2022 Subaru Outback Safety Report
2022 SUBARU OUTBACK Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2022 Subaru Outback
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2022 Subaru Outback. 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 | High (4) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (438) | 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 Outback with 2 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Subaru Outback before buying across this generation. |
Subaru Outback 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 Outback 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 Outback | 83 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Subaru Outback | 283 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2024 Subaru Outback | 2 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Subaru Outback | 886 | 6 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2025 Subaru Outback | 53 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Subaru Outback | 1023 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2022 Subaru Outback Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2022 Subaru Outback, 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
234 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other
57 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyVisibility
24 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility issues Subaru onlyElectrical System
22 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other,Visibility/Wiper
13 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyForward Collision Avoidance
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2022 Subaru Outback
Reliability Score
The 2022 Subaru Outback receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2022 Subaru Outback
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 Outback
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2022 Subaru Outback:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windshield Issues 24 reports of windshield problems, including cracks and malfunctions, often occurring around 40,000 miles. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Malfunctions 6 reports of engine malfunctions, including stalling and knocking noises, typically around 40,000 miles. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Failures 22 reports of electrical system issues, including infotainment system malfunctions and power issues, often around 40,000 miles. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Forward Collision Avoidance System 7 reports of issues with the forward collision avoidance system, which is less frequent but still a concern. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k 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 Outback:
Issues with the windshield, including cracks and malfunctions, are the most common problem.
Problems with the infotainment system, such as screen malfunctions and advertisements, are also frequent.
Engine malfunctions, including stalling and knocking noises, are reported.
Electrical system failures, including power issues and wiring harness problems, are reported.
Recall Details for the 2022 Subaru Outback
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2022 Subaru Outback by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
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.
Summary: 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.
Summary: 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 Complaint Summaries for the 2022 Subaru Outback
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2022 Subaru Outback with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated after starting the vehicle and driving at an undisclosed speed, the infotainment system inadvertently reset or went blank, causing the Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) System to become inoperable. The RAB System warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer wa...
I have multiple malfunction codes on my car. without any incident in the car I have 4 separate codes of airbag ECU malfunction (3) and airbag ECU power supply voltage. B1149 Airbag ECU Power Supply Voltage History B1195 Airbag ECU Malfunction Current B1196 Airbag ECU Malfunction Current B1185 Airbag ECU Malfunction Current This has caused failure of safety components in my car. Warning lights c...
Hood became unlatched while driving. Significant vehicle damage to hood, windshield and roof. No other vehicles involved or bodily injuries.
the screen will just not come on or cut out and not turn on after a call or text comes in. Sometimes it says no AUX detected even though a phone is plugged in. It will randomly stop maps and randomly connect to my maps. the sound will go from being very good to being just bad.
I am writing to report what I believe is a significant ergonomic issue with my vehicle. Every time I drive the car—even for short trips—I experience pain on the right side and toward the back of my knee. I have owned the vehicle for several weeks and have made numerous adjustments to the seat position in an effort to resolve the issue, but the pain has persisted. After researching reviews and fee...
- Engine failure. Yes. - At a stop light the auto-restart function failed, following this event the vehicle began making a knocking noise, we towed it to the dealership for evaluation and their diagnosis was that it needed a new engine. - Dealership stated they too heard the knocking noise in the vehicle and it is engine damage due to low oil. However, the dipstick read fine when we took it int...
Car infortainment system producing annoying and distracting advertisements while driving, overriding the the entire infotainment system and requiring human intervention that distracted me and almost caused an accident. No driver should have to deal with forced fucking ads while operating a vehicle, what fucked up dystopia are we living in?
I experienced two serious electrical failures within a few days that caused the vehicle to stall without warning. At Nov 29, 2025, after parking for about 20 minutes, the car would not start. Symptoms included: • Very weak clicking from the starter • Dashboard flickering and dimming • Unable to shift out of Park without manual override • Jump-start did not work even though power was delivered ...
I opened the trunk door went to retrieve my groceries and the trunk door came down with extreme force on the top of my head without warning hitting me in the head causing a concussion. The window sensors on the driver and passenger doors also were acting off prior. Not every time but I would try to close the window and it would go up half way and then come back down.
Driving on the highway, engine started making a rattling noise, then began to labor and eventually stopped being able to accelerate at all. Oil pressure warning light came on around the time the acceleration gave out altogether. We pulled over to the side of the highway and got out of the car, seeing steam/white smoke coming out of the front of the car. The smoke increased and after several minute...
Windshield spontaneously cracked while parked in driveway. Have nest cam footage of crack.
On September 27, 2025 at approximately 1:15 PM, I was traveling southbound on Minnesota 371 just north of Nisswa, Minnesota. I was towing a pontoon boat trailer with no boat on it. I was traveling in the right lane as I approached the County 29 / Wilderness Road intersection. 371 at this point curves gently to the left. A vehicle in front of me was in the right turn lane to turn west on County...
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2022 Subaru Outback. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 19,821, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 79,653.
Lower oil pan leaks oil. Started leaking oil right after warranty expired. This is a known issue for Subaru cars with the 2.4 turbo engine. Seats ripped right after warranty expired.
A crack on my windshield has appeared overnight out of nowhere, with no indication of impact or external damage. The car was parked in a private driveway facing the house, not the road. It started from the bottom edge of the windshield under the cowling and has made its way to the center of the windshield, and has since spidered out, moving both east & west on the windshield. I took the 2022 Outba...
We had had no issues at all with our 2022 Subaru Outback until June 2025. Mileage at the time of the incident was approximately 52,000. We were driving one evening in June and all of a sudden the engine stopped and we could not drive it. It only produced a knocking sound when we attempted to turn the engine on. We had the car towed to the dealership and after taking the engine apart, they reporte...
I have an 2022 Outback that has 29000 miles and have had 2 windshield replacements. And now on my third, from rock chips. I bought the extended warranty and they are denying my claim. I can’t imagine what the lifetime costs will be for this vehicle. They have offered an extended warranty because of the problem and are not honoring that either.
My Subaru Outback 2022 experienced a failure of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) sensors, resulting in the airbag warning light turning on and the airbags being disabled. The nature of the defect, the diagnostic trouble codes, and the location of the failed component are identical to Subaru Recall 24V227000 recently issued for the same model and year range. However, my VIN is not included ...
I bought my car in 2023 and it has less than 30,000 miles on it. Since purchase, I have had to replace the windshield THREE TIMES for massive cracks. Insurance does not cover the full cost. Nothing has hit the windshield as far as I know, but it keeps cracking. I have never had this issue with any other car.
Last year, my car would not start up again after the start stop feature activated in an intersection. This is after leaving the dealer who told me the car was fine. I’ve since replaced the battery. It still is sluggish to start at times. It is especially bad starting when start stop is activated. I turn the feature off every time I start the car. I’m worried every time I take a long trip I will ge...
Showing 20 of 438 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2022 Subaru Outback
Has the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK been recalled?
Yes, the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK have?
The 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK has 438 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 10 involved crashes. 4 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK?
The 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK 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 OUTBACK?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK involve visibility/wiper (234 complaints), unknown or other (57 complaints), visibility (24 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, unknown or other,visibility/wiper, forward collision avoidance.
How many crash reports does the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK have?
There are 10 crash reports associated with the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK out of 438 total complaints (2.3% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK have?
There are 4 fire reports for the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK out of 438 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK.
How many injuries are reported for the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK?
4 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 438 complaints, 4 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 OUTBACK?
The components with the most failures on the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK are: 1. VISIBILITY/WIPER (234 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (57 complaints), 3. VISIBILITY (24 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (22 complaints), 5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER (13 complaints). VISIBILITY/WIPER is the single most-reported problem area with 234 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK?
Be cautious of windshield issues and engine malfunctions, which are the most common problems. Consider a thorough inspection before purchasing. The 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK has 438 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK?
The 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 438 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 14 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Windshield Issues and Engine Malfunctions.
What are the known issues with the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK?
Known issues with the 2022 SUBARU OUTBACK include: Windshield Issues, Engine Malfunctions, Electrical System Failures, Forward Collision Avoidance System. These are based on patterns found across 438 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any known issues with the windshield on the 2022 Subaru Outback?
Yes, there are 24 reports of windshield problems, including cracks and malfunctions.
What are the most common electrical system issues reported?
Issues include infotainment system malfunctions and power issues, often around 40,000 miles.
Have there been any recalls related to the engine or electrical system?
Yes, there are recalls for engine and electrical system issues, including the automatic transmission and engine control module.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of windshield issues and engine malfunctions, which are the most common problems. Consider a thorough inspection before purchasing.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2022 Subaru Outback
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2022 Subaru Outback. The data includes 438 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 10 reported crashes, 4 fire incidents, 4 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2022 Subaru Outback 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