Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Subaru Outback
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Subaru Outback has 16 NHTSA recall campaigns and 295 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V297000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V008000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V007000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V009000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V626000 Electronic Parking Brake may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V012000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V014000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V694000 Windshield Wiper Motor Bottom Cover may Melt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V078000 Wiper Motor Bottom Cover Melting NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V077000 Moonroof Glass - Separation/Detachment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V061000 Remote Engine Starter Fob Malfunction NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V047000 SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG INFLATOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V562000 INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 108 complaints
- Engine 50 complaints
- Air Bags 39 complaints
- Electrical System 37 complaints
- Service Brakes 36 complaints
- Unknown or Other 24 complaints
Of the 295 complaints on file, 15 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 295 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,900–$7,200AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Subaru Outback has an average reliability rating. Notable issues include frequent power train and engine complaints. Recalls mainly highlight airbag inflator and parking brake concerns, reflecting potential safety risks.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 70,000–100,000 miles | $1,200–$1,800 | very common |
| engine | 80,000–110,000 miles | $1,000–$1,500 | common |
| brake system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$700 | common |
| airbags | 60,000–100,000 miles | $200–$500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Tire rotations
- Brake inspection and maintenance
- Transmission fluid check
- Coolant system flush
- Belt and hose checks
- Battery health check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Delayed shifting
- Engine hesitation
- Brake pedal feels soft
- Dashboard warning lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Subaru Outback at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.