: electrics and electronics (30 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.

Looked at and set aside: airbags (105) — 105 airbag complaints on file, almost always a recall matter rather than a repair bill; have a dealer check this VIN for open airbag campaigns and confirm any were performed.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2012 Subaru Impreza

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.

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 (estimate): $0 if covered, $3,500+ for a short block — about 41% of what this car is typically worth

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (56).

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 (estimate): $4,000-$6,000 — around 71% of what this car is typically worth

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (26).

Wheel bearing wearMedium

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

Repair cost (estimate): $350-$700 per corner

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (26), steering (10).

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 (estimate): $1,500-$4,000 — about 47% of what this car is typically worth

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (26).

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