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severe Owners of the 2012 Subaru Impreza have filed 25 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Impreza | 7 |
| 2009 Impreza | 8 |
| 2010 Impreza | 5 |
| 2011 Impreza | 9 |
| 2012 Impreza (this page) | 25 |
| 2013 Impreza | 32 |
| 2014 Impreza | 17 |
| 2015 Impreza | 18 |
| 2016 Impreza | 12 |
Among the 15 model years of Subaru Impreza in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Electrical failures in the 2012 Impreza cluster around three problem areas: occupant detection sensor malfunction, HVAC connector overheating, and ignition key release failure.
Occupant detection system (ODS) faults dominate. Owners report the passenger airbag warning light illuminating even with a passenger seated, or the system turning off airbags in response to moisture—sweat, wet clothing, damp seat cushions, or ambient moisture. One internal Subaru memo from August 2012 acknowledged that water on the seat causes airbags to disable until the cushion dries. Dealers have reset sensors without fixing the root cause. Some owners cite recall WQT-55 (NHTSA 15V419000) performed but not actually completed; others faced dealer refusal to repair without a stored diagnostic code. The sensor also misdetects occupancy based on passenger weight or appears to suffer electronic interference from phones or tablets.
HVAC heater control connectors overheat and burn, creating fire risk. Multiple owners describe melted plugs on the blower motor resistor harness or climate control unit connectors, some catching fire outright. Replacement parts have then failed with the same burning symptom. One owner confirmed garage inspection; others note the condition in summer and winter separately.
Ignition key sticking occurs frequently—owners report the key refusing to eject from the cylinder on 50% of turns or more. It requires multiple clicks, foot-on-brake maneuvers, or waiting five minutes for release.
Additional electrical issues include engine stalls triggered by phone use or audio cable disconnection, random check-engine and traction control light combinations, and airbag warning lights cycling during high-altitude driving.
Same Subaru Impreza electrical reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Passenger airbag warning light illuminates or airbags disable when a passenger is seated, or system falsely detects empty seat. Triggered by moisture (sweat, wet clothing, damp seat) or remains off until seat dries. Also responds to passenger weight and possible electronic interference from phones/tablets.
When: Reported from 5,700 miles through 30,000+ miles; recurring across driving conditions (cold, hot, high altitude)
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag OFF warning light on with passenger in seat; Airbag disables when seat is wet or damp; Seatbelt warning chimes with light objects on seat; Airbags turn off during driving at high altitude or near phones/tablets; Light extinguishes after car restart or 20-minute drive
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealer replacement of occupant detection sensor; one owner cited dealer refusal until Subaru corporate intervention. Recall WQT-55 (NHTSA 15V419000) performed but not properly completed at some dealers; verified failure at second dealer location. Replacement cost cited as $1,700+.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Internal Subaru memo (August 2012) acknowledges moisture-triggered airbag disabling, states airbags designed to remain off until cushion dries. Recall WQT-55 issued; dealers instructed to perform work but some falsified completion. Subaru support described as slow and unresponsive when issues persist post-recall.
Blower motor resistor harness connector or climate control unit plug overheats, melts plastic, and burns or catches fire. Risk occurs in both summer and winter. Replacement connectors exhibit same failure.
When: Reported at 115,000 miles and in recent model years (July–August 2023, September 2024–April 2025); timing spans hot and cold months
Symptoms owners cite: Burning smell from HVAC unit or dashboard; Melted or charred plastic connector on heater control plug; HVAC unit suddenly shuts off; Smoking connector; AC/heater stops working
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced heater control unit/connector at own cost. One owner reported same burning issue occurred again after replacement with new part. Used auto parts locations reported same failure on at least 3 other vehicles.
Key refuses to eject from ignition cylinder or requires multiple clicks and extended time (up to 5 minutes) to release. Occurs 50% or more of the time on one vehicle; another shows increasing frequency. Workaround of shifting to neutral then back to park sometimes works but unreliable.
When: Intermittent occurrence; escalates in frequency over time
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not turn beyond second click out of three required clicks; Key locked in ignition for extended period; Multiple attempts needed to release key; Confusion about parking status due to inability to fully remove key
Engine shuts off unexpectedly when phone call received or audio cable disconnected, while heater blower, lights, and radio remain operational. Phone not connected via Bluetooth at time of incidents.
When: Reported in 2013–2014 (Nov 2013, Jan 2014)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls during phone call or audio cable disconnect; Heater blower, lights, radio continue functioning; Vehicle restarts normally after stall
Check engine and traction control warning lights illuminate simultaneously. Dealer attributed initial incident to dirty camshaft sensor; subsequent diagnosis revealed failed oil pressure valve. At other mileages, ABS and tire pressure warning lights blink concurrently.
When: Reported at 15,000 miles (combined lights) and unspecified later occurrence (ABS/tire pressure)
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light and traction control light on simultaneously; ABS light and tire pressure warning lights blinking; Multiple warning lights activated at once
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pressure valve replacement resolved check engine/traction control combination. One owner reported dealer serviced vehicle one week prior with no codes found.
Brake lamp switch failed, disabling brake lights. Owner diagnosed and repaired in 2018 based on information from other Subaru owners experiencing the same fault.
When: Failed in 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights non-functional
Repairs/costs cited: Brake lamp switch replaced by owner. No receipt retained; Subaru later refused reimbursement under 2019 recall due to lack of documentation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued recall in 2019 for brake lamp switch replacement but denied reimbursement without receipt. Continues to flag vehicle as open safety recall despite repair; owner reports persistent and increasingly insistent recall notices.
Battery failed at 22,767 miles (vehicle ~1 year 10 months old). Alternator also required replacement at same mileage.
When: At 22,767 miles, approximately 1 year 10 months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Battery failure; Alternator failure
Repairs/costs cited: Battery and alternator replaced at dealer.
Airbag warning icons (driver and passenger side) light up randomly on dashboard. Passenger airbag OFF status switches even with passenger seated. Seatbelt warning sound triggered by light objects on seat. Happens at high altitude (Pikes Peak, CO) and possibly related to passenger phone/tablet use.
When: Reported 5 occurrences in one day while driving at high altitude; intermittent at other times
Symptoms owners cite: Stability control warning lamps light up randomly; Airbag warning lamps light up randomly; Passenger airbag OFF even with passenger seated; Seatbelt warning alarm triggered by light objects on seat or iPhone on empty seat; Multiple warning lights cycle on and off
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic unable to diagnose; no stored codes when lights are off.
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
The AC unit suddenly shutoff and there was a burning smell while I was driving. It turns out that the connector on the back of the climate control unit had either drawn too much current, or the resistance was too high, and the connector had started burning. Fortunately, the melted plastic interrupted the electrical connection, and the fire had went out on its own. It looks like this is not an…
2012 impreza... Bought new, nothing but headaches. All problems listed below occurred before I had even owned the car 2 years. 1. At 8-10k miles - while driving car would randomly turn off passenger airbags and illuminate no passenger seatbelt on the dash. Took car to dealer 3 times. Dealer refused to fix as the "error was not stored in the computer." suggested cell phone was the problem even…
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…
It's a meaningful issue. 25 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover electrical issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.