IllustrationSmall chip in windshield turned into larger crack, spreading across windshield by the morning.
2022 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Outback years
Owner complaints for the 2022 Subaru Outback are substantially higher than the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 39 of 463 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 255 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports
Visibility/wiper complaints
255 reportsCar was parked in garage. 14 inch crack appeared in windshield with no impact. Crack just appeared while car was parked.
Bought 2022 Subaru with eyesight system October 2022. We have replaced this windshield 4 times. Once was 1 month old after backing out of garage in cold weather and it cracked spontaneously. Since then we replaced entire windshield in December 2022, Feb 2023, March 2023 and May 2023 Subaru reports windshield is now made from…
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Bought 2022 Subaru with eyesight system October 2022. We have replaced this windshield 4 times. Once was 1 month old after backing out of garage in cold weather and it cracked spontaneously. Since then we replaced entire windshield in December 2022, Feb 2023, March 2023 and May 2023 Subaru reports windshield is now made from acoustic glass but are not holding up against normal use.
Small crack appeared and then became huge
Never had a windshield so sensitive in the many many cars I've owned over the years. We haver had several chips filled that just randomly appear on the glass and never heard or saw anything hit. Finally one morning went out to the car to find a 12" long crack on the passenger side of the windshield. Paid my deductible and had it…
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Never had a windshield so sensitive in the many many cars I've owned over the years. We haver had several chips filled that just randomly appear on the glass and never heard or saw anything hit. Finally one morning went out to the car to find a 12" long crack on the passenger side of the windshield. Paid my deductible and had it replaced and the NEXT DAY, less than 24 hours later sitting in a parking lot and it randomly cracked again. Took it back to the repair shop and they said it wasn't a problem with their install and I need to pay AGAIN for another windshield? These things shouldn't be cracking and chipping this easily.
I was parked on my family’s driveway in Southern California. The car had been stations for about 3hrs and was parked outside. 10-30seconds after unlocking and starting the car I had a loud crunch/crack sound at which point I saw a 2-4” dual crack that appeared in the centre of the windshield. This happened while stationary witho…
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I was parked on my family’s driveway in Southern California. The car had been stations for about 3hrs and was parked outside. 10-30seconds after unlocking and starting the car I had a loud crunch/crack sound at which point I saw a 2-4” dual crack that appeared in the centre of the windshield. This happened while stationary without any impact. The crack size increased with vechicle movement. I’d like to report this as a concern give the sudden and unexpected nature of this crack to the front windshield
Horizontal stress crack middle of windshield from driver side to almost center of windshield. Stress crack keeps extending towards passenger side. Car was parked outside, sunny day @ 78DEG. Are clostest to edge I can get my fingernail in maybe the thickness of 3-4 sheets of paper. Line of site obscured due to crack.
Windshield crack formed despite no outside cause. In morning it was there. I went to Schlossman Subaru and they documented situation and said they would contact Subaru. I have tried to contact them several times for follow-up but they have not responded.
Large crack developed in the lower/middle driver’s side windshield, spreading to the middle of the windshield. There is no obvious/apparent damage that caused this, with the crack starting at the edge of the windshield, and spreading inward.
The windshield developed a large crack while sitting in the driveway. It started about midway up on the passanger side and extended about a foot and a half.
Official recalls
424V227000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
Mar 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 & remedy
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.
23V755000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Nov 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 & remedy
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.
22V712000 · Visibility:windshield
Sep 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 & remedy
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.
22V473000 · Electrical System:wiring; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm)
Jul 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 & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm)
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.
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).
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.