2012 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

50Engine complaints

17.2%Of all 290 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN102 · 35.2%

ENGINE50 · 17.2%

AIR BAGS39 · 13.4%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM35 · 12.1%

SERVICE BRAKES34 · 11.7%

Share of the 290 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Subaru Outback overview page.

What owners report

“5 DAYS AFTER 120K MILE DEALER SERVICE (ALL WORK IS DONE BY SUBARU DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED) MORE DASH LIGHTS THAN WHAT SULLY SULLENBEGER HAD…”NHTSA complaint 11102597 — filed 06/19/2018

“AT TIMES, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT KIND OF SHUDDERS FIRST AND THEN JUST…”NHTSA complaint 11099584 — filed 06/04/2018

“MY WELL-MAINTAINED SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED WITH 102,773 MILES OVERHEATED AND BLEW A HEAD GASKET OUT OF THE BLUE. JUST HAD THE MAJOR 100K MILE PREVENTIVE…”NHTSA complaint 11099254 — filed 06/01/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Subaru Outback have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Subaru Outback: 50 of 290 complaints on file (17.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Subaru Outback have in total?

290 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 14 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.