2022 Subaru Outback Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2022 Outback most often report the windshield cracking or spreading with little or no apparent impact, frequently while the vehicle was parked or shortly after startup, and often at low mileage. A second, smaller cluster of complaints describes electrical problems such as no-start conditions, battery drain, and infotainment or driver-assist systems dropping out; transmission and engine concerns appear less often.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield cracks or spreads without impact

   • 311 complaints (67%)
   • median 6,750 mi at 0.9 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 17 quotes)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe finding a crack in the windshield overnight or after the car sat parked, with no strike mark or impact noise, and report that it grows quickly, sometimes while driving. Several say the replacement windshield cracked again within months, and that the camera recalibration required for the replacement adds cost. Complaints note dealers often attributed the damage to an impact and warranty coverage was frequently denied or only partly offered. Many complaints involve vehicles under about 10,000 miles, and several describe cracks appearing in cold weather, after defroster use, or on a parked car.

   Recall 22V712000

   What to check: Inspect the glass closely for cracks or repair marks, ask whether the windshield has been replaced and whether the EyeSight cameras were recalibrated afterward, and check what glass warranty coverage remains.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I woke up one morning to find a foot long crack in my windshield that appears to have originated from the passenger edge. I see no visible impact point and there was no sound of anything impacting the windshield. After a few minutes of driving, the crack grew to cut into the path of eyesight.”

   NHTSA complaint #11463390, filed 2022-05

   “I was driving to work, temps in the mid-thirties, and I heard a crack. It was confusing because there was nobody else on the roadway with me. That's when I looked and saw a 12 crack, beginning at the bottom-middle of the windshield and extending upward.”

   NHTSA complaint #11503748, filed 2023-01
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and no-start conditions

   • 46 complaints (10%)
   • median 29,624 mi at 2.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners report the vehicle failing to start after sitting, sometimes needing repeated jump starts, and dealers variously replacing the battery, testing it as good, or attributing the problem to driving habits. Some complaints describe a battery smell or overheating after a jump start, and others note warning lights and stalling around the same events. A few mention a parasitic draw that returns after the battery is replaced. Reports span from a few hundred miles to roughly 80,000 miles, with several in the first few thousand miles or after the car sat unused for days.

   Recall 22V4730001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the battery has been replaced or the car has needed jump starts, and have a shop check for a parasitic draw if the vehicle has sat for long periods.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle has a power drain that occurs randomly. I purchased the vehicle used in Jan 2023. The car is driven daily at least 40-50 miles. The first occurrence it would not start in 11/23, jump started and it was fine for 3 months. The second time it would not start I checked the battery and it was completely drained. Jump started and I have had no problems yet. No accessories or lights were left on. I have a monitor on the OCB port and it shows the battery voltage on a 24 hour scale. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11575144, filed 2024-03

   “In September 2026, after a jump start, my vehicle's battery emitted a strong sulfur/rotten-egg odor, indicating overheating and overcharging. I was advised to shut it off immediately. The vehicle is now undrivable and parked, and I am concerned it presents a fire risk. This is the latest failure of a chronic electrical defect documented in the dealer's own repair orders since early ownership: •⁠ ⁠March 16, 2023 (4,985 mi): vehicle needed a jump start. Dealer tested the battery, said it passed, and blamed my driving habits. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11764582, filed 2026-09
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalling, loss of power, or infotainment and driver-assist

   • 64 complaints (14%)
   • median 38,124 mi at 3.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $937 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe the engine stalling at stops with multiple warning lights and a restart message, and in some cases the vehicle losing motive power while driving. Others report the touchscreen going blank or resetting, which takes out the rear camera, reverse automatic braking, climate controls, and radio until it comes back. Dealers in several cases could not find a cause, and some owners were told the battery was fine. Reports are spread from roughly 17,000 to 58,000 miles, with the screen and camera complaints also appearing at low mileage.

   Recall 22V4730003 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, check that the touchscreen, rear camera, and driver-assist warnings behave normally, and ask whether any infotainment software updates have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the engine started sputtering with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle started losing motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and the engine revved and responded as needed. The contact stated that the power steering and power brakes failed while attempting to pull over to the side of the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11552963, filed 2023-11, 17,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while coming to a stop on several occasions, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the battery was functioning properly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 36,249.”

   NHTSA complaint #11735108, filed 2026-05, 36,249 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, whine, or failure to move

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a whining or grinding noise, jerking while driving, and in some cases the engine revving without the car moving after a stop. Complaints also include reports of unexpected acceleration or lurching at very low speed in parking situations. Repairs ranged from diagnosis at a dealer to transmission replacement at an independent shop, and some owners say the dealer could not duplicate the problem. Reports range from very low mileage up to about 150,000 miles, with several between roughly 13,000 and 45,000 miles.

   Recall 23V7550002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the car from a stop and at low parking speeds for hesitation, lurching, or unusual noise, and ask whether any transmission software updates or repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a whining sound coming from the transmission, and the vehicle was jerking while driving. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. The VIN was not available.”

   NHTSA complaint #11731926, filed 2026-04, 45,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 1 to 2 mph on two occasions into a parking spot, the vehicle hesitated then accelerated and crashed into a pole. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a collision shop. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11507870, filed 2023-02, 700 miles

Buying note. Pay particular attention to the windshield condition and replacement history on this model year, since it is the most frequent owner report, and confirm the battery and infotainment updates are current. A test drive that includes low-speed parking maneuvers and a check of the rear camera and driver-assist displays will surface most of the other commonly reported concerns.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.