UsedScore

2022 Subaru Outback: Use caution

Owners filed 464 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Subaru Outback in its first five years on the road, about 311 for every 100,000 sold: 1.5× the rate of a typical Outback year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (60% of complaints, median 7,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.5×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Outback year
Rank
11th of 15
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
464
first five years; 311 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
4
campaigns
6th generation, 2020–2025 · Updated November 9, 2026 · How we rate
2021 Subaru Outback Limited

Photo: 2021 Subaru Outback Limited · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Visibility60% · 280 complaints · median 7,000 miles
  2. Electrical11% · 51 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  3. Engine5% · 23 complaints · median 23,000 miles
  4. Driver assistance6% · 27 complaints
  5. Powertrain4% · 18 complaints · median 14,000 miles
  6. Air bags1% · 6 complaints
  7. Brakes2% · 11 complaints
  8. Fuel and propulsion1% · 6 complaints
  9. Speed control1% · 4 complaints
  10. Steering1% · 4 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Many owners of this Outback describe the battery unexpectedly dying or draining, sometimes leaving them stranded or unable to start the car after it sat for a while. Several also report the center touchscreen freezing or rebooting, which some say disabled safety features like EyeSight until it reset.

Warning signs:
Owners report dashboard warning lights, flickering or dimming displays, clicking from the starter, or a blank/frozen infotainment screen before the vehicle stalled or failed to start.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced the battery, performed software or firmware updates, or in many cases could not duplicate or find the cause of the problem.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 40,000 miles, among 13 complaints that give it

“Rab system not working, no foward or reverse cameras work. No climate control access, no radio, no GPS, can't access any touch screen controls”

“Battery is draining without cause. It's required two jumpstarts in one week.”

Engine

Owners report engines that stall at stops, often with auto start-stop, and some describe knocking, seized engines or fires. Several say little or no warning came first, and some say dealers found no problem.

Warning signs:
Owners report sudden stalling at stops, knocking or rattling noises, lost power, burning smells or smoke, and warning lights, though several say no warnings appeared beforehand.
What shops did:
Some owners say dealers found nothing wrong, while others report a new engine recommended, a fuel pump replaced, or a battery or oil pan leak diagnosed; many vehicles were towed.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 55,000 miles, among 5 complaints that give it

“an intake valve broke, flew and split one of the pistons causing the motor to seize up”

“When I lift my foot off the break, the engine tries to restart, but stalls out. It happens at almost every stop.”

Visibility

Many owners of this Outback report windshields cracking with little or no apparent cause, sometimes while parked or after a very minor rock chip, and the cracks often spread quickly across the glass. Getting a windshield replaced sometimes required multiple attempts, camera recalibration, and disputes over warranty coverage, with several owners noting the crack recurred.

Warning signs:
Some owners report hearing a pop or cracking sound, or noticing a small chip or star that quickly spread into a large crack, sometimes into the driver's line of sight.
What shops did:
Dealers or glass shops typically replaced the windshield, often requiring recalibration of the forward camera system, though many owners report cracks recurring afterward and some report warranty coverage was denied.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 20,000 miles, among 20 complaints that give it

“a crack suddenly occurred in the lower center of the front windshield”

“a small chip that within a minute formed into close to a dozen foot long cracks compromising my view”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (4)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 24V227000March 2024118,723 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

    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.

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

    Fix: Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V755000November 202395,830 vehicles

    Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch

    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.

    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.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 22V712000September 202242 vehicles

    Visibility: windshield

    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."

    Risk: An insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: Subaru will offer owners a vehicle exchange or repurchase, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 22V473000July 202215 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ECU/ECM) · Electrical system: wiring

    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).

    Risk: A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the engine wiring harness and ECU, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Subaru sent NHTSA 419 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2022 Outback. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 09-122-24R · October 2026This bulletin the announces diagnostic procedures and availability of new Engine Control Module (ECM) reprogramming files to address DTC P2404 (Evap System Leak Detection Pump Sense Circuit…
  • SubaruNet Announcement (T · October 2026This is an update announcement regarding the TechShare & NorthStar Integration - CVT Diag.
  • 18-247-26 · October 2026This Service Information Bulletin announces Service Manual updates for the diagnosis of hands-free calling and voice recognition concerns.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (S · October 2026This announcement provides information on the connected services platform for Subaru EVs.
  • 15-344-26 · October 2026This bulletin provides a step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES) failures for both Telematics and remote engine start equipped vehicles.
  • 15-304-22R · October 2026This Service Information Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (Q · October 2026This announcement provides information on DCM replacememts due to a parasitic draw.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (M · October 2026This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.

All 2022 Outback bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2022 Subaru Outback reliable?
Owners filed 464 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Subaru Outback in its first five years on the road, about 311 for every 100,000 sold: 1.5× the rate of a typical Outback year. That's above average, so use caution. Ratings compare Outback years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2022 Outback problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (60%), the electrical system (11%) and the engine (5%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2022 Subaru Outback been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2022 Subaru Outback, the most recent in March 2024 (air bags). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of November 9, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. The 2022 Subaru Outback on NHTSA.gov · How we rate