YearToAvoid

2022 Subaru Outback Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#5 most-complained of 21 Outback years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2022 Subaru Outback has 463 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 80 out of 100 — #5 highest of 21 Outback model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is visibility & wipers (280 complaints, 60% of the total). Complaints report 10 crashes, 4 fires, and 6 injuries.

Complaints
463
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
10 / 4
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 30 hwy

Top 2022 Subaru Outback problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Visibility & Wipers280 (60%)
  2. Other86 (19%)
  3. Electrical System54 (12%)
  4. Engine26 (6%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras24 (5%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain18 (4%)
  7. Brakes11 (2%)
  8. Lane Departure11 (2%)
  9. Structure & Body9 (2%)
  10. Airbags6 (1%)
2022 Subaru Outback complaints: complaints filed per quarter682021 Q32022 Q22023 Q12023 Q42024 Q32025 Q22026 Q1
542 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2021 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q3 (68).

2022 Subaru Outback recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2022 Subaru Outback →

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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2020Avoid100897627.5
2021Caution60296427.5
2022Avoid80463426
2023Good2589225
2024Good45102025

All Subaru Outback years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Subaru Outback a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2022 Subaru Outback ranks #5 of 21 among Outback model years (Complaint Index 80/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 463 complaints and 4 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Subaru Outback?
The most reported problem areas are visibility & wipers (280 complaints), electrical system (54 complaints), and engine (26 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 13,947 miles.
Does the 2022 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2022 Subaru Outback, most recently reported 2024, covering airbags, transmission & powertrain, visibility & wipers, and engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Subaru Outback?
EPA rates the 2022 Subaru Outback at 26 MPG combined (23 city / 30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.