2022 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility/wiper is the leading concern among 463 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2022 reports, 10 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 6 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerMar 22, 2024
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-24.
Campaign 24V227000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, park/neutral start interlock switchNov 9, 2023
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
Campaign 23V755000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, windshieldSep 22, 2022
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Impreza and Outback vehicles. The incorrect paint clearcoat may have been applied, which can cause the windshield to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
An insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Subaru will offer owners a vehicle exchange or repurchase, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 21, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-22.
Campaign 22V712000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, engine control module (ecu/ecm)Jul 1, 2022
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Outback vehicles. The engine wiring harness may have been damaged, resulting in a loose electrical connection to the engine control unit (ECU).
A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the engine wiring harness and ECU, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-22.
Campaign 22V473000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: visibility/wiper
255 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Mar 20, 2022
Found the windshield cracked starting in the middle of the ream on the passenger side. I did not feel any impact point when running my finger on the crack line. Subaru dealer already replaced the OEM windshield for me. I am filling the complaint because I think this is still a quality issue with Subaru not only on the models before 2020 but also on models in 2022. If it is still the quality issue, it will affect to the safety of the driver.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 20, 2022
I bought the car in August and on September 15, the windshield cracked. No flying stones or other debris from the road. No noise aside from the sound of the glass cracking. I had it replaced using my insurance, but thought it should be reported for complaint trending purposes.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 18, 2022
Front windshield had to be replaced the same day it was driven off the lot. 2 weeks after replacement the windshield cracked again. Dealership and safe lite both claim it’s not their problem. Insurance stated if I continue getting the windshield replaced after every break then they are going to keep raise my rates because of frequently claiming issues. I paid almost $50,000 for this vehicle which requires 4hrs for replacement and programming because of the front facing cameras it requires for safe driving. 4 hrs …IF …no one else is already scheduled so I’m recommended to leave the car over night but no loaner vehicles will be provided. The additional film required to protect the exterior of the windshield is 300% more expensive than the windshield itself. Now every month I have to replace my windshield due to breaking and the obligatory film I and up paying approximately $500 per instance AND pay an insurance rate increase. How is this fair or legal? My car payment is already $750 per month. Monthly repairs for ONLY the windshield are equaling 80% of my already monthly expenses before any other costs. How is this fair or legal? Is there any open lawsuits I can join or any other options?
Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2022
Cracked windshield causing visibility issues. Does not appear related to damage.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 12, 2022
Within approximately 1 month of purchasing my windshield cracked for no apparent reason. Nothing that I am aware of hit it. It was parked in an area with no tree's or rocks for less than 20 minutes and when I went back to it I saw the crack. The crack starts from the bottom of the windshield (deicer) and goes up to almost half the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 10, 2022
My front windshield cracked within the first month of ownership. Thankfully I purchased the windshield repair warranty program that includes about five Replacements without extra cost. About a month after I replaced the windshield it cracked again. If this continues regularly I plan on taking this to small claims court
Visibility/wiper, Mar 2, 2022
A very short time, only weeks after new purchase, a very small rock impact resulted in large crack across entire windshield. Replaced with very costly genuine branded Subaru Replacement Part. 6 Months into the new windshield, while parked and without any impact, crack formed from the edge to the center of the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 1, 2022
While driving at approximately 55 miles per hour, a crack suddenly occurred in the lower passenger side of the front windshield. The crack extended to approximately 20 inches. There was no vehicle in front of the Subaru - no object struck the windshield. The failure mileage was 1100. When taken to the dealership, Subaru determined that the windshield was broken by "outer influences." When taken in to the Subaru dealership for repair, the new windshield had received "some shipping damage" and the repair had to be rescheduled.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2022
While parked and without any impact a Crack formed from the edge to the center of the windshield. There was no impact While driving previously and to this point there is still no impact damage, just a smooth crack accross half the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 19, 2022
In first 5,000 miles two windshields have cracked. The first had NO obvious impact. The second was hit by a VERY SMALL pebble (<1/4”). Seems like Subaru hasn’t resolved their windshield issues.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 10, 2022
On 9 February 2022 I was driving the vehicle when a Crack appeared on the front driver's side of the windshield. No object hit the windshield before hand that had caused a chip or Crack. The Crack extends from the bottom drivers side up about 1/4 of the height of the windshield and then takes a turn towards the passenger side approximately 9 inches.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 4, 2022
My windshield has cracked for the second time. I didn’t hear anything and there is no mark of impact, just about a 5 inch crack. It’s coming up from the bottom middle of the windshield. I’m not sure what’s causing this. But this will be the second time I have to replace the windshield on my brand new car. Something needs to be done about this.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 29, 2022
Spontaneous front windshield break, no rock impact or prior chip contributed to the window breaking. The car was simply turned on and the passenger side of the window cracked - the crack has since grown considerably in size. I have attempted to put a claim down at the dealership (visited on site, they have inspected), but there has been no follow-up in the last 3+ weeks. I have also reached out on multiple occasions to speak to someone (such as a service manager) and have not received any response. I do not feel safe driving around as, apparently, the eye-sight system works in conjunction with the windshields. After searching the Internet, this appears to be a reproduced phenomenon.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 27, 2022
A truck ahead/beside me kicked out a small stone that hit my windshield and created a 1" star in the lower left corner of the driver's side. I traveled 2 more miles to get the star repaired, but just before I got to the auto glass shop the star cracked 3 different ways, so I went home to call for repacement bids. Overnight, with the car garaged, the cracks increased in size across the driver's field of vision. It will be $1,700 to replace AND do the required Eyesight forward cameras recalibration. The car has just over 3,100 miles on it. I read abouty Subaru Outbacks having so many problems with this exact issue, that there was a lawsuit and Subaru was forced to cover repairs. I feel this issue is still happening and my windshield should be covered by Subaru.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 26, 2022
I purchased a 2022 Subaru Outback in late August 2021. I had been driving regularly under normal driving conditions and no adverse weather. Fall temperatures neither very hot, nor very cold. On 10/10/21 I woke up to a crack in the windshield extending from the passenger side windshield edge to the center of the windshield. No impact chip is visible, or by touch. No known rock or debris impact while I was driving. I have been very careful with my nice new car and this was extremely disappointing.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 23, 2022
On 1/3/22, less than 3 months and 3,000 miles since purchase, a “no impact” crack appeared from the lower quadrant of the windshield in a lazy “s” towards the center of the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 18, 2022
2022 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium developed a spontaneous ~ 20 inch crack in the upper passenger quadrant of front windshield from the upper edge downward overnight. The windshield was not chipped or damaged. The vehicle was less than 4 months old and had driven 5732.7 miles and was parked at the the time the crack appeared. The low temperature in the previous 24 hour period was 3° F.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 17, 2022
Drove car to and from work in the morning, no visible crack on windshield. Parked in garage 1-2 hours. Came back and found 12+ inch crack starting at base of passenger side windshield in an L shape. Don't remember getting hit with any debris while driving and there is no visible impact point. It was cold outside but can't remember if I used the defrost/deicer. A little research online shows this problem is not new to Subaru on former models. Only 2200 miles on the car and owned for 1.5 months. Not cool.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 17, 2022
Brand new 2022 Outback XT driven 500 miles. Got hit by the tiniest rock that left a barely visible chi on the lower right passenger side. By the next morning it had cracked and spread across half of the windshield. One week later, the same thing happens but on the driver side and now the cracks have connected forming one massive crack. I am hesitant to replace this since it sounds like windshields continue to crack.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 15, 2022
Started the 2022 outback on very cold Midwest winter day. When the car warmed up, the windshield proceeded to crack. ( It only has 7,500 miles on the odometer.) The crack is about 18 inches long and is across the drivers side making it a visual hazard. The windshield used by Subaru must be of poor quality and surely I cannot be the only person who has had this issue. No reason for this to occur just because it is cold. Magically, this is not covered by warranty and cost out of pocket $ 1100
Visibility/wiper, Jan 3, 2022
Front windshield had a spontaneous crack form from some point out of sight under the bottom seal, just right of the center of the windshield. The windshield had no chips, and the car is four months old. This took place in early morning, before sunrise, with an outside temp. of 20 degrees F showing on the car thermometer.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 22, 2021
The windshield had a 12-inch crack starting at the driver's side midway up in an L shape. There was no visible rock damage and the vehicle was sitting in my garage when it cracked. Obviously, no one was hurt but the windshield had to be replaced right away with only 9000 miles on my car. The damage occurred on December 18th, 2021, and was repaired on Dec. 21., 2021.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 22, 2021
Vehicle had 2,000 miles on it and a very small rock impact chipped the windshield and the chipped spot cracked across the windshield in minutes. I have never had a windshield fail like that before with such a minor chip in it and such a small impact. I had the windshield replaced with factory glass and I now have 6,000 miles on the car and another chip has happened, but not spread.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 19, 2021
Windshield has cracked for no apparent reason (no rock impact, etc.). Crack begins at edge of passenger side windshield. Newly purchased in November.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 30, 2021
I feel like I should be creating 2 complaints but I have 4,400 miles have had it since September of 2021 it is currently November on a 22' Outback wilderness and are now looking at replacing a second windshield. Driving on normal city highways and avoiding 18 wheelers. Both times the impact from what should have been just a rock chip was minimal and it didn't even chip just immediately cracks negating any chance of a remedy with chip repair. We had a 2018 Forester and never had issues like this. Not even certain the second one was a rock chip, to be honest just suddenly was there and didn't hear or see a rock. $2,000 in windshields in 3 months. Lovely...