Home · 2012 Subaru Forester Wilderness · Complaints

What 105 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Subaru Forester Wilderness

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (105)Crash / fire / injury (21)Engine (27)Airbags (20)Speed control (18)Brakes (15)Electrical system (10)Fuel system (8)Body & structure (5)Transmission & drivetrain (5)Visibility & wipers (5)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (4)

5 of 105 complaints match · Visibility & wipers · clear filters

Jul 7, 2020Visibility & wipers

THE SUN VISOR MOUNT IS OF LOW QUALITY AND FAILURE ALLOWED THE VISOR TO FALL IN MY LAP WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY. NO VEHICLE DAMAGE OCCURRED. THE ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWS THE REASON FOR FAILURE. VEHICLE MILEAGE AT FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11337862

Jul 30, 2018Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD NOT BEEN STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT OR DEBRIS. THE DEALER (PIAZZA SUBARU OF LIMERICK, 105 W RIDGE PIKE, LIMERICK, PA 19468, (888) 690-2369) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11114571

Nov 2, 2015Visibility & wipers

THE DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR DROPPED OUT OF IT'S BRACKET, AND FELL IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S FACE, WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, STARTLING THE DRIVER AND BLOCKING DRIVER'S COMPLETE VIEW OF ON COMING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 10787689

Dec 2, 2014Engine & coolingVisibility & wipersBody & structureSeats

2012 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER STATED THE WINDOWS GLASS WILL NOT CLOSE. THE HEAD REST IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. REAR HATCH DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE WITHOUT BEING SLAMMED AND OPENED WHILE DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATES A CODE OF MISFIRING ON TWO CYLINDERS. *SS THE CONSUMER STATED IF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS WERE LOWERED WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE WINDOW GLASS SHIFTED OUT BEYOND THE CHANNEL IN THE DOOR AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO LISTEN TO A HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAL WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER DID CONFIRM A PROBLEM EXISTED, BUT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10654358

Feb 21, 2012Fuel systemVisibility & wipersBody & structure

FUEL MILEAGE WAY OUT OF WHACK. ON HIGHWAY AT 100-110 KMH AVERAGES 11 L/100KM SUNROOF LEAKS WHEN GOING THROUGH CAR WASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10448837

Working with the data? Download all 105 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Subaru Forester Wilderness verdict →