YearToAvoid

2022 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 18 engine complaints for the 2022 Subaru Forester, 18% of all complaints filed for that model year. These include reports of fires and unintended acceleration, with a median failure mileage of 1,800 miles. No related engine recall is listed for this year.

Engine complaints
18
18% of 98
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
1,800 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while slowly parking, with the vehicle failing to stop despite braking and colliding with objects.
  • Some engine complaints describe the vehicle catching fire shortly after a crash or while parked, in some cases resulting in total loss of the vehicle.
  • One owner described stalling followed by an oil trail on the ground and then smoke and flames coming from the engine area at a very low mileage.
  • One complaint describes an engine rod bearing failure that led to an engine replacement, followed months later by another engine-related fire.
  • One owner reported fuel economy well below the advertised EPA city and highway figures during normal combined driving.

When 2022 Subaru Forester engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 7, 2022, latest Mar 13, 2026.

2022 Subaru Forester engine complaints: complaints filed per month1Jun 2022Sep 2022Jan 2023Aug 2023Mar 2025Sep 2025
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2022 to Mar 2026; peak Jun 2022 (1).

Engine recalls for the 2022 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Forester model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201058 (22%)
  2. 201179 (54%)
  3. 201246 (44%)
  4. 201333 (43%)
  5. 2014110 (27%)
  6. 2015191 (31%)
  7. 201691 (22%)
  8. 201776 (13%)
  9. 201858 (12%)
  10. 2019136 (16%)
  11. 2020105 (17%)
  12. 202142 (20%)
  13. 202218 (18%)
  14. 202310 (14%)
  15. 20242 (7%)
  16. 20258 (9%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2022 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists 18 engine complaints for the 2022 Forester, which is 18% of the 98 total complaints filed for this model year.
Is there an engine recall for the 2022 Subaru Forester?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the engine problems reported on the 2022 Forester.
At what mileage do 2022 Forester engine problems tend to occur?
The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints on the 2022 Forester is 1,800 miles, indicating some issues appeared very early in ownership.
Do the 2022 Forester engine complaints involve fires or crashes?
Yes. Of the 18 engine complaints, NHTSA records show 5 fires, 4 crashes, and 3 injuries associated with this problem area.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.