Model Year Problem Record
The complete public record for the 2012 Subaru Forester: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.
Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.
The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.
29 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
20 complaints; 8 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 17V014000, 18V012000, 19V007000, 19V008000, 19V009000, 20V001000, 20V002000, 20V003000.
18 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
16 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 14V311000, 14V830000.
10 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 16V738000, 19V297000.
8 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
8 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
3 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 12V099000, 22V838000.
3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
1 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 12V602000.
1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.
Seat Belts. Recall covering the seat belts system, reported to NHTSA on March 13, 2012. The campaign covers an estimated 326,014 vehicles across all affected models.
Lighting. Recall covering the lighting system, reported to NHTSA on December 26, 2012. The campaign covers an estimated 633,842 vehicles across all affected models.
Brakes. Recall covering the brakes system, reported to NHTSA on June 10, 2014. The campaign covers an estimated 461,338 vehicles across all affected models.
Brakes. Recall covering the brakes system, reported to NHTSA on December 31, 2014. The campaign covers an estimated 200,064 vehicles across all affected models.
Electrical System. Recall covering the electrical system system, reported to NHTSA on October 13, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 100,127 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 10, 2017. The campaign covers an estimated 53,480 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 9, 2018. The campaign covers an estimated 64,179 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 9, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 43,394 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 9, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 330,120 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 9, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 452,630 vehicles across all affected models.
Electrical System. Recall covering the electrical system system, reported to NHTSA on April 11, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 511 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 2, 2020. The campaign covers an estimated 258,813 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 2, 2020. The campaign covers an estimated 127,547 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 2, 2020. The campaign covers an estimated 111,562 vehicles across all affected models.
Seat Belts. Recall covering the seat belts system, reported to NHTSA on November 10, 2022. The campaign covers an estimated 16 vehicles across all affected models.
When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.
Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.