Used 2012 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
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6 Years,7 Months with an Outback
Paul Hudson, 06/30/2016
updated 01/17/2019
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Car is great, dealer support for maintenance has deteriorated after 100,000 miles. Some "tech's" tend to recommend repairs for issues without detailed research into problem source. This sometimes leads to un-needed repairs and cost without correcting the original problem. Dealer not anxious to offer any compensation for un-needed work.
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2012 subaru outback
Jose Oxamendi , 09/10/2021
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Superbly build Superb on safety , the isight sistem , is a marvel of engineering Great driving balance and performance. Best AWD sistem on the industry Corner like a sedan The engine have serious problems with head gasket reliability, also thermostat and to make it worse, subaru have decide to joint the loose oil rims fashion...so, abnormal amount of oil is burn and destroying the catalyt converter creating a cathastrophe where you loose your engine . This happens at 80 to 100 thousand km This vehicle have the building philosophy of the Germans and Europeans.not the Japanese. Great driving experience under 80 000 km after that is a nightmare.
2012 Subaru Outback for sale near you
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1st Subaru
twrangham, 02/27/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
Ok, me being a newbie to the Subies, I wanted to give my initial impression as it only has 1k miles. So far so good. I went for the Premium model only because of the Bluetooth Audio (must-have if you own an iPhone). Other features such as Heated seats, power drivers seat, and the add-on rubber mats make this wagon pretty cool. I was a bit hesitant at first when trading in my almost new 2011 5.0 Mustang in for something more family-friendly, but the smooth CVT transmisison and great gas mileage are nice. Looking forward to some vacations and many miles in my new car. Only thing a bit odd was how the 3.6 wasnt really offered outside of the Limited model in my area.
Number 2 out of 3
Lorie M. Kennealy, 08/06/2018
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
5 of 9 people found this review helpful
This was our 2nd Outback. In 2015 we traded our 2001 Outback (LL Bean) in for or 2015 Forester Touring. I guess you could say we're sold or hooked on Subaru's. The only thing I can say about Subaru is that the cares they make are wonderful and long lasting with very very few problems. We love SUBARU !!!!!!!
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Troubled
stevenson5, 02/03/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
25 of 52 people found this review helpful
Something seems very off with the drivetrain -- CVT transmission or body. Steering vibration. Car wanders when on the highway. Otherwise a beautiful car.
Lemon!!! Pick something else.
SGraham, 08/08/2018
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
We bought this car new. Quality is non-existent. Cost of ownership is astronomical! For instance, suggested replacement of timing belt for maintenance purposes is $2000+. Now we have a faulty torque converter that will cost $1200 to repair. This vehicle kills on quick stops or sudden slowdowns at intersections. Other past issues include: faulty electrical, leaky hatch, broken audio, broken USB ports, murky headlight plastic, faulty headlights-expensive to replace, and on and on. We've owned other brands that have been easy repairs, safe, and good to 175K and 10 years old. Perhaps this car was among those that had falsified inspections done by bogus inspectors? Google Subaru Scandal.
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Would buy another in a heartbeat
CLR, 11/03/2018
updated 11/06/2020
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
This is a fun, peppy suv that wants to take off quickly. It is fun, comfortable , wonderful on snow/ice nd I will buy another at some point. The navagation system is complex but I think that issue was corrected since the 2018 navagation system works well on my husband’s new Outback. I have had a Volvo, Maxima, Lexus suv and others. Years ago lumbar seats were not an option but they are now and seats are very comfortable.
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Snow Gobbler off roader
John, 09/02/2015
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
7 of 15 people found this review helpful
So far the Outback 3.6R - 5 speed trans Limited w/nav. is a gem. No problems just maint. Ice cold air, MPG avg 26+ - hwy around 30+ smooth ride, quiet engine, snow gobbler and easy to drive. Keeping this car for another 5 years or longer. Have a 2013 Legacy limited 2.5i and it was flawless and just as good. Big front seats, quality leather; the black leather looks as good as it did in 2012. Paint is shiny. Glad I purchased the Outback over the other FWD V6 brands this car can't be compared to other vehicles it's in a class of its own. The H6 is so smooth and quiet its a pleasure to drive. What is really fun is the turning radius you can do circles with it...
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DO NOT BUY A SUBARU!!!!
thomas Tannler, 06/23/2019
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
4 of 8 people found this review helpful
This is the 5th Subaru I have owned and it will be my last. While my old models were the perfect work horse. I could navigate a busy city like Portland Oregon yet it was also great on the snowy slopes of MT. Hood. This one does not handle in the snow at all well. The visibility is awful. Everything breaks on this car on this car. The upholstery is the cheapest. After just 16000 miles it started to split at the seams. The front bumper is a piece plastic that frequently needs to be snapped back into place. DO NOT BUY A SUBARU!!!
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Love/Hate relationship Long Term
secondsubiesue, 04/20/2021
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Currently Sitting pretty at 165K, I am the second owner. It has been great for off-roading and mountain roads in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Back seat is big enough for 3 carseats when needed. I have the premium with the entertainment package and the heated seats. She has been reliably in the garage for the past month. I am on my third battery though my dealership insists that there was no wirig places that are "leaking power" I've replaced the thermometer but I still get the fun flashing lights that disable cruise control in the middle of driving on the highway with the thermometer malfunctioning bad warning (This can also indicate that the gas cap is loose). The best thing about it to me right now is that it is still holding trade-in value at 165K. My family owns four of them right now. If you are looking to purchase get 2013 or newer- they have changed to a timing chain and have far fewer issues.
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Overpriced. Needs a LOT of Expensive Repairs!
bob, 08/28/2015
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
10 of 23 people found this review helpful
Our 2012 has needed a new transmission with under 65,000 miles, new head gaskets, and a new timing belt. Altogether, we have paid well over $10,000 in repairs. It also go through oil very fast, the tires and brake pads wear out quickly, and the transmission fluid costs more than $300 per bottle!
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Steeriing problem at highway speeds
ouchback, 05/08/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
45 of 115 people found this review helpful
Are you in the market to buy a new Outback? If you are then don't act until you have read about the steering wandering at highway speeds. Go to subaruoutbackdotorg and do a search on wandering. There are lots of posts about this problem. We just bought a new 2012 (1800 miles now) and our car wanders at highway speed (50_ MPH). You have to constantly make corrections to keep the car on track. Very tiring after a while and dangerous at times. I would not have bought this car if I had known about this problem. I hope Subaru does a recall and fix this issue.
Perfect car
jstrap, 10/27/2011
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
20 of 55 people found this review helpful
I traded in my 2008 camry for a 2012 outback and I'm extremely happy with it. The level of comfort and smooth ride matches the camry only it sits up a little higher. I went through a broker so I didn't get my first choice in color but got a great deal. For $22.8k you can't beat it. The base stereo is satisfactory and it's not quite as quick as the camry but it's a lot of fun to drive and has AWD which comes in pretty handy in Colorado. This is the best car I've owned.
Don't buy!!!
Bad car, 10/24/2019
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
Do not buy a Subaru Outback. My transmission failed. I was not informed of the CVT problems when Legacy ford sold me this car. $4500 in repairs and owned less then a year. Not to mention the $800 i already spent. I guess I will be walking. 😡
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they don't make them like they used to
subienut, 03/02/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
8 of 24 people found this review helpful
Just bought my 5th subaru wagon. My 2003 is getting a bit rattly, and my 17 yr old needed a car, so for the first time, I didn't have a valuable subaru trade in, but she has a great car. In fact, every time I see that car, or others of that vintage, I feel a twinge of sadness. Those were the good ones! The 2012 doesn't have the same zippy pick up, the six speed has very short ratios in lower speeds, they don't offer a manual in the best edition, so had to add after market leather seats and interior wood trim, but these don't really look so hot. Handles like an SUV, interior is not well designed at all, and the dog barrier is a dangerous, clunky contraption that could injure a dog!
Best family car ever
rkymtnhi, 01/04/2013
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We now have about 13,200 miles on our Outback. Mostly been used for toting the kids to school, events and all the other household chores. We took it on a trip from Colorado to Minnesota over the holidays. First opportunity to drive on icy and snowy roads. The car is great in these conditions. Regarding MPGs. We average 28-32 in normal highway and byway roads. On the highway to MN with a fully loaded car, we dropped to 24-25 MPG with a fully loaded car going mostly about 75MPH. On the way back, I added a Thule 1600 Ascent for extra cargo space and dropped about 1-2 MPG more. There was a lot of wind in Iowa and Nebraska so it's hard to tell how bad the damage was from the cargo carrier.
Disappointed
bellet98, 09/04/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 18 people found this review helpful
I went from a 2006 Altima to a Subaru Outback wagon. I loved my altima, hate the subaru. The ride is horrible. I recently went on a 2 hour trip and my leg cramped up trying to keep my foot on the gas pedal. The gas pedal is extremely tiny and high and very hard to depress. I can't seem to get the seat adjusted to be comfortable and still be able to reach the pedal. The hard button is smack dab in the middle of the console so you accidently hit it all the time. Radio controls are also not very user friendly. My biggest complaint tho is how uncomfortable this car is to drive, especially on long trips.
Poor Design, workmanship, and service
keigzdad, 09/15/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
9 of 32 people found this review helpful
Our 2012 Outback passenger side seat molding has fallen off four (4) times. We have to drive 150 miles round trip to have it serviced. Last time it was "fixed" it had fallen off by time we arrived back home. Today we received a call from Karen Quinn at Subaru USA asking us to cancel our saturday appointment and reschedule for Tuesday because that is when their district manager is available. Seriously!? My wife is a COO for a health system and I am a university professor. Since when do we have to facilitate YOUR needs Subaru? Shouldn't you and your district manager facilitate OURS?
The good and the bad
sailormex, 07/15/2013
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
12 of 44 people found this review helpful
I bought this Car new in feb of 2012. I had ordered the 4 cyl but ever came on promised delivery date. After going to the dealer to complain about the non fulfillment I drove the 4 cyl model again on hills and found it seriously underpowered, deciding to take the 6 cyl model. At first this car was great (1 month). Then I had to make an emergency lane change and almost lost control of the vehicle. After 16 months I almost lost control of this vehicle 4 times, and decided to sell before getting hurt or worse. This car is very quiet and smooth, and is great if you drive REALLY slow. The engine and tranny are the best I've ever had (I've driven Audi, VW, Mercedes, jeeps and more) the
What a really nice surprise
superhoncho69, 07/07/2013
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
For starters it's the first import I've ever owned. We traded in a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 4.7 V8 that averaged 16.9 mpg no matter how easy you were on the gas pedal. It NEVER got stuck, but the mileage was backbreaking. The Jeep weighs 4700 lbs, and the Outback 3400 lbs, yet the ground clearance is nearly the same and acceleration with the 2.5 feels just as quick if not faster. Over 3 days of mixed driving we're averaging 29 mpg with better handling and tangible money saved at the pump. Interior quality is good, sound insulation very good, with TLC this vehicle will last many years. Looking forward to the first blizzard of 2013!
2012 New Outback Limited 2.5
oldhollow, 03/05/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
15 of 61 people found this review helpful
Just got the Limited 2.5 with sunroof, naviagtion and Im really impressed with the fit and finish of the car. Everything works as designed, and the quality of the paint is excellent. I am coming from an 2008 MDX that had a terrible paint job from the factory, the paint was very thin and would mark very easily. I got the car for the gas millage and was concerned that I would not have enough power. That is not the car, no need for the 3.6 for me.
Harmon Kardon USB port - what should it be able to play
zeffer51, 05/06/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 13 people found this review helpful
Just bought a brand new 2012 Outback 3.6R Limited with the Harmon Kardon upgraded audio system. I tested the USB port at the dealer with a memory stick that has lots of computer files and few audio files. The audio kept cutting out. Now I own the car so I purchased a new 8GB USB flash drive and copied only a few audio files to it. But it's doing the same thing. It plays for about 5 sec then cuts out, then plays a little and then cuts out. It does this sitting in the drive way so it can't be due to bumps. Anyone know if this system is supposed to play files on a regular USB thumb drive? It almost plays them so I figure it was designed to do so.
Don't Buy a Subaru!
leodog1, 02/20/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
24 of 114 people found this review helpful
Car has more blind spots than Hellen Keller! A death trap on wheels. Minor dent in rear finder costs $2K to repair! Gimmic rear view camera -- doesn't help backing at all. Grossly overpriced. Stay away from Subaru at all costs!!!!! Rattles like my Grandmother! Expect it to come apart at any minute. 5 months old and 2 recalls already. Replaced the new sunroof already! No free oil changes! God, what a mistake I made buying this thing! Never again!
great car
67celtic, 10/09/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After 16000 miles, no problem with my wife's 2012 outback. No problem on the highway at high speeds. Great car, different ride than our 05 outback.
Reliable except lights
D LARSON , 04/24/2020
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
No repairs other than normal wear items. My only negative of the car was the number of lamps replaced during its 105k miles. The battery was still in good condition and no charging issues.
Very versatile !
FEL, 05/28/2020
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Excellent utility vehicle with excellent traction in all weather conditions. Ground clearance is also a major plus when you are in uneven terrain. Performance and gas Mileage above average too. 211k miles and no significant issues.
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It's been a great car
Newtech, 12/06/2024
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have replaced the timing belt and ALL idlers involved. When asking when to do it again, I'm getting several answers. All parts changed were genuine Subaru parts. The owners manual specified changing the belt 130,000 miles I'm pretty sure. Recommended change intervals after the initial replacement are considerably fewer miles. One said 60,000 miles another said 90,000 miles. I'm a certified mechanic of 40 + years experience, and I don't understand why I should change it sooner when I used authentic Subaru parts to do the job.
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Best car I've owned.
Pablo, 02/19/2025
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have 70,000 miles on the Subaru Outback. It still drives like it had 100 miles on it. The six cylinder engine gives added weight and stability, especially driving through snow, where it excels. Always had the scheduled maintenance. Replaced the battery once. I wish they still made the six cylinder, mechanical transmission model.
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What's to dislike? (Apart from the slowness)
TheLegend27, 04/22/2025
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car because I needed something that was safe, reliable, looked good, and was good on gas. Fortunately, I got exactly what I wanted! I think the Cypress Green Pearl is a beautiful color. The interior is spacious and comfy, the handling is immaculate, the stereo is good, overall I love it. However, there is only one issue: the performance. The throttle response is sluggish and the engine is a total dog. Is it supposed to be fast? No, and I absolutely understand that. Unfortunately there just isn't enough power for what I need, which is the only reason I am not giving five stars. Besides the power issue, I think that my 2012 Outback 2.5i Premium PZEV is a wonderful car and I am very glad I bought it.
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Good long term vehicle
JLAz, 07/31/2018
2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
Best investment ever.
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Not great
nothappy9919, 12/29/2012
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is the only new car I have owned where I received 2 apologies from Dealer or service companies. After about 2000miles, I complained about transmission noise and the mechanic from the dealer apologized and said your stuck with it. At 12000mi, the front seat bolsters are going bad and the upholstory shop i was sent to by the dealer apologized, indicated Subaru is aware of the problem, that along with the hard to clean cloth seat covers. Subaru of America says they never heard of it so now starts the mess over warranty and for how long. The car is otherwise ok but far below what I expected
Best Subaru Yet
Greg B., 09/27/2016
2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is our 7th Subaru. We bought our first in 1982 and they just keep getting better. Would highly recommend these cars to anyone. Wish Subaru could hold the line on pricing though. They go up in price every year while my paycheck does not.
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