2022 Subaru OUTBACK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
462 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
13,947 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2022 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 255 of 462 complaints (55.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 35 | 7.6% |
| Braking behavior | 32 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 2.6% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.6% |
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 | 255 |
| Unknown Or Other | 86 |
| Electrical System | 46 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 22 |
| Engine | 21 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 17 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 15 |
Visibility/Wiper: 255; Unknown Or Other: 86; Electrical System: 46; Visibility:Windshield: 22; Engine: 21; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 17; Power Train: 17; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 423 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2022 | 184 |
| 2023 | 125 |
| 2024 | 69 |
| 2025 | 35 |
| 2026 | 30 |
2021: 19; 2022: 184; 2023: 125; 2024: 69; 2025: 35; 2026: 30
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 35 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 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 11424796 · 2021-07-14 (July 14, 2021)
Vehicle was purhased in early June 2021. Vehicle was being operated on State Highway Route 55 at Milepost 46.7, in Elk Township, Gloucester County. Traffic was heavy, with southbound transient traffic traveling to New Jersey Shore points. Vehicle simultaneously lost power and began to display several error/warning messages on dashboard at approximately 13:52 hours. Vehicle was pulled to the right shoulder of the roadway and I began to smell something burning. As I removed personal effects from vehicle I exited and saw smoke coming from t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11424796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11426401 · 2021-07-25 (July 25, 2021)
2022 Subaru Outback is new as of June 2021. 2 times I have had to get a jump start. No light were left on and doors and hatchback closed
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11426401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11429098 · 2021-08-14 (August 14, 2021)
A little penny sized chip on the front windshield has turned into a severe crack from the middle of the windshield to passenger side as well as the the driver side.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11429098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11429109 · 2021-08-14 (August 14, 2021)
The initial incident occurred on July 31, 2021. I used the push button start to start the car, put the vehicle in reverse, and the vehicle proceeded to roll uncontrolled down my driveway, which is on a slope. I had no power steering or power brakes. I was able to safely stop the vehicle with no incident other than damage to the plastic over the right rear taillight. I turned the vehicle off and restarted it, and everything seemed operational. It seemed that the car's engine had not turned on, only the electrical system. The same issue h…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11429109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11431925 · 2021-09-07 (September 7, 2021)
The 2022 Subaru Outback has a "feature" called AUTO START STOP. This is intended as a fuel saving feature. In the car's Setup Menu, you have the choice to turn this feature off. However, this feature MUST be turned off EACH and EVERY TIME you start the car. The change is NOT held in memory. This fact was confirmed by a Subaru Customer Service Representative in a call on the morning of 9/7/2021. This Auto Start/Stop feature works just like a gasoline powered golf cart. Take your foot off the gas and the engine dies. Press the accelerator…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11431925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11432300 · 2021-09-09 (September 9, 2021)
The windshield is warped on the passenger side, approximately 6 - 8 inches from the right seal, bottom corner. This creates a blurred distortion from traffic merging to the right, and causes a hazard in spatial relationship to the vehicle. Pictures show distortions through the windshield that do not exist. This has nearly caused me to be in accidents. The dealer is checking with Subaru on the issue; the service rep acknowledged seeing the warping through the windshield.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11432300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11433231 · 2021-09-16 (September 16, 2021)
(ADAS) R WAVE RADAR SENSOR/BLIND SPOT WARNING SENSOR. NO WARNING FOR THE STATIONARY OBJECT (TREE) BEHIND MY VEHICLE CAUSING A COLLISION. A REPORT WILL BE MADE TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP ONCE THE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED BY THE COLLISION CENTER. INSURANCE ADJUSTERS HAVE REVIEWED. NO WARNING LIGHTS, OR ANY SIGNS OF ANY ISSUE UNTIL THE BLIND SPOT SENSOR FAILED TO PROPERLY WARN ME OF THE STATIONARY OBJECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11433231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11434035 · 2021-09-23 (September 23, 2021)
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle would independently accelerate without warning. The contact would be forced to place the vehicle into neutral to stop the acceleration. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent and recently became more frequent. The contact also stated that an abnormal grinding noise would emit from the vehicle when the vehicle would independently accelerate. The contact called the dealer and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer kept the …
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11434035 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
22V473000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Engine Control Module (Ecu/Ecm) | Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2022-07-01 (July 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).
Consequence: A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V712000 · Visibility:Windshield
Reported: 2022-09-22 (September 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."
Consequence: An insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗24V227000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
Reported: 2024-03-22 (March 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.
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗