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
What owners actually said
463 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2022
Service Brakes
Since I drove 1 mile out of the dealers lot I knew there were something wrong with the brakes Brakes don't feel right when I go to start the car I hear a thump sound than a pedal that has play in it before engaging it does the same while coasting and than applying the brake softly you hear that clicking and the play in it before…
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Since I drove 1 mile out of the dealers lot I knew there were something wrong with the brakes Brakes don't feel right when I go to start the car I hear a thump sound than a pedal that has play in it before engaging it does the same while coasting and than applying the brake softly you hear that clicking and the play in it before it engages there's definitely something wrong with this cars brakes it stops ok but it just doesn't feel right I should know I owned the same vehicle in a 2020 model and those brakes were perfect I brought it in for service and they said they ran test and found nothing I am schedule for another service appointment I've complained and they turn a deaf ear on it I've even contacted Subaru of America
NHTSA ODI #11450896
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2022
Visibility/wiper
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.
NHTSA ODI #11450453
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2022
Visibility
Subaru windshields still crack. Owned this car for less than one week and a crack on the passenger side appeared overnight. Cracked windshields reduce ability to see and can worsen over time. The dealer refused to replace the windshield. So, we took the car to a shop and they replaced the windshield at our expense for the insura…
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Subaru windshields still crack. Owned this car for less than one week and a crack on the passenger side appeared overnight. Cracked windshields reduce ability to see and can worsen over time. The dealer refused to replace the windshield. So, we took the car to a shop and they replaced the windshield at our expense for the insurance deductible.
NHTSA ODI #11449663
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2022
Visibility/wiper
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.
NHTSA ODI #11449407
Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2022
Exterior Lighting
During night driving, with normal headlights on (not high beams), I am frequently flashed by high beams of oncoming vehicles, sometimes for long time intervals. One truck driver that I was following intentionally shined a bright light at his side view mirror which reflected onto my face, temporarily impairing my vision as I pass…
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During night driving, with normal headlights on (not high beams), I am frequently flashed by high beams of oncoming vehicles, sometimes for long time intervals. One truck driver that I was following intentionally shined a bright light at his side view mirror which reflected onto my face, temporarily impairing my vision as I passed the truck. I have taken the car to the Subaru dealership and spoken to a Subaru customer relations representative and they both informed me that other owners of the vehicle have lodged the same complaint but unfortunately the vehicle does not have any mechanism to adjust either the height or brightness of the LED headlights. This is a significant safety issue for both oncoming drivers, whose vision is impaired by my headlights and my vision which is impaired when they shine their high beams at me, making night driving less safe for both.
NHTSA ODI #11449118
Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2022
Visibility/wiper
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.
NHTSA ODI #11449068
Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2022
Visibility/wiper
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.
NHTSA ODI #11449053
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2022
Visibility/wiper
On 1/3/22, less than 3 months and 3,000 miles since purchase, a “no impact” crack appeared from the lower quadrant of the windshield in a lazy “s” towards the center of the windshield.
NHTSA ODI #11448512
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2022
Visibility/wiper
2022 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium developed a spontaneous ~ 20 inch crack in the upper passenger quadrant of front windshield from the upper edge downward overnight. The windshield was not chipped or damaged. The vehicle was less than 4 months old and had driven 5732.7 miles and was parked at the the time the crack appeared. The …
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2022 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium developed a spontaneous ~ 20 inch crack in the upper passenger quadrant of front windshield from the upper edge downward overnight. The windshield was not chipped or damaged. The vehicle was less than 4 months old and had driven 5732.7 miles and was parked at the the time the crack appeared. The low temperature in the previous 24 hour period was 3° F.
NHTSA ODI #11447925
Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2022
Visibility/wiper
Drove car to and from work in the morning, no visible crack on windshield. Parked in garage 1-2 hours. Came back and found 12+ inch crack starting at base of passenger side windshield in an L shape. Don't remember getting hit with any debris while driving and there is no visible impact point. It was cold outside but can't rememb…
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Drove car to and from work in the morning, no visible crack on windshield. Parked in garage 1-2 hours. Came back and found 12+ inch crack starting at base of passenger side windshield in an L shape. Don't remember getting hit with any debris while driving and there is no visible impact point. It was cold outside but can't remember if I used the defrost/deicer. A little research online shows this problem is not new to Subaru on former models. Only 2200 miles on the car and owned for 1.5 months. Not cool.
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.
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.
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.
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 ↗