2022 Subaru Outback Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2022 Subaru Outback ranks 5th worst out of 21 model years, with a Complaint Index of 80 and 463 complaints. Visibility & Wipers issues dominate at 60% of complaints, and four recalls cover airbags, transmission, windshield bonding, and engine wiring.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 80/100
- #5 of 21 Outback years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 463
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 10
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Visibility & Wipers
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 26
- 23 city / 30 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
Top 2022 Subaru Outback problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Visibility & Wipers280 (60%)
- Other86 (19%)
- Electrical System54 (12%)
- Engine26 (6%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras24 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain18 (4%)
- Brakes11 (2%)
- Lane Departure11 (2%)
- Structure & Body9 (2%)
- Airbags6 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking or backing out of garages, sometimes crashing into poles, trees, or fences.
- Some describe the transmission making an abnormal sound before rapidly shifting or accelerating unexpectedly.
- Several report the main wiring harness malfunctioning, triggering dashboard warning lights and disabling ADAS safety features.
- Owners report brakes failing to stop the vehicle when the engine unexpectedly accelerated in a parking lot.
- A blind spot warning sensor reportedly failed to detect a stationary object, resulting in a collision.
- One owner reported smoke and a fire starting under the hood shortly after a dealer maintenance visit.
2022 Subaru Outback recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V227000Mar 22, 2024Airbags118,723 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 23V755000Nov 9, 2023Transmission & Powertrain95,830 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 22V712000Sep 22, 2022Visibility & Wipers42 vehicles
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Risk: 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.
2022 Subaru Outback fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23 MPG
- Highway
- 30 MPG
- Combined
- 26 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,500
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2022 compared with other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2022 Subaru Outback reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2022 Outback has a Complaint Index of 80 and ranks 5th worst among 21 model years, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other Outback years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2022 Subaru Outback?
- Visibility & Wipers complaints make up 60% of all reported issues (280 of 463 complaints), with a median mileage at failure of 6,750 miles.
- Does the 2022 Subaru Outback have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2022 Outback covering airbag occupant detection sensors, a transmission inhibitor switch, windshield clearcoat bonding, and an engine wiring harness/ECU connection.
- How does the 2022 Outback compare to other years?
- The 2022 model's Complaint Index of 80 is higher than most other Outback years except 2016 through 2020, which range from 75 to 100 and also carry Avoid verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Subaru Outback?
- The EPA rates the 2022 Outback at 26 mpg combined (23 city/30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500.