2022 Subaru Forester Safety Report
2022 SUBARU FORESTER Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2022 Subaru Forester
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2022 Subaru Forester. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (91) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 14 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Visibility/Wiper | Compare visibility/wiper issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2024 | Compare against the 2024 Subaru Forester with 26 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Subaru Forester before buying across this generation. |
Subaru Forester Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Subaru Forester years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Subaru Forester | 64 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Subaru Forester | 197 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2024 Subaru Forester | 26 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Subaru Forester | 588 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2025 Subaru Forester | 59 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Subaru Forester | 828 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2022 Subaru Forester Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2022 Subaru Forester, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Visibility/Wiper
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other
13 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyExterior Lighting
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Exterior Lighting issues Subaru onlyForward Collision Avoidance
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Subaru onlyService Brakes
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Subaru onlyVisibility
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2022 Subaru Forester
Reliability Score
The 2022 Subaru Forester receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2022 Subaru Forester
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2022 Subaru Forester
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2022 Subaru Forester:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back Window Shattering The back window has shattered spontaneously, with no known cause, affecting visibility. |
Medium | Common | 20k-40k miles |
| Service Brakes Malfunction Service brakes have inadvertently activated, posing a significant safety risk. |
High | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Active Grill Shutter Malfunction The Active Grill Shutter has malfunctioned, potentially affecting engine cooling. |
Medium | Common | 20k-40k miles |
| Exterior B-Pillar Trim Warping The exterior B-pillar trim has warped, bubbled, and lifted away from the vehicle, potentially affecting structural integrity. |
Medium | Common | 20k-40k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2022 Subaru Forester:
Issues with the exterior B-pillar trim have been reported.
Reports of service brakes malfunctioning have been reported.
Malfunctioning Active Grill Shutter has been reported.
Spontaneous shattering of the back window has been reported.
Recall Details for the 2022 Subaru Forester
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2022 Subaru Forester by NHTSA:
Summary: 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 Complaint Summaries for the 2022 Subaru Forester
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2022 Subaru Forester with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 6 complaints involved crashes. 4 involved fires. 2 reported injuries or fatalities.
Back window shattered spontaneously. No known cause. No evidence of vandalism. Temperature did drop 45 degrees over night. Shut side door and back window shattered. Had not started car yet. Rear defroster not engaged.
I had two codes on my 2022 Forester over last two weeks. First one u0284 was for the Active Grill Shutter. This happened because for some reason Subaru decided to put the fog lights on the same fuse as the AGS. Fog light blew, shorted out blew the fuse, this caused every safety system in the car to turn off. By default these are open so why does loosing 1-2MPG, or longer time to warm up a...
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the brakes inadvertently activated. The contact was unaware whether any warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the brakes, and the brakes locked up during the failure. The contact regained control of the vehicle and continued driving after the failure....
I am filing this complaint regarding repeated premature strut failure on my 2022 Subaru Forester. The original set of struts failed at approximately 36,000 miles. The issue was not covered under warranty and required replacement. At approximately 60,000 miles, the replacement struts are again failing. This means two full sets of struts have failed before 100,000 miles, which is highly abnormal fo...
My Subaru Forrester Eyesight system cuts out and is disabled while driving, including while the cruise control was engaged causing me to brake hard while driving to avoid a collision and a message announcing it is disabled is displayed on the screen. I took the car to my dealership who confirmed that there is a software problem but because I was out of the initial warranty I would have to pay to h...
I was driving along and noticed my windshield was cracked on the passenger side. The crack is vertical from the bottom of the windshield to about halfway up. It was fine the day before. No rocks, etc struck my windshield. I understand that Subaru has had issues with windshields cracking for no reason.
I was driving to work in the morning and was going down a slow side street when I heard a soft noise behind me. When I looked in my rearview I noticed that my back window was cracked all over it though nothing had hit it or fallen in it. The glass then completely fell out.
My 2022 Subaru Forester Sport, <24,640 miles, suffers from persistent, life-threatening safety failures. Thick white exhaust is present in every temperature, and a heavy burning smell fills the cabin during acceleration regardless of outside temperature. I have been dealing with these failures since March/April of 2023. My car was in a rear-end collision in May 2023 and was repaired at an authoriz...
The exterior B-pillar trim on my 2022 Subaru Forester (passenger side) has warped, bubbled, and lifted away from the vehicle. At approximately 24,700 miles, the trim began deforming significantly, with visible bubbling and separation at the top edge. The dealer inspected it and recommended replacing the entire window panel assembly, stating it is not covered under warranty. I am concerned that the...
I hit a deer going 45 mph, the air bags deployed, and my engine caught on fire. Within 10 minutes my car burned to the ground.
I was steering my car into my own garage as I do daily. Suddenly, as the car was making the turn, the car accelerated abruptly on its own. I was somehow able to steer into the garage, but the rapid acceleration continued. I braked and stopped the car just before it went into the wall that adjoins the interior of my home. There was an inch to spare. There were no warnings or messages or sympoms ...
I am writing to report a serious safety concern involving my '22 Subaru Forester, which is equipped with the Auto Start/Stop feature. This issue created a dangerous driving situation that could have resulted in severe injury or death to myself, my family, or other drivers on the road. While driving on the highway, our Forester's Auto Start/Stop system malfunctioned causing the engine to shut off c...
Several months ago, the automatic front collision activated on the freeway doing about 65mph. There was nothing in front of us, but there was a car behind us that almost rear ended us. I thought this was a one-off thing but reading this site I am not the only one. Also, with in the last 2 weeks the Eye Site has turned off. This I see is also a known problem.
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving on a main road at 32 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system suddenly engaged while there were no objects or vehicles nearby. Additionally, the contact stated that the Subaru EyeSight system was disabled due to being a seasoned driver. The contact stated that she was forced to purc...
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the front windshield was cracked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle was scheduled for the front windshield replacement. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approxi...
I pulled into a parking space and as I slowed to a stop my car surged forward. I put my foot on the brake and the car continued to surge for a few seconds before the brakes engaged. I almost hit a fence and had to circle my car on a grassy lawn until the brakes egaged and I was able to park the car.
This happened to me a few days ago: The pre-collision braking system slammed my car to a stop when I was going 30 mph on a straight country road, and there was nothing in front of me or on the side of the road. No one anywhere around. It was 1 PM with good weather. Nothing to trigger the pre-collision braking system on my 2022 Forester. The sensors weren't dirty. The car suddenly slammed on the br...
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while her husband was stopped at a stoplight, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to move. There were three abnormal beeps heard. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not c...
While using adaptive cruise control, the vehicle will employ emergency braking even though a vehicle/obstruction is not in front of the vehicle, it is usually diagonal while passing. It, also has been giving a forward collision warning when there is nothing in front of me. Since these events, eyesight has been turning on and off numerous times while vehicle is in operation.
Premature wear on Bridgestone Ecopia Tires. We have had several instances in our company with these tires wearing prematurely, some as low as 12k miles but usually somewhere in the 20's & 30's thousand-wise, these tires exhibit numerous cracks especially on the inner side that is difficult to see unless you pull the tires off. A lot of WEB chatter indicates that they are especially vulnerable in...
Showing 20 of 91 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2022 Subaru Forester
Has the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER been recalled?
Yes, the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER have?
The 2022 SUBARU FORESTER has 91 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 8 involved crashes. 5 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER?
The 2022 SUBARU FORESTER received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER involve visibility/wiper (16 complaints), unknown or other (13 complaints), exterior lighting (8 complaints). Other affected components include forward collision avoidance, service brakes, visibility.
How many crash reports does the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER have?
There are 8 crash reports associated with the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER out of 91 total complaints (8.8% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER have?
There are 6 fire reports for the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER out of 91 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER.
How many injuries are reported for the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER?
5 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2022 SUBARU FORESTER?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER is acceptable with caveats. It has 91 complaints, 1 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER?
The components with the most failures on the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER are: 1. VISIBILITY/WIPER (16 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (13 complaints), 3. EXTERIOR LIGHTING (8 complaints), 4. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (6 complaints), 5. SERVICE BRAKES (3 complaints). VISIBILITY/WIPER is the single most-reported problem area with 16 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2022 SUBARU FORESTER?
Be cautious of potential visibility and brake issues. Regular inspections and maintenance are recommended. The 2022 SUBARU FORESTER has 91 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER?
The 2022 SUBARU FORESTER receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 91 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 14 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Back Window Shattering and Service Brakes Malfunction.
What are the known issues with the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER?
Known issues with the 2022 SUBARU FORESTER include: Back Window Shattering, Service Brakes Malfunction, Active Grill Shutter Malfunction, Exterior B-Pillar Trim Warping. These are based on patterns found across 91 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues reported with the 2022 Subaru Forester?
Common issues include spontaneous back window shattering, windshield cracks, service brake malfunctions, and Active Grill Shutter malfunctions.
Are there any recalls for the 2022 Subaru Forester?
Yes, Subaru is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, and 2021-2023 Legacy vehicles due to a power train issue.
What safety features are prone to failure in the 2022 Subaru Forester?
Service brakes and the Active Grill Shutter are prone to failure, potentially affecting safety.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of potential visibility and brake issues. Regular inspections and maintenance are recommended.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2022 Subaru Forester
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2022 Subaru Forester. The data includes 91 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 8 reported crashes, 6 fire incidents, 5 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2022 Subaru Forester an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16