2022 Subaru FORESTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
97 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
5,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2022 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 97 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 21.6% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 9.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 20 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 9 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 7 |
Visibility/Wiper: 20; Unknown Or Other: 17; Engine: 10; Service Brakes: 10; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 9; Electrical System: 8; Exterior Lighting: 7; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 83 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 14 |
2022: 37; 2023: 24; 2024: 9; 2025: 13; 2026: 14
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11454147 · 2022-02-25 (February 25, 2022)
This is not a specific incident but a serious safety concern with a new vehicle purchased in January 2022. There are three contributing issues to the concern with the vehicle’s headlights: 1.There are two large shaded dark spots directly in your field of vision. These are approximately fifteen to twenty feet directly in front of the vehicle. 2.The cutoff lines are jagged and irregular with low points dropping down. These are always in motion with the steering responsive headlights. 3.The most glaring problem is two rectangular black areas b…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11454147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11454529 · 2022-02-28 (February 28, 2022)
Bought my brand new Forester less a month and i have to replace a windshield already!!! Discovered about 5 inches crack while warming up the car on the snow day. Subaru have a glass action agains them about windshield so easily to crack. Service dept refused to replace my windshield because of a super tiny hold that can not be seen by normal eyes, i think it was a damage from crack . We have a different brand vehicle which has about 10x bigger intake but never cause the crack for year. Now i know the reason why Subaru offer the limited wind…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11454529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11455717 · 2022-03-08 (March 8, 2022)
Same complaint as NHTSA ID Number: 11454147. I have a serious safety concern with a new vehicle purchased in February 2022. I have there are three issues concerning the vehicle’s headlights: 1.There are two large shaded dark spots directly in your field of vision. These are approximately fifteen to twenty feet directly in front of the vehicle. 2.The cutoff lines are jagged and irregular with low points dropping down. These are always in motion with the steering responsive headlights. 3.There are two rectangular black areas below t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11455717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11458084 · 2022-03-23 (March 23, 2022)
There seems to be an issue with the led headlights. When on they are projecting two dark shadows of something looking like rectangle objects. This is very unsafe and definitely very annoying because all you see are those two shadows right in front of your eyes.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11458084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11465028 · 2022-05-17 (May 17, 2022)
When driving at night, there are two black dots that appear in my headlights on the road. They move with the steering and become an extreme nuisance. Its all your eye can focus on and are right in the field of view from the lights. They move and create blind spots.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11465028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11465227 · 2022-05-18 (May 18, 2022)
On May 12, 2022, when I got in my vehicle and closed the driver's side door, I heard a crackling sound. When I looked in the rearview mirror, I could see a gaping hole in the rear windshield and glass falling everywhere. I got out of the vehicle to inspect it. The rear windshield had not been impacted by anything; it just spontaneously cracked. I house the vehicle in my garage, and that's where the situation occurred. I bought this vehicle brand new on March 1, 2022.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11465227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11467960 · 2022-06-07 (June 7, 2022)
The contact owned a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while slowing pulling into the parking space the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and drove over a curb and traveled up a hill before crashing into a tree. During the crash neither the driver nor passenger-side air bags deployed. The driver and front passenger sustained chest injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11467960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11468638 · 2022-06-10 (June 10, 2022)
Incident on Highway 80 on May 30, 2020. Entered Highway 80 (East) from Donner Sumit Roadside Rest, accelerated in the slow land and passed a truck and accelerated in the fast lane to 65-70 mph. Began feeling a severe/violent shaking of the steering wheel, a couple of inches or so, side to side. Pulled over and steering wheel was still shaking and brought the vehicle to a full stop. Shaking stopped. Inspected wheels for looseness and nothing appeared abnormal. Lane keeping system was not engaged at the time. Could be new Automatic emergen…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11468638 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
23V755000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Reported: 2023-11-09 (November 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.
Consequence: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗