AI Damage2022 Subaru Outback: common problems
Owners of the 2022 Subaru Outback filed 465 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and electrical system. The maker issued 395 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 465
- involving a crash
- 10
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 395
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 60% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 5% of all complaints
- 4 Forward collision avoidance 5% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 4% of all complaints
- 6 Lane departure 2% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 2% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 2% of all complaints
- Visibility: 280 complaints (60% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Electrical system: 52 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 246.
- Engine: 23 complaints (5% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 52.
- Forward collision avoidance: 23 complaints (5% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Powertrain: 18 complaints (4% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 46.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- CVT
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 465 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 280 | 0 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 52 | 1 | 246 |
| Engine | 23 | 1 | 52 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 23 | 3 | 3 |
| Powertrain | 18 | 1 | 46 |
| Lane departure | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 2 | 5 |
| Structure | 7 | 0 | 16 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 1 | 18 |
| Air bags | 6 | 2 | 17 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My brakes failed as I was pulling up to a curb as I attempted to break to put my car into park my breaks failed to engage. My vehicle is also equipped with emergency braking system that did not engage my vehicle crashed into and through a 7/11 while I was breaking the entire time manuall!
The contact stated while pulling into a bumpy parking space, the vehicle shuddered violently, unintendedly accelerated, and crashed into a stone wall. As a result, the hood of the vehicle was bent and the bumpers were damaged. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries.
When the car accelerated, the brakes did not work. I reversed the car since it continued to accelerate into the parked car in front of me and the car went back as fast as it was accelerating forward. I put the car into drive since I had parked cars behind me as well.
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.
Main Wiring harness / Main Electrical system malfunction, causing all dash lights to consistently be on. which in turn prevents all of the ADAS functions to no longer work. Vehicle has now been in 2 accidents which could have been prevented by these safety features.
(adas) r wave radar sensor/blind spot warning sensor. No warning for the stationary object (tree) behind my vehicle causing a collision. A report will be made to the subaru dealership once the vehicle is repaired by the collision center. Insurance adjusters have reviewed.
My Subaru often stalls when the start-stop function is happening such as when I stop at a traffic light. When I lift my foot off the break, the engine tries to restart, but stalls out. It happens at almost every stop. I had my battery tested and it is fine.
As I attained speed, the vehicle lost power. The accelerator pedal was dead and the vehicle did not respond to my input. The oil pressure warning light illuminated, power surged back and was immediately lost again with dead pedal again.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 110 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 5% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Outback has 477 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 465, about average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines
- This announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application
- This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles
- "This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs
DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"
- This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and…
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a…
This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc
(SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the CP1 & Gen 3.1 Head Unit used in the listed models and model years to (8) eight years / 150,000 miles to cover certain qualifying repairs to the…
- This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during…
This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation…
This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4 Denso CP1 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models listed.This is an…
- This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top…
This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top center retaining nut area of the front strut mounts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on…
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
- This service bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the…
This service bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the exhaust after startup. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
NHTSA lists 395 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Subaru Outback?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 465. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (7%), windows, sunroof (6%), infotainment or screen glitches (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2022 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 395 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2022 Subaru Outback from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2022 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.