IllustrationMy front windshield cracked within the first month of ownership. Thankfully I purchased the windshield repair warranty program that includes about five Replacements without extra cost. About a month after I replaced the windshield it cracked again. If this continues regularly I plan on taking this to small claims court
2022 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Outback years
Owner complaints for the 2022 Subaru Outback are substantially higher than the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 39 of 463 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 255 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports
Visibility/wiper complaints
255 reportsA very short time, only weeks after new purchase, a very small rock impact resulted in large crack across entire windshield. Replaced with very costly genuine branded Subaru Replacement Part. 6 Months into the new windshield, while parked and without any impact, crack formed from the edge to the center of the windshield.
While driving at approximately 55 miles per hour, a crack suddenly occurred in the lower passenger side of the front windshield. The crack extended to approximately 20 inches. There was no vehicle in front of the Subaru - no object struck the windshield. The failure mileage was 1100. When taken to the dealership, Subaru dete…
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While driving at approximately 55 miles per hour, a crack suddenly occurred in the lower passenger side of the front windshield. The crack extended to approximately 20 inches. There was no vehicle in front of the Subaru - no object struck the windshield. The failure mileage was 1100. When taken to the dealership, Subaru determined that the windshield was broken by "outer influences." When taken in to the Subaru dealership for repair, the new windshield had received "some shipping damage" and the repair had to be rescheduled.
While parked and without any impact a Crack formed from the edge to the center of the windshield. There was no impact While driving previously and to this point there is still no impact damage, just a smooth crack accross half the windshield.
In first 5,000 miles two windshields have cracked. The first had NO obvious impact. The second was hit by a VERY SMALL pebble (<1/4”). Seems like Subaru hasn’t resolved their windshield issues.
On 9 February 2022 I was driving the vehicle when a Crack appeared on the front driver's side of the windshield. No object hit the windshield before hand that had caused a chip or Crack. The Crack extends from the bottom drivers side up about 1/4 of the height of the windshield and then takes a turn towards the passenger side ap…
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On 9 February 2022 I was driving the vehicle when a Crack appeared on the front driver's side of the windshield. No object hit the windshield before hand that had caused a chip or Crack. The Crack extends from the bottom drivers side up about 1/4 of the height of the windshield and then takes a turn towards the passenger side approximately 9 inches.
My windshield has cracked for the second time. I didn’t hear anything and there is no mark of impact, just about a 5 inch crack. It’s coming up from the bottom middle of the windshield. I’m not sure what’s causing this. But this will be the second time I have to replace the windshield on my brand new car. Something needs to be d…
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My windshield has cracked for the second time. I didn’t hear anything and there is no mark of impact, just about a 5 inch crack. It’s coming up from the bottom middle of the windshield. I’m not sure what’s causing this. But this will be the second time I have to replace the windshield on my brand new car. Something needs to be done about this.
Spontaneous front windshield break, no rock impact or prior chip contributed to the window breaking. The car was simply turned on and the passenger side of the window cracked - the crack has since grown considerably in size. I have attempted to put a claim down at the dealership (visited on site, they have inspected), but ther…
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Spontaneous front windshield break, no rock impact or prior chip contributed to the window breaking. The car was simply turned on and the passenger side of the window cracked - the crack has since grown considerably in size. I have attempted to put a claim down at the dealership (visited on site, they have inspected), but there has been no follow-up in the last 3+ weeks. I have also reached out on multiple occasions to speak to someone (such as a service manager) and have not received any response. I do not feel safe driving around as, apparently, the eye-sight system works in conjunction with the windshields. After searching the Internet, this appears to be a reproduced phenomenon.
A truck ahead/beside me kicked out a small stone that hit my windshield and created a 1" star in the lower left corner of the driver's side. I traveled 2 more miles to get the star repaired, but just before I got to the auto glass shop the star cracked 3 different ways, so I went home to call for repacement bids. Overnight, wi…
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A truck ahead/beside me kicked out a small stone that hit my windshield and created a 1" star in the lower left corner of the driver's side. I traveled 2 more miles to get the star repaired, but just before I got to the auto glass shop the star cracked 3 different ways, so I went home to call for repacement bids. Overnight, with the car garaged, the cracks increased in size across the driver's field of vision. It will be $1,700 to replace AND do the required Eyesight forward cameras recalibration. The car has just over 3,100 miles on it. I read abouty Subaru Outbacks having so many problems with this exact issue, that there was a lawsuit and Subaru was forced to cover repairs. I feel this issue is still happening and my windshield should be covered by Subaru.
I purchased a 2022 Subaru Outback in late August 2021. I had been driving regularly under normal driving conditions and no adverse weather. Fall temperatures neither very hot, nor very cold. On 10/10/21 I woke up to a crack in the windshield extending from the passenger side windshield edge to the center of the windshield. No im…
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I purchased a 2022 Subaru Outback in late August 2021. I had been driving regularly under normal driving conditions and no adverse weather. Fall temperatures neither very hot, nor very cold. On 10/10/21 I woke up to a crack in the windshield extending from the passenger side windshield edge to the center of the windshield. No impact chip is visible, or by touch. No known rock or debris impact while I was driving. I have been very careful with my nice new car and this was extremely disappointing.
Official recalls
424V227000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
Mar 22, 2024
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 & remedy
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. 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.
23V755000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Nov 9, 2023
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 & remedy
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.
22V712000 · Visibility:windshield
Sep 22, 2022
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 & remedy
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.
22V473000 · Electrical System:wiring; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm)
Jul 1, 2022
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 & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm)
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.
Electrical System:wiring
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.