2012 Subaru Impreza Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where the gas cap was replaced; however, the warning light returned. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a diagnostic test and the contact was informed that the timing belt cover, cam carrier, and O2 sensors needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and agreed to cover a partial cost of the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11510843

Incident

Mar 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started smoking from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as an oil consumption and cam carriers failure. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where the diagnostic result was confirmed. The contact repaired the front timing seal gasket himself; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

NHTSA ID

11498286

Incident

Jul 10, 2022

Mileage

119,000 mi

Took 2012 Subaru Impreza to dealer on 2/07/22 for oil change and PA state inspections (60,130 mi). Maintenance and inspections performed without issues. Started car and noticed slight change in sound and vibration from engine that I attributed to cold winter day start up. A block from leaving dealership, the check engine, oil warning and vehicle dynamic control lights all illuminated at once. In the 2-3 minutes to turn around to go back to the dealership, the engine noise/vibration/roughness increased until the engine stalled with a sound like an air compressor shutting down. I brought the service rep out for him to try restarting the car but it barely turned/wouldn't start (despite new battery and having started fine previously that day). A service tech was brought out with an ODBII scanner and found timing skip error codes and pushed the car in to a service stall to diagnose. I was then told that I need a new engine. The engine was replaced at no cost using Subaru part # SOA402F500R1 Remanufactured Short Block and associated internal component parts and returned to me on 2/19/22.

NHTSA ID

11453018

Incident

Feb 7, 2022

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE TRACTION LIGHT AND OIL WARNING LIGHT CAME UP ON THE DASHBOARD. INITIALLY, THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE OIL VALVE. I DID BUT THE THE PROBLEM PERSIST. NOW THE ENGINE IS HUNTING. THE DEALER INFORMS ME THAT ENGINE IS NOT PUMPING ENOUGH OIL DESPITE THE FACT THAT SERVICE HAS BEEN DONE REGULARLY AT INTERVAL RECOMMENDED BY THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. NOW I AM TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11384756

Incident

Dec 10, 2020

Mileage

68,000 mi

CODE P0021 POPPED UP SHORTLY AFTER ENGINE HAD RATTLING NOISE AND SHUT DOWN. SOUND OF CILYNDER AND HEAD RUBBING AS ENGINE IS RUNNING WITH VERY LOUD SCREECHING

NHTSA ID

11372308

Incident

Oct 27, 2020

Mileage

71,639 mi

WHEN WE GE A OIL CHANGE THE OIL LEVEL IS VERY LOW. THERE ARE NO OIL LEAKS ANYWHERE ON THE ENGINE THIS IS NOT WHAT A ENGINE SHOULD BE DOING.

NHTSA ID

11340833

Incident

Jun 11, 2020

Mileage

71,717 mi

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A RATTLING NOISE ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER AND A ROUGH IDLE AT LOW SPEEDS. I THOUGHT IT MUGHT BE THE IDLER PULLEY--REPLACED THAT ALONG WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER. DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEMS. YESTERDAY IT BEGAN TO STALL AT IDLE AND LOW SPEEDS. CAR WILL NOT START. SYMPTOMS MATCH THOSE RELATED TO THE WTY 84R BULLETIN AND THE 18V772-7070 RECALL FOR BROKEN VALVE SPRINGS BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE VIN RANGE. THE CAR IS A 2012 IMPREZA--THE PROBLEM MATCHES THE PROBLEMS FOR THE 2012 IMPREZA.

NHTSA ID

11319924

Incident

Mar 31, 2020

Mileage

120,000 mi

BOUGHT THE CAR USED 90K MILES IN 2017. IT IS NOW AT 125,000 AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. THE CAR IS ACCELERATING AND REVING EVEN WHEN DECELERATING. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD I NEED A TOTAL REPLACEMENT. I DRIVE LESS THAN 20 MI/WK WITH THE OCCASIONAL ROADTRIP. THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE LASTED FOR MANY YEARS BUT, THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN GIVEN THAT SUBARU HAS OFFERED EXTENDED WARRANTIES IN REGARDS TO THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11317251

Incident

Mar 3, 2020

Mileage

125,000 mi

AT 150,000 MILES I NOTICED THAT IN THE MORNINGS ON COLD START UP I WILL GET A LARGE CLOUD OF BLUISH SMOKE THAT SMELLS LIKE IT'S BURNING, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS INDICATIVE OF BURNING OIL. I ONLY KNEW TILL RECENTLY THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND THAT IT IS NOW CLOSED BUT AT 150,000 MILES IT SEEMS LIKE IT MAY BE PRETTY EXCESSIVE.

NHTSA ID

11302710

Incident

Jan 28, 2020

Mileage

151,050 mi

DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND AFTER OPENING THE ENGINE THE FINAL DIAGNOSE WAS THAT THE VALVE SPRING FAILED

NHTSA ID

11280617

Incident

Dec 22, 2017

Mileage

120,888 mi

BENT FRAME: 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT, AWD W/PZEV, ORDERED 03/2012 NEW FROM JOSEPH SUBARU, FLORENCE, KY, W/42228 TO DATE 09/27/19. ORIGINAL COMPLAINTS DESCRIBED TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURE INCLUDE: *WHEN ORDERING THOUGHT THE CAR HAD A HIGHER ROAD CLEARANCE FOR RURAL DRIVING FROM PICTURES ON INTERNET, *DRIVING CAR IT WANDERS OVER THE ROAD, *TIRES DEFLATE (WORE OUT BEFORE 20,000 MI., SAVED TO REPLACE @ SEARS, MI 23850 IN 04/2016), SOME *PAINT CHIPPED OFF, W/*SLUGGISH 'TRANSMISSION' & 'BRAKING SYSTEM,' & BELT OR SCREECH NOISE UPON START-UP (NO ASSISTANCE FROM MANUFACTURER & DEALERS WHO DENIED PROBLEMS). WITH UNRESPONSIVE JOSEPH SUBARU DEALER/SERVICE BEING 75 MILES DRIVE 1-WAY, SO BY 6/12/12 TOOK CAR TO DEALER NEIL HUFFMAN SERVICE (NHS), LOUISVILLE, KY, ~22.4 MI 1-WAY, FOR SERVICE & HOPED FOR HELP W/ORIGINAL COMPLAINTS: NEW COMPLAINTS; *MASTERS CYLINDER & *COOLANT ARE TOPPED-OFF W/MOST OIL CHANGES AS FLUIDS SEEM TO EVAPORATE, *WINDSHIELD FOGS-UP UNLESS A WINDOW IS OPEN, ENGINE OVERHEATED & LOST OIL AFTER 3RD OIL CHANGE (SEEMINGLY DUE TO VALVOLINE OW20 SYNTHETIC OIL OF 08/07/2013, SO REPLACED W/SYNTHETIC OIL STABILIZER), WINDSHIELD WIPER FELL OFF & PIECE OF BODY-PART BUMPER COVER WAS FALLING OFF; PLUS HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY & ALTERNATOR @ 22767 MI. HAD TO TAKE CAR TO A LOCAL/REPUTABLE REPAIR SERVICE (MORTON'S) TO GET REIMBURSED FROM SEARS TIRE/AUTO CENTER FOR NHS, REPORTING, ON 01/2019, THE SEARS TIRES HAD BEEN MOUNTED IMPROPERLY, ALSO SHOWED REAR-BRAKES NEED REPLACED, HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS OF MAINTENANCE NEEDED DONE & THE CAR HAS 2 RECALLS. HOWEVER, AFTER MORTON'S FIXED THE IMPROPERLY MOUNTED TIRES, ASKED IF I HAD TROUBLE W/THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE (Y) OR IF IT HAD BEEN IN A ACCIDENT (N), THEN INFORMED THE CAR HAS A *'BENT FRAME.' MY VERTIGO GOT WORSE, SO I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET BACK TO KY FOR THE RECALLS, & CONFUSED & BUMMED-OUT ABOUT THE BENT-FRAME. WHAT CAN I DO?

NHTSA ID

11258614

Incident

Jan 16, 2019

CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11257555

Incident

Sep 20, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. REDDING SUBARU (481 E CYPRESS AVE, REDDING, CA 96002) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11245684

Incident

Dec 27, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, IT STALLED, THE ENGINE SHOOK, AND THE RPMS WENT UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11240815

Incident

May 19, 2019

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE THE PART WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). CLAY SUBARU (842 PROVIDENCE HWY RTE 1 NORTH-AUTOMILE, NORWOOD, MA 02062) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11220611

Incident

Dec 5, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO WEST HOUSTON SUBARU (17109 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77094). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS HIGH AND THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID

11219109

Incident

Feb 16, 2019

Mileage

175,000 mi

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STOPPED/STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE IN MOTION, THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, DRIVERS BEHIND ME HAD TO REACT TO MY SUDDEN/FULL STOP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11218302

Incident

May 30, 2019

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE THE PART WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CONTACT HAD BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP OR APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. KEARNY MESA SUBARU (4797 CONVOY ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111, (858) 278-7100) WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11217768

Incident

Oct 5, 2018

SUMMARY: OUR 'VALVE SPRINGS' RECALL ('SUBARU RECALL WTY-84. NHTSA ID 18V-722. DEC. 2018') TOOK FIVE WEEKS TO COMPLETE ARE DAMAGED OUR VEHICLE. A MANDATORY RECALL REPAIR SHOULD 'FIRST DO NO HARM', BUT OUR CAR WAS RETURNED TO US IN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE CONDITION THAN WHEN WE LEFT IT WITH THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE WORK. THIS DEALER IS REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, AND WE ARE NOW IN A POSITION WHERE WE MUST SELL THE VEHICLE, SEVERAL YEARS SOONER THAN PLANNED. TIME LINE: 4 FEB. 2019: DROPPED THE VEHICLE AT STEVENS CREEK SUBARU IN SANTA CLARA, CA. AT THIS TIME, OUR VEHICLE HAD NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS ' NO OIL LEAKS ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR, NO BURNING SMELLS, AND NO FUNNY NOISES. 7 MARCH 2019: CALLED BY DEALER AND ASKED IF I WISHED TO SPEND 'SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS' TO REPAIR ENGINE LEAKS THEY CLAIM TO HAVE HAD FOUND. I POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS OF OIL LEAKS WHEN I BROUGHT IN THE CAR, AND THAT I EXPECTED OUR CAR BACK IN AT LEAST AS GOOD CONDITION AS WHEN I DROPPED IT, BUT WITH THE RECALL ADDRESSED. CONCERNED THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE, I EMAILED TO THE DEALER A PHOTO OF MY GARAGE FLOOR SHOWING NO EVIDENCE OF OIL DRIPPINGS (ATTACHED). 9 MARCH 2019: PICKED UP MY VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED STRONG BURNING SMELLS, AND OIL DRIPPINGS BEGAN TO APPEAR ON THE FLOOR. 16 MARCH 2019: CONTACTED DEALER AND ARRANGED FOR THEM TO INSPECT VEHICLE. OPENED CASE NUMBER 1-41918146136 WITH SUBURU. E-MAILED PHOTOS OF GARAGE FLOOR, NOW WITH OIL DRIPPINGS (ATTACHED.) 20-22 MARCH 2019: DEALER PERFORMED A COMPLEMENTARY REPAIR TO 'RESEAL THE PASSENGER SIDE VALVE COVER'. 22 MARCH 2019: SYMPTOMS NOT IMPROVED. WIFE REPORTED HEARING NEW SOUNDS. SINCE THEN: DEALER CLAIMS THE PROBLEMS WERE PREEXISTING, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WERE NO SYMPTOMS BEFORE THE RECALL WORK, AND ARE REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11194462

Incident

Feb 4, 2019

Mileage

888,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE, COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED METROWEST SUBARU AT (508) 651-2000 (LOCATED AT 948 WORCESTER ST, NATICK, MA 01760) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD ONLY PERFORM TWO REPAIRS PER WEEK. THE CONTACT HAD TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SEPTEMBER OF 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11193596

Incident

Feb 6, 2019

Mileage

76,000 mi

SUBARU RECALL. I RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL ABOUT ISSUE WITH ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS ON MY CAR. I CALLED THE SUBARU DEALER AND ALSO WALK IN TO THE DEALER. THEY REFUSED TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR FOR ME. THEIR REASON WAS THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS YET. THEY WILL PUT MY CAR IN THE WAITING LIST. THAT WAS ALMOST 2 MONTHS AGO AND THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME BACK. WHATEVER THEY REASON THEY GAVE ME, THEY FAILED TO ADDRESS THEIR OBLIGATION. THE SUBARU DEALER I CONTACTED WAS MICHAEL'S SUBARU OF BELLEVUE. 888-418-0142

NHTSA ID

11190157

Incident

Jan 30, 2019

I RECEIVED A DECEMBER 2018 RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL WTY-84, NHTSA ID 18V-772. WHEN I CALLED MY DEALER, NORTHTOWN SUBARU, AMHERST NY, THEY TOLD ME TO CALL BACK IN LATE FEBRUARY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS YET. NOW WHEN I CALLED (3/4/2019) THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE TOOLS FOR THE REPAIR. THEY SAID TRY AGAIN IN APRIL. THE RECALL NOTICE SAID THE RECALL SERVICE SHOULD BE PERFORMED "IMMEDIATELY". IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE STALLING SO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. I EXPECT WHEN I CALL IN APRIL THEY WILL HAVE SOME OTHER EXCUSE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF OTHER SUBARU DEALERS ARE MAKING THE REPAIRS AND IF ANY ARE NEAR THE 14221 ZIP CODE. WHAT CAN A CAR OWNER DO IF THE DEALERS REFUSE TO MAKE RECALL REPAIRS?

NHTSA ID

11184013

Incident

Mar 4, 2019

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 MAY FRACTURE CAUSING AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION OR A POSSIBLE ENGINE STALL. CONSEQUENCE AN ENGINE STALL CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. REMEDY SUBARU WILL NOTIFY THEIR OWNERS. TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY THE FR-S OWNERS. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VALVE SPRINGS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 26, 2018. SUBARU OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-844-373-6614, TOYOTA OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AT 1-888-270-9371. SUBARU'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS WTY-84. DETAILS ISSUED 12/26/2018 RECALL ID 289102 NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 18V772000 VEHICLES AFFECTED 165,534 COMPONENT AFFECTED ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

NHTSA ID

11183430

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

THE IMPREZA CONSUMES A LOT OF OIL. BETWEEN 800-1200 MILES IM HAVING TO TOP IT OFF. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH IT SHUTTING OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING IT IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO IDEAS. NO LIGHTS TURN ON TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. IT'S THROWING NO CODE EITHER.

NHTSA ID

11174568

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

Mileage

66,343 mi

SUBARU RECALL FOR A FAULTY ENGINE PART IS PENDING REPAIR FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I CAN HEAR THE ENGINE SOUND CHANGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IDLING WHICH I THINK IS DUE TO THE ISSUE CAUSING THE RECALL. I AM WORRIED FOR MY FAMILY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11172429

Incident

Jan 27, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi