CSR

Subaru · NHTSA safety record

2022 Subaru Outback

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

460

Complaints

10

Crashes

4

Fires

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2022 Subaru Outback have filed 460 safety complaints with NHTSA between July 2021 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is visibility and the wipers, named in 255 of them (55%). The typical failure was reported at 13,947 miles, the median across the 39 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints halved year on year: 29 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 58 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

24V227000 · March 22, 2024

The defect
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.
The risk
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The 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.

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 118,723 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

23V755000 · November 9, 2023

The defect
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.
The risk
An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 95,830 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

22V712000 · September 22, 2022

The defect
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."
The risk
An insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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.

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 42 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

22V473000 · July 1, 2022

The defect
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).
The risk
A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 15 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 460.

VISIBILITY/WIPER 255 55%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 86 19%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 49 11%
VISIBILITY 26 6%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 23 5%
ENGINE 20 4%
POWER TRAIN 17 4%
LANE DEPARTURE 11 2%
SERVICE BRAKES 10 2%
STRUCTURE 7 2%
AIR BAGS 6 1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 1%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 184.

2021 2022 2026
2021 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STEERING

2 injured

While day driving on a clearly marked interstate in slightly hazy weather from fires, the car suddenly, unprompted, steered to the left without any warning or any indicators going off. This caused the car traveling at highway speed to crash into a barrier wall, drive half way up before driver could regain control of the steering and then spun out across 4 lanes of traffic. Driver said cars lane assist was on and it was ping ponging for a moment before it suddenly steered to the left unprompted causing the crash. A witness behind stated they saw the car behave the same as did the two passengers in the car.

NHTSA complaint 11751418. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

My wife who is a small statured woman was leaving parking lot of church onto a narrow 2 lane street. As she made a left turn, the right front tire climbed the curb and dropped back onto the street. The car suddenly accelerated to top speed and crushed into a tree about 50 yards down the street. Airbags deployed causing bone breaks in left cavalcule, fractured ribs and T12. The driver is short and must sit almost against the steering wheel to drive. Without much effort to stretch her toes, she is unable to push the accelerator to the floor. she said she tried to push on the brake with no results. Eyewitnesses said they watch as she was leaving, they noted the car "jumping the curb" and said

NHTSA complaint 11467603, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

My wife was driving and was involved in traffic accident when the airbags deployed. She is a small person and has the driver's seat pulled all the way forward so she operate the vehicle. I was concern about her seating so close the steering wheel and the airbag, but told by the dealer personnel that airbags where mandatory and any tampering voids warranty, etc. She was in an accident and the airbag deployed, she suffered substantial injuries to her upper body including fractures of the clavicule, breastbone, numerous ribs and her T12. Doctors said it was almost miraculous she survived. The is significant data available on the impact of airbags. The forces expended and the bodily damages

NHTSA complaint 11467723, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1 injured · crash · towed · 3,000 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while reversing out of his garage, the vehicle made an abnormal sound, and while the transmission was shifted into reverse (R), the vehicle rapidly accelerated, crashing into a tree. The contact stated the vehicle made the abnormal sound again and rapidly accelerated forward, crashing into a fence. The contact sustained injuries to his head and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000. The VIN

NHTSA complaint 11510958, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am submitting a complaint regarding the battery in my 2022 Subaru Outback. The original battery failed after only approximately 2½ years of normal use. This issue became a serious safety concern when my vehicle stopped at a traffic light at a very busy intersection and died. I was unable to safely move the vehicle and felt that I was in a dangerous situation because of the surrounding traffic. I was so concerned for my safety that I had to call 911 for assistance. After experiencing battery problems, it was determined that my Subaru Outback needed a larger, higher-capacity battery. This raises concerns that the original battery supplied with the vehicle may not have been adequate for the

NHTSA complaint 11756543, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
When traveling eat 6-65 mph and needing to merge and stepping on the gas pedal all the way the car would just sit there and do nothing for 1-2 seconds. this was not a one off situation. The car would do this regularly until I found out subaru had a fix for the transmission software. I recently had to pay to have this done even though my car was still within the powertrain warranty because Subaru said it is maintenance .

NHTSA complaint 11754982. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
Vehicle is exhibiting signs of a possible design defect which causes windshields to prematurely crack, break, or shatter. My vehicle is a 22 Subaru Outback that when bought new, in the first week of ownership developed a windshield crack that the dealer ship refused to replace under warranty. We worked a deal out and were responsible for a percentage of the repair on our part, and they replaced the windshield. The 2nd Windshield cracked after a few months, no visible impact this incident either. We had it replaced, and this would be our 3rd windshield (we tried another brand of glass called FUYAO). Now this 3rd windshield suddenly cracked again, without a sign of impact. vehicle has about

NHTSA complaint 11753956, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 58,000 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a left turn, the message "EyeSight Disabling" was displayed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle then lost motive power and was unable to restart. The contact called 911, and two bystanders assisted in pushing the vehicle to a Jiffy Lube. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon research, the contact associated the failure with the engine. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

NHTSA complaint 11752666. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
I was driving and I heard a crack on my windshield.

NHTSA complaint 11749906. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Subaru Outback

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 74 0
2024 96 0
2023 87 2
2021 294 4
2020 895 6
2019 1,032 3
2018 807 3
2017 917 4
2016 641 4
2015 508 5
2014 208 10
2013 296 12 1
2012 292 16
2011 651 16
2010 360 18

Other 2022 Subaru models

Every Subaru on this site — 97 vehicles, 147 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst