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, Jul 5, 2022
Windshield cracked without any obvious impact. Passenger side, lower half of glass. Crack came from the edge of the glass.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 28, 2022
Windshield chips and cracks easily- I have had my car for less than 4k miles- I had one small chip near top of windshield, and within 2 weeks time it has spread almost all the way down and through the windshield. In that time I have had 2 other small chips to the glass and as of now they have not spread in the heat but I will be watching closely. The crack effects my ability to see road clearly and is worrisome that any rock on the road has the ability to cause not only damage to the vehicle, but could cause an accident. In speaking with a coworker who has similar make and model to me, they have the same issues since buying their car in the last year.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jun 28, 2022
Windshield failed while car sitting in driveway. No impact found on windshield. Took to a dealership where they refused to acknowledge that it was not caused by impact and would not replace. Having to spend $1000 to fix a defect on vehicle.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 27, 2022
My windshield simply cracked for no reason that I can tell. I parked it in garage and came out the next morning and there was a crack all the way across to middle of the car. Started on the driver side mid height of the windshield and ran horizontally to just under the eyesight cameras. I don't see where anything hit it or chipped it.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 23, 2022
Windshield developed a crack of about 20” that starts at the passenger side of the vehicle and worked its way inward.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 18, 2022
Large crack (roughly 18in) appeared overnight on passenger side windshield. No known cause as it was parked in a garage when crack appeared overnight.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 17, 2022
-Windshield has spontaneous crack with no indication of any dent or chips due to object hitting. The vehicle is extremely new, picked up a month ago. -The windshield crack is getting bigger and likely will be a hazard for the driver and passenger of the vehicle. -Dealer is saying this is not covered under warranty. Dealer is saying go to insurance and they will replace at zero cost. -This will probably be my first and last Subaru. There are many posts online with other Outback owners reporting this issue.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 16, 2022
Windshield large cracking in less than 3 months of ownership. Crack began initially about a week ago, around 4-6" in length, and has grown substantially to over 20" in the time I have waited for a replacement. Local subaru dealership has looked at the crack and taken photos. No replacement is available yet. Crack size is currently around 22" total length, and spreading daily with temperature fluctuations.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 14, 2022
Windshield spontaneously cracked while car was parked- I had just gotten in the car and waiting for my passenger to enter when it cracked from the driver's side edge to center of glass. Upon inspection, no crater or damage was visible or palpable.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 9, 2022
The windshield cracked after only having the car for 10 days
Visibility/wiper, Jun 9, 2022
Windshield spontaneously cracked with no damage occurring to it. Subaru claims they do not cover window repair under warranty.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 9, 2022
Windshield cracked after 1,200 miles. I do not recall any rock hit and do not see any hit point.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 2, 2022
I came out to my car in the morning to go to work and there was a huge S-shaped crack in the windshield radiating from the base of the window from under the plastic. Nothing hit it and there is no visible strike. It continues to grow. It is smooth single, long crack about a foot or more long. Very strange and appears like a manufacturer defect as the car only has 2,196 miles.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 2, 2022
MY 2022 OUTBACK HAS LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON IT. ALWAYS GARAGED. I PARKED IT OUTSIDE OVER THE NOON HOUR, CAME OUT AND THE WINDSHIELD HAD A 6" CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE; CRACKED FROM THE EDGE MIDWAY UP. THERE ARE NO ROCK CHIPS OR IMPACT DAMAGE. I CALLED SUBARU ADVISORY LINE AND ADVISED THEM OF PROBLEM THEY SAID TO CONTACT DEALER TO GET INSPECTED FOR MFG DEFECTS. I HAVE REACHED OUT THE DEALER FOR APPT. RESOLUTION IS IN PROGRESS. THIS IS MY #8 SUBARU AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS BEFORE.
Visibility/wiper, May 31, 2022
I drove to work, parked my car and 10 hours later came out and there was a crack in the windshield. Nothing hit my window on the drive to work. I park my car in a gated lot with cameras. It is a smooth cut from the edge of the window and goes across just past the halfway mark. I immediately drove to the dealership and made them aware. The crack is exactly in my line of sight which makes the sun refract directly into my eyes when it is sunny.
Visibility/wiper, May 28, 2022
A spontaneous crack appeared in the windshield running from the passenger side to the middle of the car. There are no impact points, nothing hit the car, it is a clean line. The car was parked in my garage overnight, woke up to find a linear crack starting from the edge of the passenger side to the middle of the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, May 27, 2022
The windshield was hit by a rock chip, and a tiny divot formed. Within minutes, it had spider-webbed out with cracks stretching 12-18" in multiple directions. I've never seen such a tiny divot propagate so rapidly - I've had the car < 14 days. From the sound of the impact, I would have expected the windshield to shrug off the hit with no damage. The ongoing propagation makes me seriously consider whether the windshield is actually safe - the entire thing seems like it's under internal stress that could result in a catastrophic failure from minor impacts. The dealer/manufacturer have not inspected the problem, but I'll bring it to them ASAP.
Visibility/wiper, May 27, 2022
Bought this new car this April. After using it in local for only one month with 1000 miles, windshield developed a 20 ~ 30 inch crack from the passenger side. Went to the dealer to argue. I told them no rock strike and the root reason is faulty glass. The dealer didn't provide any help and gave me a wrong phone number. In over 20 years of driving different cars, we haven't had windshield issue.
Visibility/wiper, May 25, 2022
Windshield developed a 14-16 inch crack from the passenger side. No rock strike or other known damage occurred, crack seems to be due to faulty glass. Temperature was moderate at the time (55 to 60 degrees).
Visibility/wiper, May 20, 2022
Windshield suddenly cracked for no apparent reason. Vehicle was parked and crack extends almost halfway across the windshield on the driver side. No signs of damage being caused by an object hitting the windshield. This will interfere with the safety and emergency braking system cameras located at the top of the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, May 16, 2022
In my many years of driving quite a number of different cars, I've never had a car's windshield perform so poorly. In only 10k miles of just daily commuting my windshield has accumulated 8 chips. Luckily the windshield hasn't cracked yet, but I fear its only a matter of time. It seems just the smallest impact WILL chip the windshield if not crack it. This seems to be an ongoing problem with the Carlex OEM windshields Subaru continues to use and is a clear safety concern to their customers as well as a costly fix if Subaru doesn't cover the cost.
Visibility/wiper, May 15, 2022
I bought a 2022 Subaru Outback and have had it for 3 months. It wav very hot yesterday and I took it through a car wash. When it came out of the car wash the windshield was cracked. It has several spider cracks coming down from the roof. Each of the 3 cracks were about 4 inches long. By the time i drove home the cracks are now 12 inches. This is very disheartening.
Visibility/wiper, May 15, 2022
Spontaneous crack of the windshield
Visibility/wiper, May 14, 2022
Windshield cracked on its own while parked inside home garage.
Visibility/wiper, May 14, 2022
While a relative was driving my 2 week old 2022 subaru outback, he had a minor impact from a very small rock that left no visible damage. The next day, a large crack had appeared in the middle of the driver’s side from the edge to the rear view mirror. I could not get an appointment to get it replaced until next saturday and over the last 3 days the crack has grown significantly, including a piece that is cracked all the way around. I am worried about catastrophic failure on even a short gentle drive to work. It is extremely disappointing to think that this might be an ongoing problem with the car. In 36 years of driving many different cars nothing like this has ever happened.