2022 Subaru Outback problems
The Subaru Outback is an automotive nameplate used by the Japanese automaker Subaru for two different SUV-themed vehicles: a Legacy-derived crossover station wagon, the Outback (1994–present, also sold as Legacy Outback (Japanese: スバル・レガシィアウトバック, Hepburn: Subaru Regashi Autobakku) in some markets), and an Impreza-derived off-road themed hatchback, the Outback Sport (1994–2011).
Most versions of the Outback wagon and Outback Sport have had all-wheel drive as standard equipment.
History
The original Outback station wagon was derived from the wagon variant of the second-generation Subaru Legacy. The first-generation Legacy, which made its debut in 1989, did not receive the cosmetic and suspension modifications to create an Outback version, although Subaru offered an Outdoor option package for the 1994 model year Legacy L all-wheel drive model, which added a compressed air strut height adjustable suspension, a luggage rack, a skidplate, and mud flaps.
Earlier, a raised-roof "Touring Wagon" variant had been offered on the preceding Subaru Leone for the 1988 and 1989 model years. Subaru also sold a raised-roof variant (chassis code BF) of the first-generation Legacy wagon outside the United States. North American Legacy wagons were only offered as the flat-roof variant (chassis code BJ) until a special "GT" model was marketed for the 1994 model year.
The second-generation Legacy wagon became the first generation of the Outback crossover series, called the "Legacy Grand Wagon" in Japan in 1995, and the "Legacy Outback" in most other markets. Compared to the existing Legacy wagon, the "Outback" variant added partial protective plastic side body cladding for off-road conditions, used a raised roof, and would later raise the suspension to provide additional ground clearance. It was introduced at the 1994 New York Auto Show. Aside from other small differences in trim, the Outback shares almost all of its components with the Legacy donor model.
When launched in Australia in 1996, the name "Legacy Outback" was shortened to "Outback", followed in other markets afterwards. In the United States, Subaru also retailed the Legacy SUS sedan between the 1997 and 2007 model years, with similar modifications to distinguish it from the equivalent Legacy model sedan. The Impreza Outback Sport was introduced at the 1996 New York Auto Show, but for the 1997 model year, the donor model names were dropped, and the cars were known as the "Outback" and "Outback Sport".
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Common 2022 Subaru Outback problems
The 2022 Subaru Outback has been reported to have several common problems, primarily related to electronics and reliability issues.
- Faulty navigation system: The navigation system's speech recognition is reported to be unreliable, making it difficult for drivers to use the system while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
- Reliability issues: Some owners have experienced a series of reliability issues, including oil leaks from the engine and a faulty infotainment system that requires multiple visits to the dealership for software updates and repairs. In some cases, the infotainment system has ceased working entirely, leaving drivers without access to vital features like navigation and audio.
- Subpar voice control system: The voice control system in the 2022 Subaru Outback has been criticized for its poor performance, with some owners reporting that it is nearly impossible to use effectively.
- Annoying seat belt chime: The seat belt chime has been a source of frustration for many owners, as it is overly sensitive and loud, making it difficult to enjoy the driving experience.
- Poor design and parasitic drain: The design of the 2022 Subaru Outback has been criticized for causing parasitic drain, leading to dead batteries and other issues.
- Inconsistent high beam headlight override: The high beam headlight override system has been reported to be inconsistent, causing frustration for drivers who are unable to switch to high beams when necessary.
- Complex seat heater adjustment: The process for adjusting the seat heaters has been criticized for being unnecessarily complex, taking the driver's eyes off the road and causing frustration.
- Intermittent electronic display system crashes: Some owners have reported that the electronic display system crashes frequently, particularly when using Apple CarPlay, and that dealers have been unable to resolve the issue.
- Facial recognition and driver profile issues: The facial recognition system and driver profile feature have been reported to fail to recognize the driver most of the time, making the feature more of an annoyance than a convenience.
These issues have led some owners to express disappointment with the 2022 Subaru Outback, with some even considering returning the vehicle or switching to a different brand.
What is the common issue with Subaru Outback?
Some top Subaru Outback problems include weak windshields, poor cooling systems, oxygen sensor failure, excessive oil consumption due to oil leaks, and faulty airbags.
What are common Subaru Outback starting problems?
The most common reasons a Subaru Outback won't start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
What are the weaknesses of a Subaru Outback?
The Subaru Outback is a vehicle with a lot of strengths but a fair number of weaknesses. Most Outbacks are long-lasting and reliable vehicles, but the head gasket issue and other problems can drastically shorten the life of Outbacks that have those problems.
Is there a recall on the 2022 Subaru Outback windshield?
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.
What is the common issue with Subaru Outback?
Some top Subaru Outback problems include weak windshields, poor cooling systems, oxygen sensor failure, excessive oil consumption due to oil leaks, and faulty airbags.
Does the 2022 Subaru Outback have battery problems?
CSK&D is investigating reports that 2021-2022 Subaru Outback vehicles experience random liftgate openings and other electrical issues which cause the batteries in these vehicles to rapidly drain.
What are common Subaru Outback starting problems?
The most common reasons a Subaru Outback won't start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
What are the weaknesses of a Subaru Outback?
The Subaru Outback is a vehicle with a lot of strengths but a fair number of weaknesses. Most Outbacks are long-lasting and reliable vehicles, but the head gasket issue and other problems can drastically shorten the life of Outbacks that have those problems.
2022 Subaru Outback car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Subaru Outback problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Visibility/wiper problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Electrical system problems
- Visibility problems
- Forward collision avoidance problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2022 Subaru Outback vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2022 Subaru Outback
The NHTSA has received 394 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2022 Subaru Outback. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2022 Subaru Outback vehicles.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-14
- VIN: 4S4BTGPD9N3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Have second deep crack with light rock impact in less than one year
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-27
- VIN: 4S4BTGLD5N3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Windshield has a crack. There is no external force, neither accident happened
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-18
- VIN: 4S4BTGPD7N3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS: COSTLY REPAIR: I purchased this car when it was 9 months old with 7800 miles on it. I now have 30, 080 miles. and I have had to replace the windshield 3 times. I also had one a chip repaired. This means I have replaced the windshield every 7427. miles. Once the crack has started the lane sensing and brake stopping programs are halted. This is a serious safety issue. This is BEYOND RIDICULOUS for a NEW MODEL car. There much be something wrong with the making of these windshields, or the material used to make these windshields. This is a costly repair, being that the windshield needs re-calibrating each time. It's been around $2500.00 each time. The Subaru Dealer I purchased the car from has been made aware, but they have no solutions, no discounts, or no other options. Other than empathy, and tell me many others are having the same problems.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-26
- VIN: 4S4BTANC7N3
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
- Summary: Automatic auto off-on began to fail and car didn't start well. I began to disable the automatic auto on off while driving because it began to sound like it would stall out while stopped at a traffic light . Then I forgot to disable the automatic auto off on and car stalled out while stopped at a traffic light. I took it to dealer, Rafferty Subaru, they couldn't find anything wrong with it. Then a few days later check engine light and other icons started flashing on dashboard. I took it to dealer, they said the gas cap was off. For the next week the automatic auto off on sounded like it would fail so I disabled it, the car didn't start normally every morning, and it began to feel like it didn't shift correctly as I accelerated or slowed down. About one day later it suddenly lurched to almost a stop while driving, check engine light was flashing, other icons on dashboard were flashing, the Park Brake icon started flashing. The engine continued to run but I couldn't go more than 2 mph. I put it in park and it started to smell like something was burning so I turned it off. I had to have it towed to the dealer, Rafferty Subaru.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-07
- VIN: 4S4BTAFC6N3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Front windshield cracked while vehicle was parked after a car wash. Crack started from the center bottom outside, from the base.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-05
- VIN: 4S4BTADC2N3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Windshield cracked without warning and with no impact. Crack rapidly propagated and sounded like glass was going to break on highway. Took to Wagner Subaru dealer and they said this is typical and is not covered by recall or warranty.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-09
- VIN: 4S4BTGJD1N3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: My subaru outback windshield seems to use low quality glass or have poor windshield mount/frame design. Since purchasing the car new in April 2022, I have had 3 significantly cracked windshields; all of which propagated immediately after getting hit by a pebble mid-drive (not giving any opportunity to fix the chip). I am filing this complaint because I don’t think it should be standard for a windshield to propagate a crack so easily and consistently every time it gets chipped (this seems statistically improbable compared to other cars) - and it’s a legitimate hazard to visibility if I don’t have ample opportunity to get the chip repaired to prevent it from propagating to a crack. Essentially I’m saying that it’s almost guaranteed that getting a chip will result in a foot long crack during the same drive (I say almost because I have been able to repair a chip before it was too late once). Furthermore, the crack will often double in size over night (presumably due to temperature changes) - which leads me to speculate that the windshield glass accumulated internal stresses during install due to poor design. I have only replaced my windshield through official Subaru dealerships with their recommended glass vendor. I’ve attached two photos from my most recent cracked windshield; the first is the crack that propagated immediately after the pebble hit while driving, and the second is after leaving the car overnight stationary. Also note that this is usually at highway speeds; and i have effectively had 1.5 broken windshields per year of driving the car. The first broken windshield happened at ~200 miles driven on the brand new car (5 days in).
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-21
- VIN: 4S4BTACCXN3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Windshield cracked without any external impact. There was no crack when we parked the car in the evening, but the next morning there was a crack. There was no impact or visible reason that this should have happened.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-25
- VIN: 4S4BTAFC4N3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Merging off the interstate at a speed of 75mph onto an off ramp at 7pm with 4 adults in the car and when I started braking the windshield cracked from the passages side a pillar in towards the center of the window approximately 7 inches. There were no other vehicles around us and no signs of a chip or previous damage that could have caused the break in the glass.The crack is halfway up/down the windshield and runs horizontal.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-19
- VIN: 4S4BTGPD3N3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: My EyeSight device stopped working correctly when I had the interior cleaned and the front windshield was spray cleaned. "Obstacle Detected" warnings started popping up and slowing down the car. Per the dealership, this was caused by the backsplash from the cleaner and now the entire device has to be replaced at a cost of $3300. Subaru later offered to replace it for $1800. I wish I was told to only spray the cleaner on a cloth or this could happen. Now I have to replace it or it could suddenly stop the car on the highway.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-21
- VIN: 4S4BTGND3N3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I came out this morning and I have a crack in my windshield that goes from the bottom of the glass up and over to towards the driver side. There does not appear to be any visible signs of impact that caused this crack.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-11
- VIN: 4S4BTADC6N3
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: 1. The Subaru Outback OEM windshield has cracked and had to be replaced 3 times, so we are currently on our 4th windshield in just 2 years. The car has about 50k miles on it. 2. It is difficult to see through a broken windshield and puts us and others in danger. 3. Yes, the dealer has admitted that Subaru Outback windshields crack frequently and nothing has been done about it. 4. The manufacturer has ignored the issue. 5. No warnings that the windshield would break this frequently.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-06
- VIN: 4S4BTGLD4N3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: The windshield cracked from bottom of passenger side to the center of glass for no reasons, while the car was fully stopped, without any external impact. There were no harms caused to passengers, but it is concerning because the windshield could crack anytime without external impact. This didn't get recognized by dealership as a defect, they claim it was due to external impact. Yes, dealership has inspected the vehicle. No warning lamps or messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-25
- VIN: 4S4BTGUD4N3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: After doing grocery shopping, I returned to the vehicle, loaded my purchases, and upon getting into the driver's seat, noticed a large "Y" shaped crack in the windshield. The crack wasn't there when I arrived at the store. I've owned the vehicle less than a week, bought it used with less than 14K miles on it.
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-24
- VIN: 4S4BTGUD6N3
- Components: POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
- Summary: Was just driving when I noticed my car was sounding louder than usual. Then when I stared it after running some errands it sounds like a bad engine nock. So I took it in for an oil change and they told me it was a cracked exhaust manifold. Also told me it fine to drive and shouldn’t cause further problems. Then I started to smell heavy exhaust smells inside the cab of the car. Now I have to drive it with windows down or risk passing out or dying
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-05
- VIN: 4S4BTADC7N3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I live in New Jersey, I am leasing this vehicle and I have 9 more months to go for the 3 year lease to be over. I am planning to purchase the vehicle after the 3 years. On [XXX] my fiancé and I drove from New Jersey to Ohio and stood at my boyfriend's grandparent's home for 4 days. While being there we had not used the car for 2 days and it was parked at the family members drive way be we were using the grandfather's vehicle since he was showing us around. On [XXX], we were planning to go out and get some ice cream. As we walk to our car the windshield is cracked from the corner of the passenger side to almost the driver's side. We were not sure what to do, we call Subaru and the nearest Subaru was 1 1/2 away from where we were. We decided to go back home with the cracked glass and take it to a nearby dealer 9 hours away. We stood in a hotel half of the way and we didn't drive over 55 miles per hour because we were afraid to go any faster with a cracked windshield. We took our car dealer here in NJ on August 7th, they took at the vehicle, took pictures and they told us, they would probably get approval to replace it under warranty but that it would need approval. They informed us that the vehicle did not have any signs of being in an accidents or that the crack did not show any signs of the windshield being hit to by anything to cause the crack. As of now, August 19, 2024 we are still waiting for approval. I need my vehicle repaired by September, since I work as an elementary teacher. I also feel, this incidence should be placed under a recall for this vehicle. It is very dangerous and could have caused major injury or even death to ourselves. Based on research I have done this incidence has happen to many people owning the Subaru Outback. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-31
- VIN: 4S4BTANC0N3
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: When I sit in the front passenger seat, the airbag sensor icon sometimes says off and sometimes says on--even during the same trip. and even if I have not changed positions. This means I am at risk of bodily injury when the system does not recognize that I am in the seat because the airbag is not operative while I was in the seat. On 7/22/24 the Subaru technician found "no active or stored codes and "recalibrated passenger side front seat. Rechecked to verify air bag warning system is operating as designed." Nevertheless, the sensor does not always recognize that I am in the seat so I am still at risk. I am, by the way, an adult who is over 5 Ft but weighs 90 pounds. I bought the car for safety because Subaru touts safety in advertisements. I find that I am not safe because there is no airbag working much of the time. We have owned the car since mid-June 2024 and this happens multiple times in the car when I am in the passenger seat (I am adding a date for only one date below) but this happens multiple times--the majority of times I am in the passenger seat.
VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-07
- VIN: 4S4BTADC7N3
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the windshield had cracked after an impact. The vehicle was taken to Safelite Auto Glass, where the windshield was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the windshield was inspected, and the dealer confirmed that the windshield had cracked due to an impact. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken back to Safelite Auto Glass, and the windshield replacement was covered by the Insurance provider; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was re-opened. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-04
- VIN: 4S4BTADC7N3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I had my car parked at my boyfriend's grandfather house in Ohio on Sunday, August 3 and 4 without using the car for 2 days. Today Sunday, August 4 at around 5PM, my boyfriend and I went to our car, because we were planning to go out for ice cream. When we notice a long crack on our windshield. The windshield is cracked and nothing hit it, the cracked extends from the passenger side of the of the corner side all the way to almost the side of the driver side. I read that this has been a problem with many Subarus. I would not have leased this vehicle if I knew this was an issue. It should be identified as a recall. Since I am away from home (New Jersey) and far away from a Subaru dealer, I have to get this windshield repair to get back home. I am going through my insurance to repair it. Please help me in getting to know what to do to get a refund of my deductible. Thank you.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-01
- VIN: 4S4BTAFC0N3
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: Several months ago Subaru updated the software in the above mentioned systems. Ever since the systems have become overly sensitive to the point of locking breaks up on the highway, at highway speed, for no obstruction. This has taken me from highway speed to a complete stop in the middle of the number 2 lane on several occasions.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-09
- VIN: 4S4BTANCXN3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: I was driving to work and a car kicked up a small rock that struck the lower left portion of my windshield. There was no chip created at the time. Several minutes later, I heard an audible pop and 4 - 6 inch long crack appeared in the same area. Within minutes, the crack traveled across the windshield and extended about one foot further. Within a few days, the crack extended to the middle of the windshield and traveled upwards towards the attachment point for the rear view mirror. It's long enough now where I'm worried about it interfering with Eyesight. When I examined the area where the stone impacted, I can see several very small pits where the rock hit, but each pit is probably no larger than 1/64th of an inch in diameter. Given the behavior of the crack and reports I've heard from others, I suspect that the glass is too thin and under stress the way it's mounted to the car. This fault has been reported over and over on social media and has cost owners many thousands of dollars to correct.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-04
- VIN: 4S4BTGUD4N3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: A tiny crack started at the top of the window butnothing impacted. Thenit slowlyintwo weeks crackeddown quickly on the windshield of the driver from passenger side. Again no rockhit itor anything else.It appeared quickly and spread. Our extra warranty shield protection doesnt coveritbutit seems almost like a factory defect.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-10-01
- VIN: 4S4BTGPD0N3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: My car has defective clear coat paint. Subaru recalled some units with defective paint because it resulted in improper windshield installation but not mine.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-05
- VIN: 4S4BTACCXN3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Second windshield cracked with no impact. This I’d the second time within a year that this has happened to me. Like last time the crack isn’t on the outermost layer, and if you run your finger along the crack it feels completely smooth. This is quite frankly unacceptable with how expensive these windshields are to replace.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-15
- VIN: 4S4BTANC7N3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: I have replaced the windshield for a second time resulting from a (non-impact) stress fracture coming from the passenger side A Pillar. It seems to be exactly the same spot as previous. The crack is large enough to put a credit card in at the start then wanders in varying directions with a finer crack. This time an aftermarket glass was available which I was told is thicker and more durable that the OEM glass. I am told Subaru has extremely thin OEM glass which they are having industry problems with. If it has any significance there is a dent in the passenger door jam B-Pillar which was there from new and painted over. It seems to be a result of manufacturing robotics possibly. I do not know if this is a clue to two windshields stress cracking.
2022 Subaru Outback recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 4 recalls for different components of the 2022 Subaru Outback.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
- 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. Interim letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners will receive a second letter once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-24.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
- 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.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
- 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.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
- 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.
Negative 2022 Subaru Outback car reviews
Positive 2022 Subaru Outback car reviews
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I absolutely adore our Outback Wilderness! The color scheme is so cool and the non-leather seats are incredibly comfortable. The rugged bed liner is perfect for our furry friends and the car has plenty of power. While I do own a Porsche Taycan Turbo and have had my fair share of ultra-luxury and exotic cars, I've also owned 4 or 5 Subarus and they have all been fantastic. Spending luxury car money seems frivolous when you can get a Subaru like this for only $40K, which has most of the same features. Sure, it may be slightly noisier and have basic handling, but the tech works just fine (my Porsche computer interface takes time to warm up just like the Subaru touch screen). The 9.5
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Just for reference, I am a 70-year-old male who is married. I will be comparing the 2022 Outback Base model to our previous 2018 Crosstrek Premium. For our needs, the Crosstrek was perfect, and we did not require a more spacious back seat or a bigger cargo area. However, I did have one complaint about the Crosstrek's driver's seat. It was okay for around town, but a three-hour drive left me in agony (although it fit my smaller wife perfectly). When it was time to trade, the made in Indiana Outback was a better choice than a Crosstrek or Forester with supply line issues from Japan. I would still be waiting for a '22 Crosstrek if I had chosen that option. It's worth noting that the Forester tends to have a lot higher depreciation than the Crosstrek and Outback. The dealer made me a trade-in offer for the Crosstrek that I could not refuse, which is another reason to buy a Subaru. Although the Outback feels big (bigger than I need or want), it is serene, comfortable, and luxurious. I don't care for all the electronic driver's aids, but I do use the eyesight lane-keeping warning function. However, the active steering felt like a bobsled bounding off the sides of the downhill track, which made my wife nauseous. All of that information is entertaining to play with, but it is not essential and becomes distracting. I can't imagine why you would need to spend thousands more for a more premium model. I do love the eyesight auto-dimming headlights, and the LED headlights and fog lights are so much better than HID. The Outback has an advantage in that I can put a full-size spare tire in it, which I could not do in the Crosstrek. I lost about 5 MPG, but the Outback is bigger and a lot heavier. The Crosstrek had 39 MPG highway / 27 MPG city, while the Outback has 34 MPG highway / 23 MPG city. My idea of necessary speed is being able to move out to pass someone on a two-lane road, and the Crosstrek just flat out went, while the Outback is a lot more leisurely.Subaru quality is truly legendary and well-deserved. The all-wheel drive system is exceptional, providing a sense of security and confidence even in challenging weather conditions. Personally, I wouldn't consider any other brand. I do have a small issue with the Yokohama tires, as they don't seem to perform as well in wet and winter weather as I would like. Additionally, I have noticed a slight shimmy on some road surfaces with the Outback's tires. Lastly, I have noticed that both cars lose about 5 PSI a month.
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I hope you're doing well! I just wanted to share my experience with you. Last winter, my BMW SUV let me down in the Ohio winters, so I decided to look for a car that could handle the weather better. After talking to some friends who own Subarus, I learned that their AWD Symmetrical system is superior to other manufacturers. I was a bit worried about the CVT, but the turbo engine I ended up buying simulates the shifting similar to the automatics I enjoy. Overall, I'm really happy with my decision!
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Congratulations on your new 2022 Outback Limited XT! It's great to hear that you're enjoying it so much. The turbo on the XT model sounds like a game-changer, especially when driving on mountain passes or accelerating onto a freeway. It's also impressive that the gas mileage is better than your previous 2007 2.5i Outback. I'm glad to hear that the software updates have fixed the majority of issues with the electronics, and that you find the center console responsive and easy to use. With so many features, it's understandable that you need to read the manual. It's good to know that the iSight system works well and that you haven't had to change any of the defaults. While the lane departure warnings on narrow roads can be a bit annoying, it's great to hear that you think the system makes the car safer to drive. It's interesting to hear that the steering is very light compared to your Honda Accord Sport, but it's good to know that you've gotten used to it. Overall, it sounds like you're very happy with your new car and that it's very well designed. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
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This car has been a fantastic upgrade from my 2009 Forester. The new Outback offers more space, a smoother engine, and better gas mileage. As my retirement vehicle for road trips and camping over the next 10-15 years, I am thrilled with the interior comfort. The seats are much more forgiving than the hard leather ones in my old Forester. While the infotainment screen takes some adapting, it is surprisingly intuitive to learn and get the hang of. I appreciate still having buttons for volume and temperature controls, as I find them easier to use than a touch screen. The safety features are unmatched, which gives me added peace of mind during winters and around bad drivers. The 2.5 Boxer engine is perfectly adequate for my driving needs, but I can certainly see why some people would want the extra pep of the turbo. The CVT keeps the engine in its power band, so it feels peppier than the 2.5 w/ 4-speed I had in my Forester. Overall, the Outback is a great wagon with a good balance of tech, comfort, pricing, and MPG. I'm looking forward to the next 200,000 miles!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2022 Subaru Outback problems:
2022 Wilderness Owners - Problems? : r/Subaru_Outback
Dec 10, 2021 ... 2022 Wilderness Owners - Problems? · Vehicle lunges/shakes once just before coming to a stop. This is a BIG irritation for me. · A slight buzzing ...
Gen 6 - 2022 with transmission issues | Subaru Outback Forums
Apr 14, 2023 ... The biggest issue I've had is that they keep saying it's not throwing error codes, but I actually spoke to their technician and he said there ...
2022 Outback, hate Infotainment System - buyers remorse. : r ...
Jan 21, 2023 ... ... known member of subaruoutback.org). Both the ... My Outback was my first brand new vehicle and first Subaru. ... issues and now I'm having the same ...
2022 Outback Issues | Subaru Outback Forums
Feb 14, 2022 ... Lately the problems include: Main navigation screen powering off randomly while driving at various speeds. This also disables the safety ...
2022 Subaru Outback Reliability - Consumer Reports
Reliability ... We expect the 2024 Outback will have about average reliability when compared to other new cars. This prediction is based on data from 2022, 2023, ...
Other years of Subaru Outback
Are you having problems with your 2022 Subaru Outback?
Bud Brown 2025-01-05
I leased a 2022 Subaru Outback Premium here in Canada. This is my fourth Outback and my second brand new model (and my 6th Subaru). However, I have noticed some issues with the vehicle that do not align with Subaru's promises. When I picked up my new Outback, it had two dents in it which the dealer promised to fix. Although I had to fix them myself in the end, I was eventually refunded for the repair. I added a Subaru trailer hitch for my bicycle rack, but the rear sensor trigger constantly goes off when I am in reverse with the bike rack on the hitch. The facial recognition system works only 2 out of 3 times at best and the seats and mirrors only adjust automatically inconsistently when it does work. The bluetooth function only works 60-70% of the time and the sound occasionally drops for no reason when it does work. Apple CarPlay only works if you connect the iPhone with a cable to one of 2 USB ports in the dash area. Although wireless CarPlay has been around for years, Subaru has not yet implemented it. The CarPlay feature, however, sometimes just will not work at all. Sometimes the car will not play any sound at all from any source (radio, Sirius, Media, bluetooth, phone, etc.) and the volume control looks like it is adjusting the volume when you turn it and mute on/off appears to work but zero sound regardless. The car developed a loud rattling noise underneath which comes and goes - no obvious reason why. Connecting the car to WiFi is hit and miss and the car seems to forget any settings you enable or apply. Changing the vehicle's bluetooth name is not recommended as the car only recognizes its original name and not the new name that appears in its menu system.The Napa Leather interior of this car is only present on the seating surface, while the backs of the seats are made of vinyl. Unfortunately, the vinyl on the front passenger seat was damaged in my new Outback, and I had to have the seat replaced. Despite my vehicle's issues with the electronics, such as the lagging touch screen controls, I am confident in my assessment that these problems are not widespread. The gas-saving auto-engine stop feature can cause the car to lurch when the engine restarts itself while idling at a stop sign or light, but this is a minor inconvenience. Although my car has less than 200Km on it, I am confident that these issues are not indicative of fundamental design flaws. While Subaru Canada was not helpful, my dealership has been working to address these issues.
Carlo Rau 2024-11-09
PRO: The ride is smooth and the seats are very comfortable. The car handles well and has a nice interior. CON: Unfortunately, the engine is loud, coarse, and rough (mine has the 2.4 turbo), and the cvt transmission is jerky (the worst I've ever driven). The electronics are also disappointing. The voice-activated navigation is not very effective and the display screen is slow to react. The fan speed button is almost non-functional. It's unfortunate to say, but I regret my purchase. UPDATE: After a few months, nothing has improved and some new issues have arisen. The hands-free liftgate only works about 30% of the time, and the driver-recognition system unrecognizes drivers within a few days. Warnings turn themselves back on after being disabled. UPDATE 2: I noticed that the 2023 model has a better touchscreen interface with larger fan speed buttons and seat heater buttons on the front where they should be. I contacted Subaru to ask if my car could be updated to the new screen, but unfortunately, it's not possible. I also asked about an update for the CVT transmission, but it didn't make any difference. Overall, the electronics/interface and the misdesigned CVT make this car unpleasant.
Roy Dicki 2024-11-04
The 2022 XT model has been experiencing quality control issues, including a loud buzzing B-pillar and popping sounds when turning. Despite the dealer's attempts to solve these issues over the course of three weeks, the problems persist even after the car was returned. In contrast, my previous Outbacks were notably quiet with no rattles, noises, or suspension popping. It is clear that these issues are specific to the 2022 XT model.
Enrique Bailey 2024-10-02
There is a re-occurring water leak in the front floorboard passenger side that has resulted in a foul odor. Unfortunately, the dealership has been unable to resolve the issue so far. I wanted to share my experience with X-mode for winter driving, as I found it to be quite dangerous. It caused over braking and put us into a side skid on a snowy road, almost sending us over a 100' embankment. Additionally, the safety braking system overreacts and puts the brakes on when perceived obstacles alongside the road are falsely seen as being in the roadway, especially on very curvy roadways. I also found that the lane-keep system does not allow driver override to avoid debris in the roadway, which could cause accidents and even death at worst, and severe vehicle damage at best if the debris is large, such as rocks or crash debris. However, I must say that the car does have some redeeming qualities, such as a quiet and smooth ride, as well as very good gas mileage from the 2.5 boxer in-line 4-cylinder.
Carleton Smitham 2024-09-17
Pros: The ride is smooth and the interior is pretty quiet. The seats are nice and the sound system is good. Cons: The dash system needs improvement. It would be better to get rid of the screen as it can be distracting. The safety features are important, but it would be better if they were easier to access. The cruise control is not user-friendly as you have to look down to set it to something other than 5 MPH increments. The seat heater is also not easy to use as you have to navigate through multiple screens to turn it on. The air flow system is unnecessarily complicated and the icons on the buttons should be larger. The storage bin in the dash is too small and is blocked by USB ports, which is not a smart design. It would be better to have storage on the left side of the steering wheel. The screen is positioned too low on the dash, which can be distracting. It would be better to have it up top like other cars. The eye scan feature is a good addition, but it would be better if it alerted the driver when they are looking away from the road. If the dash tablet design was improved, the car would be much better. Overall, I have 3,000 miles on mine and while I won't get rid of it for this reason, I am not sure I would buy another one.