Is the 2012 Subaru Impreza a good car?
An honest AI verdict — reliability, common problems, and real cost to own.
The 2012 Subaru Impreza Premium is a solid choice for those needing an economical all-wheel-drive vehicle. Beware of potential oil consumption and monitor the CVT closely.
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Pros
- All-wheel drive standard
- Good fuel economy for AWD
- Pleasant ride quality
Cons
- Reports of excessive oil consumption
- CVT transmission can be problematic
- Interior materials could feel cheap
Ownership at a glance
Common problems to watch for
- Oil consumption
- CVT transmission issues
- Rusting exhaust components
CarsJudge exclusive data
Active recalls (6)
The 2012 Subaru Impreza has 6 NHTSA recalls on record. Most recent: Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine (campaign 18V772000). All recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
- Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012 model year Subaru Impreza 4-Door and Station Wagon vehicles (except WRX/STI models) manufactured April 21, 2011, to February 16, 2012. In the affected vehicles,…
- Electrical System — Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehi…
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Pedals And Linkages — SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 IMPREZA SEDANS AND WAGONS (EXCEPT WRX/STI MODELS), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 21, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2011, AND LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 17, 20…
- Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles ma…
Real owner data from the CarsJudge fleet
2 2012 Subaru Impreza owners track this exact car in CarsJudge. Their real maintenance spend over the last 12 months averaged Compare similar cars
350/year — logged from actual service records, not estimates.
Recall data: NHTSA. Owner costs & MPG: anonymized aggregates from CarsJudge users who track this vehicle. Updated 2026-07-05.
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This AI-generated assessment is general guidance only, not a substitute for a professional inspection. Always inspect a used vehicle before purchase.