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
463 reports, newest first.
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.
Visibility/wiper, May 12, 2022
Vehicle has 10,800 miles and this is the third broken windshield. The smallest road debris results in failure of the Carlex factory equipped windshield. I have never replaced a windshield in 35 years of driving many vehicles, this 2022 Subaru Outback appears to break continually. It is a costly repair.
Visibility/wiper, May 11, 2022
On a hot day, 90F my window cracked after i turned on the AC unit. Next day it cracked even further.
Visibility/wiper, May 9, 2022
No impact event. Entered car in the morning and noticed a 1-2" horizontal crack in windshield, with no sign of impact. Over a few days, that 1-2" crack became a 3-foot monster. Of course, Subaru claims it was due to impact.
Visibility/wiper, May 4, 2022
I woke up one morning to find a foot long crack in my windshield that appears to have originated from the passenger edge. I see no visible impact point and there was no sound of anything impacting the windshield. After a few minutes of driving, the crack grew to cut into the path of eyesight.
Visibility/wiper, May 2, 2022
A small rock at relatively low speeds (35mph) hit the windshield and caused a small chip that within a minute formed into close to a dozen foot long cracks compromising my view. I have experienced rock chips many times but I have never had one that spread so quickly or caused this much damage from such a relatively small impact. I believe that Subaru has a faulty windshield design or is using material that is not durable enough for it's intended use. Questioning other Subaru owners and the dealership collision shop this seems to be a very common occurrence and that these windshields are prone to cracks and failures. It appears newer model Subaru Outbacks are being shipped windshields that inferior at best or extremely dangerous at worst.
Other or unspecified, May 2, 2022
Car windshield developed 15 in crack overnight,parked in the garage...I think the windshield is part of vehicle integrity...dealer said a stone must have caused the crack....nothing hit the windshield as far as I'm concerned..I would have heard somthing....vehicle had approx 600 miles on it...had to claim the cracked windshield with my insurance company...My insurance should not have had to cover this....subaru has defective windshields and has for years...DO SOMETHING
Visibility/wiper, Apr 28, 2022
Windshield developed 12 inch crescent shaped crack overnight while parked under a clear sky.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 25, 2022
Driving on the highway when the windshield suddenly cracked on the passenger's side, lower half of the windshield. The initial crack was at least 3 inches long immediately. There was/is no obvious sign of impact. The windshield has since continued to crack. It is now approximately 2 feet long. It does not appear to be the result of an impact, just rather a random crack.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 23, 2022
I have had my car exactly a week. I have 200 miles on it and the windshield cracked for no known reason.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 22, 2022
Windshield cracked with very little sign of impact.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 22, 2022
Driving down the road for work, coworker noticed i had a crack in my windshield. At no time did there ever seem to be a strike to the windshield that would cause it to crack. Now a few days later this crack has grown to the length of roughly 16". The windshield seems to be very thin and brittle, which seems unsafe. They are also very expensive to fix, due to the safety system installed in the car, which seems counterintuitive since the windshields break so easy, which then causes the safety system to not work correctly.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 21, 2022
I bought Subaru Outback Jan 2022 brand new. Also, I bought the extended warranty. Last April 18,2022 while I was driving along the parkway I heard a sound hitting my windshield and all of a sudden I saw a cracked on the windshield, about 7inches long. Looking at the windshield, It does not look like a large object hit my windshield. You could tell it's just a small object. I can assume its a small stone. I discovered later on about the lawsuit/complains about Subaru's problems with cracked prone windshield. Subaru dealer did not disclose anything about this problem when I was buying this car otherwise I will not buy this car. I called the dealer and they want ~$1100 for repair. This windshield is defective, poor quality and dangerous! I hope you will investigate this matter seriously. Thanks!
Other or unspecified, Apr 15, 2022
6 month old car with 8000 miles windshield cracked from right passenger side top down and across middle, approximately 18” long crack now with no sign of and damage or impact to the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 14, 2022
A large crack spontaneously formed on the front windshield, starting from the left wiper motor to the middle -- right in the driver's field-of-view. The crack appeared on a day when my car was not driven for several days prior to the crack forming and security cameras showed no foul play by pedestrians. The crack has since spread into a "spider-like" crack once it reached the center of the windshield. The morphology of this crack appears to be from manufacturing defects and not from a rock chip or property damage.
Visibility, Apr 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle overnight, the next morning it was discovered that the front windshield had developed a ten-inch-long crack. The contact indicated that no object had struck the windshield to cause the windshield to crack. The local dealer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 6,500. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW THE COMPLAINT.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 12, 2022
Two days after purchasing my 2022 Subaru Outback, the windshield cracked after a tractor trailer kicked up a small pebble on the interstate. The crack spread half way across the windshield within a few days.
Other or unspecified, Apr 11, 2022
The windshield cracked 1 week after purchasing the vehicle. This glass is too fragile.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 11, 2022
Windshield cracked while parked overnight.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 9, 2022
Front windshield crack, around 10-15 inches of length, located at passenger area. Inspection is not necessary since the glass has been replaced, though pictures of glass crack on first appearance has been provided for reference. It is a safety risk due to obstruction of driver’s visibility also the possibility of glass crack expansion or shutter. The incident has been reported to the dealership and 3rd party insurance. There were no symptoms or warning of the problem prior to failure. There are no visible spots or impact area that proves the damage was caused by a rock chip or any other objects hitting the glass that may have caused the crack. April 1 evening, car was checked after parking to garage and prior to entering the house and there was no cracks or any damage. Next day, April 2 morning the crack has appeared and upon checking there was no impact points or spots. From the time of first appearance until the day of it getting fixed the crack has gotten bigger adding 6-8 inches more, while the car has not been driven since the crack appearance.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 9, 2022
The windshield cracked 8+ inches due to a small rock that wouldn’t have cracked most other vehicle’s windshields. This happened the day after I bought it.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 4, 2022
Windshield cracked on its own from bottom half edge on passengers side and approximately 14” long. Was in the driveway at my child’s daycare, went up to the door, and in that time, the windshield spontaneously cracked. Daycare checked cameras and no branch or object struck the windshield. The crack is in my line of sight part of the time, is extremely noticeable, and at times is an obstruction of view. Also, if something were to actually impact the windshield, I wouldn’t have much for protection but clearly the windshield was not much for protection to begin with. Dealership says it must’ve been a chip but i had just washed my car including the windows and I notice everything and document everything since this is my first purchase of a brand new car. There was no visible chip. I don’t go off-roading or anything of the sort. I 100% believe this is a defect that has been ongoing for Subaru. Dealer gave me a business card to a repair place. Contacted Subaru and they give me a $500 certificate to use towards a windshield replacement at a dealership BUT the dealership will not replace the windshield, most likely because this has been an ongoing issue with Subaru and if the new windshield is not installed by a Subaru dealer, it’s not covered under warranty. So, essentially I got a useless gift certificate. There should have been some sort of disclosure or better yet, some accountability for the poor quality and safety hazard the windshield presents.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 4, 2022
My 2022 Outback Limited with 4000 miles had a large spontaneous crack form in the bottom of the windshield. Without provocation by the impact of any stone or road bump or other apparent cause, the crack abruptly originated under the lower moulding near the center bottom between driver and passenger side, while at a stop light on a residential street near our home. The crack rapidly lengthened vertically about 4 inches then turned 90 degrees toward passenger side and proceeded to further rapidly lengthen by about a foot before diving vertically back down to the bottom moulding on the passenger side. I called Subaru of America and was told it would likely be a watranty repair but that I needed to take the vehicle to my local Subaru dealer for inspection and documentation of the failure. I took the vehicle immediately to the dealer where they took pictures and wrote up a fully detailed report for Subaru of America (SOA). Now it is 3 days later and I am still awaiting a call from SOA, and I am unable (unwilling actually) to drive the car because of my concern for my family’s safety in case of the windshield failing additionally while driving.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 4, 2022
Driving on a rural road with no traffic in front of us, the Windshield cracked about 10 inches right in our line of sight. I am a retired aircraft mechanic and home auto mechanic, so I have some experience with this. I suspect that the black heating strip around the SMART windshield is the malfunctioning component. The windshield is too thin for this design flaw. Drove the 8 month old 8K mile new car to the dealership, who informed us that their mechanic would tell us whether or not a rock chip caused the crack.