This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Subaru Impreza steering problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 10 steering complaints filed for the 2012 Subaru Impreza, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Subaru Impreza in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcingan extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) GearBox Assembly for certain 2012-2018 MY vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcing an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for the Electronic Power Steering Gear Box Assembly for certain 2012-2018 MY vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗As part of Subaru of Americaâs dedication to customer satisfaction, this letter is to inform you of an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for your vehicleâs Electronic Power Steering Gear Box Assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗IMPORTANT: This Service Bulletin has been as been replaced by TSB 04-24-18 dated 11/9/2018 entitled ?Increased Steering Effort when Cold, DTC C2532?. Please refer to this new bulletin for the latest information regarding this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe the 2012 Impreza's power steering as unreliable and unsafe. Failures range from sudden, complete loss of assist while driving to delayed engagement taking 20+ minutes after engine start. One owner lost steering completely for four days; another drove 0.7 miles to a dealer without power assist after a short parking stop. The steering frequently pulls hard to the left, pulling the car toward oncoming traffic in some cases. EPAS warning lights illuminate inconsistently—sometimes extinguishing after restarts, complicating diagnosis.
Dealers have identified cracked gearboxes as the root cause in multiple cases and acknowledge a service bulletin for this issue, yet Subaru has not issued a recall. Repairs involve replacing the entire rack-and-pinion assembly, the power steering pump, or the EPS wiring harness. One certified mechanic-owner discovered damaged tie rod threads from repair work. A steering roll connector failure also caused intermittent horn loss. One owner reports being unable to buy replacement parts because dealers cite recall concerns that don't officially exist. Failures occur anywhere from 21,500 to nearly 165,000 miles, and some owners report the problem was ongoing for months without resolution.
Same Subaru Impreza steering reports on nearby years: 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Power Steering (EPS) System Failure
Complete or partial loss of power steering assist, rendering the vehicle difficult or impossible to steer, particularly at low speeds. Failures are intermittent or persistent, with EPAS warning light illumination. Some owners report steering pulls to one side (typically left) due to uneven assist.
When: Between 21,500 and 164,964 miles; some failures occur shortly after engine start (within 20 minutes of driving), others occur during normal operation or after the vehicle has been parked
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering assist while driving; Steering wheel vibration; EPAS or power steering warning light illumination; Steering wheel pulling to the left; Delayed power steering engagement (20+ minutes after engine start); Intermittent horn inoperability (related to steering roll connector failure)
Codes mentioned: EPAS warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement, ABS module replacement, steering roll connector repair, power steering pump replacement. One owner reported tie rod threads damaged during repair work.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru confirmed no recall exists for the steering failures reported. A service bulletin (number not specified in narratives) is known to address cracked EPS gearbox issues, but no recall has been issued. Manufacturer referred some complaints to NHTSA.
Cracked EPS Gearbox
Internal gearbox failure within the electronic power steering system, resulting in power steering loss or degradation. This appears to be a known issue with a service bulletin, but remains unrecalled.
When: Unspecified mileage; failures occur during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Partial loss of power steering assist; Steering pulling to one side; Sudden loss of steering control; Uneven power assist between directions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis confirms cracked gearbox. Repair details not provided in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletin exists for cracked EPS gearbox issue; no recall issued as of complaint dates.
Power Steering Pump Failure
Complete failure of the mechanical power steering pump, requiring replacement. Failure can be accompanied by downstream steering rack damage.
When: 57,000 miles reported in one complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering functionality; Subsequent steering rack damage after pump replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering pump replaced; steering rack later found to be damaged and in need of repair.
Cracked EPS Wiring Harness
Wiring harness fault in the electronic power steering circuit causing complete power steering failure.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected power steering failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer verified and diagnosed cracked wiring harness; repair details not provided.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Hard left steering sudden loss of control to right while in motion 97k miles faulty rack and pinion mechanic verified 12/31/2018 860-774-4514 (ron-owner) *dt consumer stated design defect. *jb
Car was driven to a grocery store and was parked for approx. 15 minutes. Upon starting the car and placing it in reverse, the steering wheel vibrated and the power steering ceased to function accompanied by an epas warning light displayed on the dash. The light extinguished after two restarts, but re-lit upon slight movement of the steering wheel with momentary vibration and loss of power assist.…
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2012 Subaru Impreza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 46,500 and 96,000 miles, with the median around 73,557. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,500; a quarter make it past 96,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.