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
280 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Aug 1, 2022
We purchased this 2022 Subaru Outback on 7/19/22. My wife was driving in the rain to church. She parked the car and attended the church service. After the about 2 hours she went got in the car and noticed 3 cracks in the front windshield. There were no known impacts to the windshield. There are 3 cracks originating from a center point. 2 of the cracks are about 12 inches longs with the 3rd being about 4 inches long. This cracking started on 7/31/22. We haven't even made the 1st payment yet. Very distressing to say the least.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 24, 2022
Multiple windshield cracks from small rocks on the highway. Crack has spread across the windshield. We have only owned the car 3 months.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jul 23, 2022
There is a defect in the windshield. I’ve replaced the windshield twice. The first time a rock hit it and it caused the entire windshield to crack. I got the windshield replaced and a week later it cracked again. I replaced it again and 30 minutes later it happened again. My father in law has an Outback as well with the same issue. I also have a colleague with the same exact model vehicle with the same issue. I researched online and there are many owners that have complained about the same thing. When I talked to the dealership where the car was purchased the salesman seemed to have heard about the issue before. The windshield repair shop also said that there are a lot of Subarus that come through the shop with the same issue. I’ve had rocks hit my windshields in past vehicles and I have never seen them crack and spiderweb in this way. It is obvious to me that there is a flaw in the design or manufacturing of these particular windshields.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 21, 2022
We left the outback wilderness out Overnight under no trees or anything that may cause damage like that. Come outside in the morning, and bam, a 13 inch crack in a semi S shape with no visible chip from a rock. There is absolutely no reason there should be a crack, even if there was a small chip in the glass. That's the cause of poor craftsmanship and this deserves a lawsuit alone. Has Subaru of America learned nothing from what happened with the 2015 to 2016 outback and legacy models? What about their most recent lawsuit in 2019 that ranged for the 2017 to 2019 Foresters that also awarded the victim of poor windshields? Do we need to have another lawsuit? If that's the case so be it but I seriously hope the NHTSA kicks off a recall so there is no need for a lawsuit. I love Subaru, I seriously do but they haven't been doing so well with their windshields, their Infotainment systems, and engines.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 20, 2022
Very tiny rock hit the windshield without much force but still caused a ding in the windshield. Glass appears to be excessively fragile.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 16, 2022
I have 2022 Subaru Outback Limited XT. The windshield cracked 7 days after purchase. Only have 200 miles on it. Drove at 60mph and suddenly saw a crack on the passenger side of the windshield. Didn't hear any pop sound. The crack was about 17 inch long spreading from the bottom edge passenger side to the center of the windshield. Took the car to the dealership and was told the windshield is not under warranty.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 14, 2022
Windshield cracked completely without impact
Visibility/wiper, Jul 14, 2022
I have the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness, which is supposed to have "Gorilla Glass" for the windshield (which looks like two windshields sandwiched together), but only the outer glass was cracked. The windshield developed a cracked starting from the mid-height passenger side edge, and continued towards the driver side, stopping just prior to the middle of the windshield and then looping under. The vehicle was parked, and when I got in the vehicle the following morning I noticed the crack. I looked closely for an impact point, and there were none. I took pictures and video of the windshield. I contacted Subaru (Pembroke Pines, FL) and they said they had not heard of any issues and told me to reach out to my insurance company, which I did and they directed me to safelite AutoGlass in Miami (2757 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL. 33135) to have the windshield and safety "eyesight" recalibrated. The technician was not able to see any impact point as well. The windshield was replaced with a factory windshield "Gorilla Glass" type and the safety feathers were calibrated.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 13, 2022
Driving and thought I heard slight cracking noises, couldn't figure out what it was. About 2 minutes later a huge crack about 18" spontaneously appeared from the passenger side of the windshield to nearly the middle of the windshield. No rocks or impact, just out of nowhere.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Jul 13, 2022
1. Front Windshield cracks easily instead of chipping. Appears to be under pressure in a strange way and it cracks then starts to delaminate. I had 2 windshields replaced within 30 days. Water also starts to enter the crack and it impacts the wiper blades when in use. 2. Center Info-Tainment system in underpowered to the degree that touch response is laggy to the degree to be dangerous. With all the climate controls, radio, gps, and other controls now on the touch screen this slowness is dangerous to the point that should warrant a recall. I've had a system update done and this did not fix the slow touch response. It appears to be underpowered hardware.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 10, 2022
Windshield cracked for no reason at all. This vehicle had been parked on my driveway and had not been driven in about 3 days. There are no trees or anything near the driveway that could have fallen on the car. While the car was parked on my driveway, the car was facing away from the street. The next morning the crack had already expanded and covered most of the middle part of the windshield. Contacting a local dealer was a nightmare. The dealer person said they're not responsible for a replacement. They looked the other way saying "we just sell the cars", and suggested to take it to Subaru of America. I'm currently waiting for a response from Subaru of America.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 9, 2022
Drive to visit family, no rock chips, no accidents; pulled in about 7pm. Next morning Woke up at 0600 to a severe crack in the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 9, 2022
We had a rock fly up and hit the windshield 7" below top center of windshield, on impact the crack was over 12" in length, now the Crack is now over 24" in length.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 8, 2022
On 7/7/2022 I was traveling the Blue Ridge parkway and heard a pop sound and saw about 5 inch windshield crack from edge of my Driver A-post frame traveling horizontally toward the center of the vehicle. I did not see anything hit the windshield. By the time I got to a rest stop the crack continued to travel across toward the center of the vehicle. I saw no evidence of impact at the edge of windshield or along crack. I had to lower my seat so as to see below the crack because the sun on the windshield was causing a bright glare spot from light refraction. When I got to Lynchburg I called the closest Subaru dealership. They stated they that something must have hit it and if they had to order a replacement it would be several days and suggested I call my insurance company and a. Auto glass repair company. I then called Subaru customer service which provided me a claim number and stated they would get back to me in 24 to 48 hours. I stayed overnight in Lynchburg but they haven’t got back to me. I am waiting for someone to come inspect it or tell me where to take for inspection.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 5, 2022
Purchased a 2022 Subaru Outback in late August 2021. We been driving regularly and on Friday July the 1st, we were leaving home going to dinner, got in the car to a crack in the windshield extending from the top center edge of the windshield to the center of the windshield. No impact chip is visible, or by touch. No known rock or debris impact while I was driving. We have been very careful with my nice new car and this is extremely disappointing. Due to the holiday, we were unable to contact the dealer until Tuesday July the 5th. As of the day we contact the dealer the crack is now two thirds down the windshield on a vertical plane and beginning to spider horizontally from the center to the left and the right.
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, Jul 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, a horizontal crack formed on the middle driver’s side edge of the windshield. Within thirty minutes, the contact stated that the crack had expanded vertically and horizontally across the windshield to approximately 22-inches horizontally and 2.5-inches vertically. The contact stated that the crack obstructed her vision while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and neither offered any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 3,550.
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.