Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Subaru WRX
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Subaru WRX has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V297000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V149000 Brake Lights May Not Illuminate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V009000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode 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 #18V012000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V014000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V830000 Brake Line Corrosion at Four-Way Connector NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V311000 Brake Lines may Fail due to Corrosion NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 1 complaint
- Power Train 1 complaint
- Steering 1 complaint
- Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Subaru WRX has an average reliability rating, largely due to issues with the airbag inflator module. Some complaints have been noted across multiple components, including vehicle speed control and power train, but these are relatively limited in number. Recalls mainly focus on significant safety issues like airbag inflator modules, affecting multiple states.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag inflator | 60,000–80,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | common |
| Brake lines | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| Ignition switch | 50,000–70,000 miles | $200–$400 | occasional |
| Brake light switch | 40,000–60,000 miles | $100–$200 | 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 change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Coolant change every 60,000 miles
- Transmission fluid check every 30,000 miles
- Timing belt inspection at 120,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unresponsive brake lights
- Engine misfires under load
- Ignition struggles to start
- Unusual noises from steering
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Subaru WRX at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.