I backed up in my driveway and shifted into drive and I noticed a lag time of about 2 seconds shifting from reverse to drive. I contacted the Subaru dealership and the staff assured me that was normal for the CVT transmission. When I took the Subaru impreza for the 2500 mile check up and spoke to the service manager at the dealership, he also felt that this was a safety issue especially when…
2012 Subaru Impreza powertrain problems
moderate 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What stands out
Owners have filed 25 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 15 model years of Subaru Impreza in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2012 Subaru Impreza models consistently report CVT transmission failures starting around 58,000 miles and continuing through the life of the vehicle, with many failures occurring at or just beyond the 100,000-mile mark. The transmission either stops responding to throttle input (engine revs but car won't accelerate), stalls unexpectedly at highway speeds, or fails to engage drive and reverse gears. Multiple owners experienced sudden loss of power while driving 60+ mph on busy interstates—an immediate safety threat to the driver and surrounding traffic.
Diagnostic codes P2764 (TCC solenoid circuit) and P0700 (transmission control system) appear repeatedly. Owners report the underlying issue is a failing solenoid and valve body, but replacing the solenoid doesn't solve the problem; one owner's solenoid shorted out again just six months after repair, suggesting deeper transmission wear. Dealerships quote $1,700 for valve body replacement or $8,900–$10,000 for full transmission replacement.
Subaru extended the CVT warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles, but owners are skeptical about the timing and note that failures just beyond 100k miles receive no coverage. The dealership recommended trade-in rather than repair for some customers. Additionally, owners report slow gear engagement from reverse to drive, excessive throttle sensitivity causing surging at low speeds, and one instance of a gear shifter stuck in park—all treated by the dealership as normal CVT behavior.
Same Subaru Impreza powertrain reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2013 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
CVT Transmission Failure / Loss of Power
Complete CVT transmission failure resulting in sudden loss of acceleration, inability to shift into gear, or vehicle stalling while in motion. Owners report the transmission either stops responding to throttle input, locks up, or fails to engage drive/reverse gears entirely.
When: Failure mileage ranges from 58,000 to 154,000 miles; some failures occur early without warning; several occur at or just beyond the 100,000-mile extended warranty limit.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not accelerate despite pressing pedal (RPMs rev but no speed increase); Vehicle stalls or stops suddenly while driving; Transmission fails to engage drive or reverse gears; Loss of power on highway at highway speeds (60+ mph); Check engine light, transmission light, and other warning lamps illuminate; Burning smell in cabin; Jerking, shuddering, or erratic shifting behavior; Vehicle unable to move when placed in gear
Repairs/costs cited: Full CVT transmission replacement quoted at $8,900–$10,000+; valve body replacement quoted at $1,700–$2,000; owners report solenoid replacement ($200–$500 range implied) is temporary fix that may mask deeper internal transmission wear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru extended CVT warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles for this model; owners report the warranty cutoff is suspiciously timed to cover most failures before mileage exceeds 100k. Some owners denied coverage just above 100k mileage. No full recall issued; only warranty extension. Subaru has offered partial reimbursement ($2,000–$3,500) toward repair costs on out-of-warranty vehicles; some dealers directed customers to trade-in rather than repair.
CVT Solenoid / Valve Body Malfunction
TCC solenoid and valve body on the CVT transmission develop electrical or mechanical faults, triggering warning lights and erratic transmission behavior. Owners report repeat solenoid failures suggesting a systemic underlying issue with the transmission rather than an isolated component.
When: Failures reported at 102,926 miles (first instance), 106,000 miles (second instance after repair); another at 146,000 miles with fluid properly maintained; occurs across the mileage range.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine, transmission, oil temperature, and vehicle dynamics warning lights illuminate; Sudden shuddering and loss of smooth acceleration; Vehicle shudders while driving; jerks erratically on acceleration; Burning smell before or during failure; Solenoid shorts out (electrical fault); Transmission stalls at traffic stops
Codes mentioned: P2764 (TCC Solenoid Circuit), P0700 (Transmission Control System)
Repairs/costs cited: TCC solenoid replacement and valve body replacement performed; owner reports solenoid replacement does not address the root cause and the same solenoid shorted out again 6 months later at 106,000 miles. Valve body replacement cost approximately $1,700; full transmission replacement may still be necessary if internal damage is present.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for this defect. Extended warranty (10 years/100,000 miles) covers solenoid/valve body repair if within mileage; some owners were denied coverage just above 100k miles. Owners allege Subaru is aware of the defect and intentionally limited warranty to 100,000 miles knowing CVT fails after that threshold.
Delayed Gear Engagement / Slow Transmission Response
Transmission exhibits slow response or noticeable lag when shifting from reverse to drive or when attempting manual shifts. Dealership acknowledges this as a handling characteristic of the CVT but owners and some service managers consider it a safety issue.
When: Reported early in vehicle life (2,500-mile check-up); appears to be a design trait rather than a wear-out failure.
Symptoms owners cite: 2-second lag when shifting from reverse to drive; Slow engagement into drive gear; Jerky or hesitant acceleration from a stop; Transmission will not allow manual shifting (locked out or ineffective)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; dealership claims this is normal CVT operation, but service managers have privately expressed concern to owners that it poses a safety risk, especially in traffic situations.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru (via dealer) claims slow gear engagement is normal for the CVT transmission design. No technical service bulletin or recall issued to address the concern.
Neutral-Like Behavior / Loss of Drive
While driving, the transmission acts as though it has shifted into neutral: the engine revs higher without the vehicle accelerating, and the car begins to decelerate. This occurs at highway speeds and creates immediate safety hazards.
When: Reported at 60 mph on highway; occurs without warning and resolves temporarily after shutdown and restart.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPMs increase but vehicle does not accelerate; Vehicle decelerates despite pressing throttle; Acts like transmission is in neutral gear; No warning lights displayed (in some cases); Manual shift attempts (if equipped) do not correct the issue; Issue resolves after vehicle is shut down and restarted
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership was unable to recreate the failure or retrieve stored diagnostic codes during testing. No repair was performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership reported no codes found and filed a claim with Subaru North America. Service technician stated he had never encountered this issue before. No follow-up action reported.
Excessive Throttle Sensitivity / Gas Pedal Surging
Gas pedal is extremely sensitive and causes the vehicle to surge at low speeds, making it difficult to control during parking lot maneuvering and low-speed driving. Multiple owners report this as a known issue with web forums discussing it widely.
When: Apparent design issue present throughout vehicle ownership; noted in low-speed maneuvering scenarios.
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal is oversensitive to input; Vehicle surges or jumps forward at low speeds; Difficult to modulate speed in parking lots; Abrupt acceleration in stop-and-go traffic; Jack-rabbit starts reported by some owners
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report that 'remapping' solutions are discussed on web forums; dealership indicates this is normal CVT behavior and does not perform repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru and dealership claim this is normal CVT transmission operation; no technical service bulletin or recall issued.
Gear Shifter Stuck in Park
Gear shifter fails to move out of park position, trapping the vehicle. This occurs alongside illumination of ABS and traction control warning lights, suggesting a broader electrical or control system issue.
When: Reported at 57,777 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shifter locked in park position; Unable to shift to drive, reverse, or neutral; ABS warning indicator illuminated; Traction control warning indicator illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Parts required for repair (related to NHTSA campaign 19V149000 for exterior lighting) were not available. Repair was not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru was not informed of this failure. Owner received notification of an exterior lighting recall (campaign 19V149000) but the required part was unavailable at multiple dealerships, preventing repair completion.
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2012 Subaru Impreza?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2012 Subaru Impreza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 25 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 57,777 and 129,000 miles, with the median around 102,926. A quarter of owners report trouble before 57,777; a quarter make it past 129,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Subaru/Impreza.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.