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2012 Subaru Impreza brakes problems

15 complaints (6% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 47,000. 2 crashes reported.

owner complaints
15
of this car's complaints
6%
typical mileage
47,000
crashes
2
recalls
1

Which part fails

Owners did not name a specific part.

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Subaru Impreza brakes problems in other years

1993200020052010201520202025

Specific symptoms reported on the 2012 Subaru Impreza brakes

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

ABS 6

Related recalls

Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkagesReported November 29, 2011 · 32,685 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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, 2011, through november 23, 2011. These vehicles may be equipped with a brake master cylinder that could malfunction and cause an increase in the amount of brake pedal travel distance required to slow or stop the vehicle.
Risk
The driver might misjudge the amount of brake pedal travel required to achieve the desired stopping distance. This could occur unexpectedly and without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder and if necessary, replace it, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during december 2011. Owners may contact subaru at 1‑800‑782‑2783.

Recall number 11V562000 · Recall details

What 2012 Subaru Impreza owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Mar 14, 2025 · Brakes, Suspension · 126,000 miles · CO

The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to stop immediately. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the control arms and brake lines were severely corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V311000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

Filed Feb 3, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · 164,964 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and was driven with manual steering. The failure occurred while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that approximately four days after the first failure, the steering wheel failed to move. Additionally, the vehicle was losing oil and one quart of oil had to be added every month. The contact stated that the power steering, ABS, TPMS, transmission automatic transmission fluid (ATF), and 4-WD failure warning lights were illuminated. The passenger occupant sensor chimed for the passenger to secure the seat belt consistently even though the occupant was seated with the seat belt buckled securely. The contact who is a certified mechanic had replaced the rack and pinion. The contact noticed that the threads on the tie rods were close in proximately risking the chance of damaging the tie rods. The ABS module had been replaced. The contact believed that the engine needed to be replaced but the engine was not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer confirmed there was no recall for the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 164,964.

Filed Dec 4, 2023 · Brakes, Electrical · MD

Brake Lamp Switch failed in 2018 - we diagnosed the issue, based partly on information from other Subaru owners who had the same problem, and replaced the switch. Since that time, the brake lights have worked fine. We reported this in a letter to Subaru after their recall for the brake lamp switch replacement in 2019. They refused to pay for the part as we no longer have the receipt (not having a crystal ball, we couldn't see any reason to keep it for more than a year in 2018). We did not contest this - in fact, I had merely asked, in my letter, that they note that the part had already failed and been repaired in their records - however, they continue to flag the car as an open safety recall and insist that we bring the car in to replace a switch that no longer needs replacing. I am filing this complaint in the hope that an official record of the incident will fix the records on our car, as their constant recall notices are becoming increasingly more insistent and annoying, and they have also inaccurately noted it as an open recall at the DMV.

Filed Mar 29, 2023 · Brakes · NH

While driving, I suddenly lost braking ability and the brake pedal would go to the floor before slowing the car. I drove slowly approximately 1-2 miles, using the emergency brake and downshifting to control my speed, stopping at a local auto repair garage. On inspection, on the brake lines had rusted through completely and the other was soft, leaking brake fluid.

Filed Nov 11, 2020 · Body, Brakes · 40,000 miles · NJ

When depressing the clutch pedal, there is a squeak coming from under the dashboard within the footwell area. Squeak is constant. For subaru has issued a service bulletin #12-190-15r to fix the clutch & brake pedal assembly for model years 2015-2016 but not before. It is my understanding that a crack in the assembly is causing this issue and if left unattended, ultimately could cause decreased or complete failure of the clutch and/or brake functionality. Subaru has redesigned the original part (#36004fg050) with a new one (#36004fg051) but has not offered to fix under an extended warranty. I feel this should be a lifetime part, which is critical to safely operating the vehicle, and any replacement cost to fix should be paid for by the manufacturer regardless of the vehicle's age. The attached picture is not from my car. I was able to find many of these photos on the internet as this is a very common problem.

Filed Sep 27, 2019 · Brakes, Electrical · IN

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?

Filed Jun 4, 2019 · Brakes, Engine · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 subaru impreza. The contact stated that the manufacturer failed to provide the part within a reasonable timeframe for the federal safety agency 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.

Filed Sep 28, 2016 · Brakes · 70,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 subaru impreza. While driving 30 MPH, the bolt attached to the brake caliper fractured. The vehicle was taken to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Aug 31, 2016 · Brakes · 65,000 miles · ME

Car with only 65,000miles, minimal braking since live and travel on country road. Had rear brake pads replaced. One month later, after long drive then car sitting for a week, master cylinder failed. Noted no brakes when started up the car again.

Filed Aug 14, 2015 · Airbags, Brakes · 20,000 miles · WA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 subaru impreza. While driving at 10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop. As a result, the contact crashed into a metal power box and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.

Questions about the 2012 Subaru Impreza brakes

Does the 2012 Subaru Impreza have brakes problems?

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the brakes of the 2012 Subaru Impreza, 6% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2012 Subaru Impreza brakes problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 47,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2012 Subaru Impreza brakes?

Yes, 1 recall: 11V562000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Subaru Impreza have bad brakes?

The Subaru Impreza model years with the most brakes complaints are 2002 (60 complaints), 2013 (25 complaints) and 2008 (21 complaints).

Other 2012 Subaru Impreza problems

Airbags 105Engine 56Electrical 30Transmission 26Seats 15Acceleration 11Steering 10Fuel system 7Wheels 7Body 6Visibility 6Suspension 5Lights 4Seat belts 4Tires 2Driver assistance 1Locks 1

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