Below are recalls and complaints reported to NHTSA for the 2022 Subaru Outback. This information is consumer-reported and provided for general informational purposes only. Vehicles like this may qualify under California lemon law depending on their individual repair history.
The following recalls were reported to NHTSA. A recall does not by itself establish that any individual vehicle is defective.
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).
Reported 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.
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.
Reported 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.
Reported 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."
Reported 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.
The following are consumer-reported complaints filed with NHTSA. These are unverified allegations and are not proof that any defect exists.
Windshield spontaneously cracked while parked in driveway. Have nest cam footage of crack.
NHTSA #11691656
A crack on my windshield has appeared overnight out of nowhere, with no indication of impact or external damage. The car was parked in a private driveway facing the house, not the road. It started from the bottom edge of the windshield under the cowling and has made its way to the center of the windshield, and has since spidered out, moving both east & west on the windshield. I took the 2022 Outback Wilderness to Hania Subaru in Orange Park, Jacksonville, FL, where they said the extended warranty would not cover the replacement because it only covers cracks that start on the east or west sides of the windshield. Hania Subaru sent photos to Subaru of America stating that they would not replace the glass. SOA said they would donate a $1000 gift towards the replacement of the windshield only if it was replaced through a Subaru dealership, which Subaru Hania quoted $2067.61, which is $900 more than the going rate in the area, so with the $1000 gift from SOA, I would be paying more than the average for a windshield replacement despite the "gifted $1000" from SOA and they would be using the same glass manufacturer that the original faulty cracked glass came from. SOA said they would only gift me the amount for the glass replacement if I used a Subaru dealership and not a 3rd party company, and when I asked why the dealerships charged double what the average cost was, they said that the service Subaru offers is superior despite there being no warranty on the new glass or service. When I called Subaru of Hania and Subaru of Jacksonville about glass replacement, they both said they do not offer glass replacement in-house, but they outsource to a 3rd party company called Ameri Pro, which is the glass dealership that Subaru uses as stock. Ameri Pro handles the full job and would charge me $1452 to include the "Subaru" stamp on the glass and stamped parts, or they would charge me $764.38 for all the same parts, excluding the Subaru stamp. This issue goes even deeper.
NHTSA #11686251
I have an 2022 Outback that has 29000 miles and have had 2 windshield replacements. And now on my third, from rock chips. I bought the extended warranty and they are denying my claim. I can’t imagine what the lifetime costs will be for this vehicle. They have offered an extended warranty because of the problem and are not honoring that either.
NHTSA #11681676
I bought my car in 2023 and it has less than 30,000 miles on it. Since purchase, I have had to replace the windshield THREE TIMES for massive cracks. Insurance does not cover the full cost. Nothing has hit the windshield as far as I know, but it keeps cracking. I have never had this issue with any other car.
NHTSA #11678783
Windshield requires replacement with slightest rock hit to it- (2) replacements in first six months of car ownership
NHTSA #11673020
I was outraged that my 2022 Subaru Outback on July 4, 2025 while the vehicle was parked and stationary in a secured garage, I discovered a significant crack across the windshield. There was no evidence of external impact or vandalism, indicating a likely **manufacturing defect or structural flaw** in the glass. This defect raises serious safety concerns and falls within Subaru’s responsibility under the vehicle’s warranty and applicable consumer protection laws.
NHTSA #11671422
The front windshield spontaneously cracked during use of windshield wipers. Resulted in multiple cracks from top center of windshield.
NHTSA #11668331
My windshield just cracked by itself without hitting anything. This is really frustrating.
NHTSA #11660538
Small rocks cause very large cracks across windshield. Windshield seems brittle or fragile.
NHTSA #11655246
2022 Subaru Outback with 22, 000 miles. Car had been in my garage overnight. I drove to our local recreation center on the morning of February 18, ambient temperature in mid-30's. I came out 1.5 hours later and discovered a large crack had spontaneously formed in the windshield (passenger side, extends to very edge, no visible causative chip).
NHTSA #11644447
The vehicle’s windshield developed a 8-10 inch crack due to most likely temperature changes. Seems like a known issue for this year/model vehicle.
NHTSA #11638676
Front windshield glass developed spontaneous crack. Originating on the drivers side approximately 8 inches up from the bottom drivers side of the glass. Initially the crack was about 5 inches in length horizontal but quickly developed to be 12.5 inches over 24 hours in a garage. Glass is available for inspection. There is no discernible impact point and crack seems to be spontaneous. An appointment at the dealership for assessment was booked and rescheduled pending extended warranty.
NHTSA #11635528
I was driving on the interstate, with no cars around me and I heard the windshield crack, the crack went from 3 inches to about 30 inches. There is no reason why this would have happened other than a defective windshield.
NHTSA #11630085
In November we used the car for a road trip and returned to our home in Snellville, GA on [XXX] parked the car, unloaded the contents, and put the sunshade in the windshield as we always do. The next day (XXX), I opened the car and removed a few small items used during the trip and walked around the car inspecting the exterior of the car for anything that may have changed due to this trip. At this time, I noticed a crack in the windshield that was not there the evening before. I had driven the car the entire trip and there was no time when something could have struck the windshield and precipitated this crack. I have been in a vehicle when a rock from the road has been kicked up by a vehicle ahead of me and struck the windshield. This type of impact can clearly be heard by passengers in the front seat, as it makes a considerable sound when striking the glass (similar to the sound of a small caliber weapon being fired). These is no indication on the exterior of the glass that this or any other external influence damaged and caused this windshield to crack. As I stated earlier, this windshield was not cracked when we exited the car the evening before. It is plainly visible when sitting in either of the front passenger seats and we would have noticed this. In my view this defect could have only been caused by mechanical stress between the mounting surface and windshield sometime between our arrival home and when this was first noted by us the next day. We have requested a replacement windshield under warranty. Subaru of America has denied our request, with the following statement: "Not a matter for warranty, outside influence" We are aware that this vehicle is included in a Class Action Lawsuit at the web site below. This crack is a safety issue and appears to be a defect based on information in the lawsuit. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA #11633641
Have second deep crack with light rock impact in less than one year
NHTSA #11625352
Windshield has a crack. There is no external force, neither accident happened
NHTSA #11623460
DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS: COSTLY REPAIR: I purchased this car when it was 9 months old with 7800 miles on it. I now have 30, 080 miles. and I have had to replace the windshield 3 times. I also had one a chip repaired. This means I have replaced the windshield every 7427. miles. Once the crack has started the lane sensing and brake stopping programs are halted. This is a serious safety issue. This is BEYOND RIDICULOUS for a NEW MODEL car. There much be something wrong with the making of these windshields, or the material used to make these windshields. This is a costly repair, being that the windshield needs re-calibrating each time. It's been around $2500.00 each time. The Subaru Dealer I purchased the car from has been made aware, but they have no solutions, no discounts, or no other options. Other than empathy, and tell me many others are having the same problems.
NHTSA #11621100
Front windshield cracked while vehicle was parked after a car wash. Crack started from the center bottom outside, from the base.
NHTSA #11619660
Windshield cracked without warning and with no impact. Crack rapidly propagated and sounded like glass was going to break on highway. Took to Wagner Subaru dealer and they said this is typical and is not covered by recall or warranty.
NHTSA #11619453
Merging off the interstate at a speed of 75mph onto an off ramp at 7pm with 4 adults in the car and when I started braking the windshield cracked from the passages side a pillar in towards the center of the window approximately 7 inches. There were no other vehicles around us and no signs of a chip or previous damage that could have caused the break in the glass.The crack is halfway up/down the windshield and runs horizontal.
NHTSA #11616805
Windshield cracked without any external impact. There was no crack when we parked the car in the evening, but the next morning there was a crack. There was no impact or visible reason that this should have happened.
NHTSA #11618489
After doing grocery shopping, I returned to the vehicle, loaded my purchases, and upon getting into the driver's seat, noticed a large "Y" shaped crack in the windshield. The crack wasn't there when I arrived at the store. I've owned the vehicle less than a week, bought it used with less than 14K miles on it.
NHTSA #11610772
The windshield cracked from bottom of passenger side to the center of glass for no reasons, while the car was fully stopped, without any external impact. There were no harms caused to passengers, but it is concerning because the windshield could crack anytime without external impact. This didn't get recognized by dealership as a defect, they claim it was due to external impact. Yes, dealership has inspected the vehicle. No warning lamps or messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.
NHTSA #11614024
I was driving to work and a car kicked up a small rock that struck the lower left portion of my windshield. There was no chip created at the time. Several minutes later, I heard an audible pop and 4 - 6 inch long crack appeared in the same area. Within minutes, the crack traveled across the windshield and extended about one foot further. Within a few days, the crack extended to the middle of the windshield and traveled upwards towards the attachment point for the rear view mirror. It's long enough now where I'm worried about it interfering with Eyesight. When I examined the area where the stone impacted, I can see several very small pits where the rock hit, but each pit is probably no larger than 1/64th of an inch in diameter. Given the behavior of the crack and reports I've heard from others, I suspect that the glass is too thin and under stress the way it's mounted to the car. This fault has been reported over and over on social media and has cost owners many thousands of dollars to correct.
NHTSA #11602915
Windshield glass broke spontaneously and randomly with no impact associated with the crack. The crack extends all the way across the windshield.
NHTSA #11594460
My subaru outback windshield seems to use low quality glass or have poor windshield mount/frame design. Since purchasing the car new in April 2022, I have had 3 significantly cracked windshields; all of which propagated immediately after getting hit by a pebble mid-drive (not giving any opportunity to fix the chip). I am filing this complaint because I don’t think it should be standard for a windshield to propagate a crack so easily and consistently every time it gets chipped (this seems statistically improbable compared to other cars) - and it’s a legitimate hazard to visibility if I don’t have ample opportunity to get the chip repaired to prevent it from propagating to a crack. Essentially I’m saying that it’s almost guaranteed that getting a chip will result in a foot long crack during the same drive (I say almost because I have been able to repair a chip before it was too late once). Furthermore, the crack will often double in size over night (presumably due to temperature changes) - which leads me to speculate that the windshield glass accumulated internal stresses during install due to poor design. I have only replaced my windshield through official Subaru dealerships with their recommended glass vendor. I’ve attached two photos from my most recent cracked windshield; the first is the crack that propagated immediately after the pebble hit while driving, and the second is after leaving the car overnight stationary. Also note that this is usually at highway speeds; and i have effectively had 1.5 broken windshields per year of driving the car. The first broken windshield happened at ~200 miles driven on the brand new car (5 days in).
NHTSA #11618601
I washed my car the night before and put it in the garage where it usually is parked at night. Upon getting in to start it and go to work noticed a 6inch crack start from the lower center part of the windshield. There was no impact as it was literally sitting inside my garage all night long. It looks like it stars from below the trim.
NHTSA #11589617
Windshield cracked on passenger side starting below the lower interface to the plenum. Crack was not caused by impact by debris nor a collision.
NHTSA #11590120
I’ve been reading about easily cracked windshields on Subarus, and sure enough, my windshield cracked this morning. To be clear, there is a tiny impact point from probably a pebble or something, but the glass should not have cracked that easily. Probably about an 8 inch J crack right in the center bottom of the windshield. I’m in the process of talking with Subaru to see if it will be covered.
NHTSA #11588014
While driving on a Saturday heard a popping sound and watched a crack start at bottom center of windshield travel up about 7" and arc to the right. Has now spread about 13" towards passenger side. No impact occurred to cause this. On Monday took vehicle to our dealership so they could take pictures and check it out. Said they would talk to the Subaru District Manager and let me know about replacement. Dealership called me to say they agreed to replace as long as I paid a $250 deductible. This doesn't seem right when this is an issue that many many people are having. This was my third Outback and will now be my last. I can't support a brand that won't step up to take care of something that is obviously a serious issue.
NHTSA #11588762
Windshield suffered a large stress crack while parked overnight. Came out to an 18” stress crack in the morning. A long, single, curved crack with no point of impact. Later in the day, still while parked, the stress crack extended half the width of the windshield. Took the car to the dealership and was informed that the windshield is not covered under warranty.
NHTSA #11584422
In the two years I have had this vehicle, I have had to replace the windshield twice. The first time, a pebble hit the windshield and a 6-8 inch crack immediately appeared, The crack increased in size over days and nearly went across the whole windshield. Because this was a few months after purchase, Subaru replaced it. Now in March 2024 and another pebble hit the windshield, this one so small i didn't even see it and a 8 inch crack immediately appeared. The crack increased in days as well. Subaru would not cover it and told me to go through my insurance. I waited to get it repaired and during this time another pebble hit the glass. Again, another 6-8 inch crack. Subaru refuses to take responsibility that this is a manufacturer issue. I've had 3 other Subaru vehicles and this never occurred.
NHTSA #11583853
While parked and without impact from any object, the windshield cracked causing visibility issues for the driver leading to unsafe driving conditions for those inside and outside the vehicle. The problem is a common issue among many Subaru vehicles. The issue has been reported but not yet inspected. There were no warnings before the issue appeared.
NHTSA #11576294
A crack developed in the windshield on the passenger's side spontaneously. We got in the car in the morning and noticed it. There are not any chips/indents where a stone/rock may have started the damage, but starts at the edge of the windshield. It started about 8 inches and now it is about 20 inches in less than 24 hours. We called our insurance company to ask about repairing it. Our deductible is $1000 so we will need to pay most all of it out of pocket. They let us know that unfortunately they've been seeing similar issues with other policyholder's subaru windshields the past 5 years or so and for us to contact the Subaru corporate office. We will be having it replaced by Safelite.
NHTSA #11575669
Windshield cracked when vehicle was traveling at a slow rate of speed, in the rain while on an on/off ramp. It has already been repaired. Crack went across the windshield right in my line of vision. The dealer examined the car and stated that at some point, the windshield was hit and that it just eventually cracked. There was no warning prior, I had not noticed any nicks prior to the crack.
NHTSA #11579585
2 Spontaneous damaged windshields.
NHTSA #11575591
While on highway 880 north bound. A rock was thrown towards our windshield while going through construction zone.
NHTSA #11579073
I parked at a store, i came out an hour later and there was about a foot long crack in my windshield. I asked to look at the security footage of the store and there was no contact from anything or anyone with the windshield. There is not point of impact, the windshield simply cracked on its own on the passenger side. There was absolutely no sign of any damage before this and i had recently had inspection at the dealership and there was no mention of any issues with the windshield. I reached out to the salesman who sold me this car from the Subaru dealership about 3 months ago and he said they could not help. I reached out to Subaru Customer Advocacy and they are contacting dealership, I have not heard back.
NHTSA #11574848
I parked the vehicle at a local restaurant in the sun. The windshield cracked from midpoint passenger side to middle and f windshield. No impact from rock or other item and I had the car in sight at all times while in the restaurant. This is a defective part. When I bought the car I paid extra to have a special coating put on at the dealership due to a known thin glass problem on Subarus.
NHTSA #11572358
Windshield cracked spontaneously while parked in the garage. Started at the base near the driver's side wiper and goes mid-way up the windshield.
NHTSA #11567210
The vehicle's front windshield has cracked twice in nearly the exact same manner, location, and type of damage. In both cases, a presumably very small piece of debris that I couldn't see and could barely hear hit the windshield and instantly cracked the windshield. The windshield cracked in the same manner (one large lateral crack about 8" towards the center and 6" all the way through the right side edge of the windshield). Both instances left a very small pock mark where the crack originated. The first instance occurred in May 2022 (I had owned the car for one week); the second instance occurred December 2023. The incidents were not inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. I have photos of both windshields. I still have the second cracked windshield installed, but plan to replace it soon since it is unsafe to drive with.
NHTSA #11566806
Large crack in windshield extending to lower edge of passenger side without any inciting event with a rock chip or otherwise. Temp was 64 degrees and occurred while parked in the driveway. This is second occurrence. This same event also occurred in May of this year and Subaru covered under warranty as there was no damage. Safelight now is advertising to fix these Subaru windshields with eyesight as it is so common to crack without damage. Need a recall and thicker windshield.
NHTSA #11561834
While driving small pebble fell on windshield causing approx. 1mm chipp. Within minutes that chipp turned into 9-10" crack from bottom center into passenger side. Never had a windshield so sensitive. I have 2014 Forester with few similar windshield chipps but they stay the same, do not cause cracks. It looks to me that Outback windshield does not hold up against normal use.
NHTSA #11561083
Purchased the 2022 outback in April and very shortly after, had a cracked windshield right in the middle of the driver's line of sight. There was no noticeable sign of impact on the windshield. Replaced with a "deal" from the dealer at $1000. Not even 4k miles later, another Crack that's spread on the passenger side, in the middle of the windshield. Dealer says $1500 to replace (insurance is a $1000 deductible). Again. No noticeable sign of impact causing the Crack. Looking to now replace this new vehicle as our household cannot afford to replace these windshields every few thousand miles.
NHTSA #11561617
This car has only 6030 miles on it and is less than 2 years old. I came out of the grocery store and the windshield was cracked. There was no ding or something that hit it. The crack just was suddenly there and started underneath the rubber lining around the windshield at the bottom. The crack has grown to 1/3rd the entire size of the windsheid...all by itself. This is a $1200 windshield to replace. I understand this is a big problem with Subaru windshield on 2022 model Outbacks and CrossTrek
NHTSA #11560080
Less than 3 months ago I reported 11543521. Now, the very first rock to hit this new OEM replacement windshield caused a 7-8 inch crack to form in the middle and start to propagate. There are still less than 8000 miles on the car.
NHTSA #11557361
Small object hit the top of the windshield and created a star 20 minutes later it spread to a 17 inch crack
NHTSA #11554150
Windshield spontaneously cracked while we were starting the car in a parking lot. No movement and no impact points along the crack. Initiated at the bottom of windshield exactly at the center point and worked up toward the middle. Dealers (West Houston Subaru, followed by Gillman Subaru) could not point out an impact point along the crack but indicated this was not a dealer problem.
NHTSA #11552893
Windshield crack originating from under wiper area after a cold day. No known rock impact. Found a super small spot around the size of a period under the wiper blade. Second broken windshield in 18 months. These windshields do not seem very durable
NHTSA #11562961
A month ago I was sitting in my car in a parking lot when the windshield on the passenger side cracked about 1 foot in an "S" shape. There were no other cars, rocks, etc. around and you cannot see or feel an impact point on the crack or anywhere on the windshield. The crack has spread over the last week and formed a "T" split in line with the rearview mirror.
NHTSA #11554165
While parked for about two hours, the vehicle windshield cracked from the drivers side edge across the middle of the drivers field of view approximately 15-18 inches. There are no signs of any impact to the windshield to cause such a crack.
NHTSA #11549040
In the past 10 months, the windshield on my vehicle spontaneously cracked twice while I was driving (December 2022 and October 2023). In both instances there was no perceptible impact; a crack suddenly appeared on the left (driver's side) edge of the windshield, about 1/3 of the way from the bottom, and spread across my field of vision. This is a safety issue because it affect the driver's ability to see the roadway. It might also affect the strength and integrity of the windshield itself should it actually be hit by road debris or other objects. The vehicle was inspected by the Subaru service center both times when it was repaired. Again, if there was impact in either of the incidents, it was imperceptible, and certainly should not have caused any damage to windshield, let alone the extensive cracking that occurred.
NHTSA #11554746
Driving 70mph on an interstate and the windshield spontaneously popped, creating a long, large crack on the left side of the windshield.
NHTSA #11558085
Windshield spontaneously cracked while parked overnight in garage. Crack originated on passenger side in the middle of windshield starting at the end of the panel and running to middle of windshield horizontally. No chip, damage, impact happened. It literally cracked on its own overnight. Husband is a window engineer and said either the glass is not sustainable for the span of the windshield or the seal is faulty and it dislodged/shifted the glass causing a pressure crack. Subaru has no recalls but this is a common problem according to this website and hopefully someone can address this because it’s a safety issue and happens without impact or damage.
NHTSA #11572044
2022 Outback with 24,000 miles, was parked in the garage all weekend and found an 18 inch crack in the drivers side windshield starting on the left edge. This windshield was replaced 5 months ago due for the same reason. Nothing hit the windshield while driving. Both cracks appeared while the car was parked in a ramp or garage.
NHTSA #11547887
When in a parking lot the windshield started cracking from bottom up and formed a T. Crack is about 12 inches long in front windshield. There are no signs of a rock or anything else that hit the windshield.
NHTSA #11546322
The very first rock to ever hit the windshield landed around 9pm (6000 miles total on the car). The next day driving around 10am in the rain a 30" crack formed, that eventually spread from one side of the windshield to the middle.
NHTSA #11543521
I own a 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness Trim. I had my car parked in my garage on Aug -23 night without any damage and when I checked next day Aug-24 around noon I noticed windshield had a large 1.5 foot crack on the passenger side.
NHTSA #11540662
This is the second time I've had a large crack appear from the edge of the windshield with no obvious damage.
NHTSA #11538018
Windshield cracked for no apparent reason. 6-8" crack near the bottom and extending up the middle of the windshield. This is the 2nd crack in less than 10 months.
NHTSA #11535157
I drove to work; did not hear or see any rocks hit the windshield. Parked in a carefully chosen spot - not near any roads or work areas; not near a tree - and the windshield was cracked. No apparent reason. A single line crack coming out from the middle of the driver's side of the windshield, stopping in the middle of the windshield just past the mirror. It is right at the sight line. I have filed with my insurance company. Police refused to take report as they said it didn't appear to be that someone had maliciously hit it. Car is garaged at home. 19,000 miles. I see that this appears to be a common problem with Subarus - topic on reddit and other places.
NHTSA #11533977
Car infortainment system producing annoying and distracting advertisements while driving, overriding the the entire infotainment system and requiring human intervention that distracted me and almost caused an accident. No driver should have to deal with forced fucking ads while operating a vehicle, what fucked up dystopia are we living in?
NHTSA #11702966
the screen will just not come on or cut out and not turn on after a call or text comes in. Sometimes it says no AUX detected even though a phone is plugged in. It will randomly stop maps and randomly connect to my maps. the sound will go from being very good to being just bad.
NHTSA #11711922
Front windshield spontaneously cracked without incident right where the rearview mirror is attached.
NHTSA #11659587
My front windshield has cracked twice in the span of 2 years. August 2023 and recently Feb 2025. Bought the car from a legitimate dealer in 2022. Both times there was no hard impact, no obvious damage (initially), the cracks also spread very quickly once the damage is obvious. The repairs each time is not covered, not covered by insurance, $1400+ each time.
NHTSA #11643281
Winsdshield cracking and breaking easily. Windshield was replaced in 2023 due to a crack that spread over the whole windshield after being hit with road debris Again this weekend the windshield was hit with road debris and has a size able crack which requires a full windshield replacement. 2 windshields in 3 years of owning the vehicle feels like a defect in the quality and safety of the glass Replacement windshield in 2023 was from the Subaru manufacturer and installed by the dealership
NHTSA #11638849
The component that failed is the cowl panel weather stripping/seal located at the base of the windshield on my 2022 Subaru Outback. The material is visibly peeling and deteriorating despite the vehicle having only approximately 23,000 miles. The defective component is still installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. While this issue has not yet caused a direct accident, it creates a potential safety concern due to possible water intrusion and degradation of sealing integrity in an area critical to protecting components beneath the windshield. Over time, this could lead to visibility issues, corrosion, or damage to surrounding systems. The issue has been confirmed by an authorized Subaru dealership, which inspected the vehicle. Subaru of America also reviewed the case in coordination with the dealership. Subaru of America has acknowledged that design changes were made to the cowl panel in later model years, but denied assistance for my vehicle. The manufacturer concluded—without providing specific evidence—that the failure was due to “outside influence and environmental factors.” The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives, as no accident has occurred. There were no warning lamps, messages, or prior indicators before the failure. The deterioration appears to have developed prematurely under normal usage conditions. Given the low mileage, the visible material failure, and the existence of design revisions, I believe this issue is consistent with a premature failure and potential design or material defect, rather than environmental wear.
NHTSA #11730063
I came out this morning and I have a crack in my windshield that goes from the bottom of the glass up and over to towards the driver side. There does not appear to be any visible signs of impact that caused this crack.
NHTSA #11615731
I live in New Jersey, I am leasing this vehicle and I have 9 more months to go for the 3 year lease to be over. I am planning to purchase the vehicle after the 3 years. On [XXX] my fiancé and I drove from New Jersey to Ohio and stood at my boyfriend's grandparent's home for 4 days. While being there we had not used the car for 2 days and it was parked at the family members drive way be we were using the grandfather's vehicle since he was showing us around. On [XXX], we were planning to go out and get some ice cream. As we walk to our car the windshield is cracked from the corner of the passenger side to almost the driver's side. We were not sure what to do, we call Subaru and the nearest Subaru was 1 1/2 away from where we were. We decided to go back home with the cracked glass and take it to a nearby dealer 9 hours away. We stood in a hotel half of the way and we didn't drive over 55 miles per hour because we were afraid to go any faster with a cracked windshield. We took our car dealer here in NJ on August 7th, they took at the vehicle, took pictures and they told us, they would probably get approval to replace it under warranty but that it would need approval. They informed us that the vehicle did not have any signs of being in an accidents or that the crack did not show any signs of the windshield being hit to by anything to cause the crack. As of now, August 19, 2024 we are still waiting for approval. I need my vehicle repaired by September, since I work as an elementary teacher. I also feel, this incidence should be placed under a recall for this vehicle. It is very dangerous and could have caused major injury or even death to ourselves. Based on research I have done this incidence has happen to many people owning the Subaru Outback. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA #11609365
I had my car parked at my boyfriend's grandfather house in Ohio on Sunday, August 3 and 4 without using the car for 2 days. Today Sunday, August 4 at around 5PM, my boyfriend and I went to our car, because we were planning to go out for ice cream. When we notice a long crack on our windshield. The windshield is cracked and nothing hit it, the cracked extends from the passenger side of the of the corner side all the way to almost the side of the driver side. I read that this has been a problem with many Subarus. I would not have leased this vehicle if I knew this was an issue. It should be identified as a recall. Since I am away from home (New Jersey) and far away from a Subaru dealer, I have to get this windshield repair to get back home. I am going through my insurance to repair it. Please help me in getting to know what to do to get a refund of my deductible. Thank you.
NHTSA #11606380
A tiny crack started at the top of the window butnothing impacted. Thenit slowlyintwo weeks crackeddown quickly on the windshield of the driver from passenger side. Again no rockhit itor anything else.It appeared quickly and spread. Our extra warranty shield protection doesnt coveritbutit seems almost like a factory defect.
NHTSA #11602723
On may 13, 2024 windshield on the Outback I own sustained a stress crack and the satellite and Subaru retailer confirmed it is a stress crack. Upon my research I noticed I’m not the only one there are hundreds of other people who have faced same safety problem and Subaru Customer Advocate department doesn’t do anything about it.
NHTSA #11591295
Windshield has cracked horizontally without an impact in the same spot two times now. Both times the car was sitting in the driveway. The first was in April of 2022 and began on the passenger side about 1' up from the bottom of the windshield. I had it repaired but was not told how the crack appeared. Now in February of 2024 I have the same crack beginning in the same spot with no sign of an impact again. I plan to have it repaired again, but will assume the crack will happen again in the next few years.
NHTSA #11572733
Windshield constantly cracks after no or hardly any impact. I’m constantly holding my breath even if it’s hit by a bug, bird poop, or even a rain drop. The windshields are terrible. I’ve gone through 2 replacements and one sealed crack.
NHTSA #11572847
Windshield cracked by itself, was not hit by rock or anything. Was parked in my garage came out next morning and their was crack. Started from middle outside edge passenger side and extends to middle of windshield under eyesight. Calling dealer in the morning and insurance.
NHTSA #11563972
I’ve had 4 windshield replacements as a result of cracks that have appeared at random. The dealership has replaced windshield but there is clearly a defect in windshield design and could effect my airbags and other safety measures were an accident to occur.
NHTSA #11561918
Noticed that there’s a crack on the windshield at the passenger side. There is no evident of impact.
NHTSA #11561301
Windshield cracked for no reason. Vehicle was parked under the carport. It's a crack about 8" long starting from the drivers side windshield post.
NHTSA #11559453
Windshield cracked without any impact. The crack started on the drivers side right on the edge of the windshield.
NHTSA #11556504
Fuel gauge reading incorrectly. Shows full tank and it is not full. Also mpg and mileage range indicators fluctuate, sometimes wildly
NHTSA #11553783
Windshield pressure cracked from passenger side to middle. Horizontal crack, no chip/impact damage. Was parked at night and woke up to crack in the morning. No visible chips or damage to create crack. Literally cracked on its own.
NHTSA #11572039
I was in start and stop traffic in the left lane of a fast highway. The feature that shuts the battery on and off when starting the car was turned on. Upon trying to move, the battery decided to die and I was stranded in traffic. I needed to get towed out of there and the car needed a jump.
NHTSA #11741463
Parasitic drain on battery. Can be available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA #11739157
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while coming to a stop on several occasions, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the battery was functioning properly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 36,249.
NHTSA #11735108
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated after starting the vehicle and driving at an undisclosed speed, the infotainment system inadvertently reset or went blank, causing the Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) System to become inoperable. The RAB System warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
NHTSA #11723508
I experienced two serious electrical failures within a few days that caused the vehicle to stall without warning. At Nov 29, 2025, after parking for about 20 minutes, the car would not start. Symptoms included: • Very weak clicking from the starter • Dashboard flickering and dimming • Unable to shift out of Park without manual override • Jump-start did not work even though power was delivered The vehicle was towed to the Subaru dealer. The dealer reported: • Battery “low but fine after charging” • Alternator “normal” • Starter “normal” • No warning codes On Dec 2, 2025 the vehicle had been released without repairs. Only a few minutes after leaving the dealer, the car stalled in live traffic during an Auto Stop/Start event. Symptoms: • Immediate loss of all electrical power • All warning lights flashing erratically • Hazard lights did NOT illuminate externally • Gear shifter locked again • Vehicle would not restart on battery • Subaru roadside assistance jump-started the vehicle With Auto Stop/Start disabled, it was barely drivable and returned to the dealer. This appears to be a serious electrical or charging-system failure, possibly involving: • intermittent alternator failure • voltage collapse during Auto Stop/Start • BCM or power distribution fault The vehicle can stall unpredictably in traffic without warning, creating a significant risk of collision.This is not normal battery discharge — the battery was fully charged at the dealer minutes before the second failure. I am filing this complaint because this issue is dangerous and the dealer cannot reproduce or diagnose it. A formal investigation or recall may be necessary.
NHTSA #11702627
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2022 Subaru Outback. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 19,821, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 79,653.
NHTSA #11689675
2ND time car won't start. First time was 6m ago, pulled battery, tested, bad, replaced battery. Getting ready to charge battery, if bad, will tow to subaru dealership. Last time, subaru tested, said nothing wrong. if your car won't start, how do you function. Went on line and you can't believe how many people suffer with this. Seems like the same drain on the system, from starlink, lights, not shutting down like there supposed too.
NHTSA #11640222
Purchased my 2022 Outback Premium March 2022. In less than a year, the Star Link Console was restarting at least once a day. Then it began restarting more frequently. The Subaru Dealership updated the software and the restarts slowed to maybe once every few weeks instead of the 3 to 4 times in 30 minutes. Then the restarts began again. The Subaru Dealership updated the software a 2nd time in less than 9 months. Then the restart began more frequently; again. The 3rd service visit to the Subaru Dealership upgraded the firmware to a newer version. In less than 6 months, the screen is rebooting with more frequency and Eye Sight is causing Subaru to email and text notices of an issue. This is now February 2024, my 4th visit for the same issue. Although, this time is worse. The screen is restarting every 2 to 3 minutes, but the screen won't stay when it shows the logo and the screen is completely black. Now, the electronic driver's controls screen and the Star Link screen ae malfunctioning. It doesn't matter if the vehicle is travelling (any speed) or idle when it restarts or goes completely black. Once the car was turned off for about 1 hour after reaching my destination. I returned to my Outback, started the ignition and it took more than 2 miles for both the black screen to boot up and show any information. Several codes and symbols showed up, but then the screens rebooted again. My 2022 Outback has been at the Subaru Dealership for nearly 7 days and service is informing me that Corporate has to collect digital information to confirm replacement of the Star Link Consoles.
NHTSA #11572403
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, there was a smoke odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed smoke coming from the battery. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.
NHTSA #11564900
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while attempting to drive off from a stop light, several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and unknown messages were displayed, and the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. During the failure, an audible alarm was activated and the message "Shift to Park and Restart" was displayed. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. No cause for the failure was found. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
NHTSA #11559977
The vehicle has a power drain that occurs randomly. I purchased the vehicle used in Jan 2023. The car is driven daily at least 40-50 miles. The first occurrence it would not start in 11/23, jump started and it was fine for 3 months. The second time it would not start I checked the battery and it was completely drained. Jump started and I have had no problems yet. No accessories or lights were left on. I have a monitor on the OCB port and it shows the battery voltage on a 24 hour scale. I can see it drops down to a low level for a short time every 4-5 hours and then returns to normal. I don’t want to lose the battery in the middle of nowhere.
NHTSA #11575144
Repeated dead battery with no known cause
NHTSA #11543804
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle in the morning, she became aware of a 16-inch crack on the windshield. The contact stated that the crack had started close to the passenger’s side A-pillar, approximately 3-inches above the passenger’s side windshield wiper. The contact stated that the vehicle was in the garage when she became aware of the crack. The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer or glass shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.
NHTSA #11635793
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the windshield cracked without impact. The contact stated that the failure was a known issue with the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.
NHTSA #11587619
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed with the defroster activated, within two hours, the contact observed that the front windshield had cracked just above the defroster vents. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the temperature difference between the interior and exterior of the vehicle resulted in thermal shock. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 14,000.
NHTSA #11569463
See attached document for complaint
NHTSA #11570014
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the next morning it was discovered that the front windshield glass had developed a crack on the driver's side, extending approximately 7-inches. The contact stated that the windshield had not been impacted by an object to cause the crack. The vehicle was taken to the local service center and the windshield was replaced. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 20,000.
NHTSA #11534973
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield inadvertently cracked from the passenger’s side and extended to the center of the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the windshield and windshield seal needed to be replaced. The contact also stated that photos were taken of the windshield and the camera also needed to be recalibrated. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to contact the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
NHTSA #11535108
Second windshield cracked with no impact. This I’d the second time within a year that this has happened to me. Like last time the crack isn’t on the outermost layer, and if you run your finger along the crack it feels completely smooth. This is quite frankly unacceptable with how expensive these windshields are to replace.
NHTSA #11599591
My husband bought this vehicle in 2021. It was brand new and since we have had it we have had to replace the windshield many times! We are now going in for its 6th replacement this week! This will be the 4th one that we have had to pay a deductible. The first time it happened the dealership replaced it because it happened within a short time of purchasing it. The second time, we were told to contact Subaru of America and they said to go back to the dealer. When we did, the dealership says it would only cover the first one so we had satellite do it through an insurance claim. Fast forward 2 years and like I said earlier in this complaint we are getting a 6th one put in on Friday! Just ridiculous from my standpoint. My husband loves his car and usually doesn’t like to be confrontational so I am the one doing this complaint! I also use the Outback every so often.
NHTSA #11589112
I have replaced the windshield for a second time resulting from a (non-impact) stress fracture coming from the passenger side A Pillar. It seems to be exactly the same spot as previous. The crack is large enough to put a credit card in at the start then wanders in varying directions with a finer crack. This time an aftermarket glass was available which I was told is thicker and more durable that the OEM glass. I am told Subaru has extremely thin OEM glass which they are having industry problems with. If it has any significance there is a dent in the passenger door jam B-Pillar which was there from new and painted over. It seems to be a result of manufacturing robotics possibly. I do not know if this is a clue to two windshields stress cracking.
NHTSA #11597864
1. 2022 Outback windshield, on passenger side, has cracked twice in the same spot. We bought the vehicle brand new. It currently has 9300 miles on it. The vehicle is driven approx. 8 miles a day and sits in our garage 95% of the time. 2. Safety & visibility is affected as the crack spreads across the windshield. 3. Yes, I paid a Subaru service center $1600 to repair the windshield in January 2024. By May, it was cracked again in the same spot. The problem has been reproduced SEVERAL times as confirmed by this Reddit chat [XXX] . Yes, the first crack was inspected by Subaru service technicians. 5. No warnings. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA #11587739
The windshield on my 2022 Subaru Outback has cracked twice with a year's time without impact! The first crack in February 2023 was detected after the car was parked overnight. The crack extended from the edge of the windshield on the drivers side and into the field of vision by approx. 24". The dealer said it was an impact however no impact of any kind occurred. I reported it to Corproate Subaru offices (Case#230120-1800472), who agreed to replace the windshield and the associated eyesight camera equipment, most likely because there are many incidences of this happening with their vehicles. The most recent re-occurrence of the windshield cracking without impact happened in early Dec. 2023. Again, no impact occurred and the crack was found after the vehicle was parked for about an hour after I attended a gallery opening. This time the dealer once again performed the same test performed in February (by using a pen that notes an indentation the size of a pinhead). Once again the crack starts from the edge of the windshield and extends through the line of vision by about 24" which creates a severe safety issue, especially when driving at night. Although the Subaru Corporate office replaced the first incident of this, they are now saying with the new case I opened (Case 231204-1901299) that they won't replace the most recent incident, even when it is exactly the same as the first! It seems as though Subaru won't own up to the fact that their windshields are faulty and have a propensity for stress fractures which is a serious safety issue.
NHTSA #11560700
stayed in Bangor Maine cold night frost on windshield, turned on defrost within several minute my wife noticed two small cracks at the bottom of the windshield ,within several minutes the progress up wards for about 5bin and joined together and continued to about 10 on and started across to the drivers side ,the crack is about b14 in long at this time ,wet to a subaru dealer they tried to convince it was a rock, I pointed out the crack was at the bottom of the window and ,said he could nothing.Went to a nation repair window business they confirmed it was not a rock, their opinion there is a flaw in the glass.There was no prior symptom to this taking place
NHTSA #11560647
I have a meticulously maintained 2022 Subaru Outback LTD that has now had 3 out of 4 OEM installed wheel bearings replaced due to failure with less and/or near to 40,000 miles on the vehicle. The power train has a warranty until 2027, however, I felt that this is a recall worthy event and asked Subaru of America to either extend the powertrain warranty or replace the one remaining, original bearing. Case # 260430-1901212 They will not replace it after many email exchanges and escalations. Having had a older car with a bearing seizing and tearing off from the vehicle into oncoming traffic, I feel this warrants notification.
NHTSA #11740345
I noticed a metal sound when I accelerated then the car jerked forward a few times. Shortly afterwards, ~5 min, the dashboard lights came on:Automatic Transmission Oil Temperature, Blind-Spot Detection, Check Engine, EyeSight System, Reverse Auto Braking and Vehicle Dynamic Control. I was able to drive slowly back home but not sure what is going on with this 3 year old car with 47,000 miles on it.
NHTSA #11635558
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 23V755000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA #11580977
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a whining sound coming from the transmission, and the vehicle was jerking while driving. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA #11731926
While stopped at a yield sign waiting for traffic to clear so I may proceed with my left turn, I stepped on the accelerator pedal to make my left turn; however, my car did not go because the engine had turned off due to the auto stop feature. Once the engine restarted, I was no longer clear about proceeding with my left turn and had to apply the brakes very hard immediately to stop my vehicle. The auto engine stop is a dangerous feature that should not automatically be applied when starting the car.
NHTSA #11661946
This is in response to your boilerplate letter of May 25, 2024. That correspondence stated that my 2022 Subaru Outback’s inspection of May 21, 2024, did not reveal any manufacturing defect that caused the unanticipated acceleration of my vehicle on April 26, 2024. That inspection was conducted by a third-party engineering firm. In amplification of this, the following is provided: • My vehicle on 26 April 2024, at approximately at 0845 AM experienced unanticipated acceleration, in my garage where it had been parked overnight. It was a cool morning. This occurred without any direct body movement from me, whatsoever. The fast forward motion I directly experienced in my vehicle was like if one put their gas pedal to the floor. The vehicle crashed about five feet into a garage shelf with me simultaneously providing braking. This directly caused about $3,000 worth of damage to the vehicle, and I will probably incur higher insurance cost because of this. •Environmental factors have been a contributing factor in unanticipated acceleration in the past. •Time to extract the data from the EDR in my vehicle took almost one month for SOA to complete the inspection (accident occurred on April 26 and the vehicle inspection took place on May 21). •Starlink, Subaru’s automatic collision notification system, did not activate on 26 April 2024, the day of the accident. •“As a rule of thumb, if the crash is sufficient to cause the air bags to deploy the EDR data are usually captured.” From the National Highway Transportation Safety Board’s website under, “EDR Q & A). My vehicle’s air bags did not deploy, and another key word is “usually”. •On May 16, 2024, five days before the inspection was completed on my vehicle I wrote the CEO a letter. Part of that letter is quoted, verbatim, for your review: “It is now my understanding, according to SOA, that what happened to me is referred to as unanticipated acceleration. Being a Subaru owner for over ten years, such in inc
NHTSA #11592278
Thermal control valve became inoperable at less than 40,000 miles. Engine shut down and began to overheat. Part is known to easily fail by Subaru. Has been examined by dealership. All warning lights came on at once, and cruise control and Eyesight were disabled. NHTSA Recall Number 23V755000 We have been on the list for this recall repair since 12/28/2023, we were told when we scheduled the service appointment for the TCV that the dealership was not doing any more recall repairs any time soon as they could not get parts.
NHTSA #11579616
Lower oil pan leaks due to poor QA/QC at the factory so I’m told. And possibly the upper oil pan leaking to. Researched forums and it’s a requiring problem. So is the problem big enough for a recall? One issue is that the dealership didn’t notice it during last inspection and service. Or is the dealership being told to remain silent ? Never less the end user suffers with worrying about if it’s going to happen again and cause bigger issues. Please check forums on this issue. Thank you
NHTSA #11549304
My Subaru Outback 2022 experienced a failure of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) sensors, resulting in the airbag warning light turning on and the airbags being disabled. The nature of the defect, the diagnostic trouble codes, and the location of the failed component are identical to Subaru Recall 24V227000 recently issued for the same model and year range. However, my VIN is not included in the recall. This is a safety-critical defect that prevents the airbags from deploying in a crash. The failure occurred under normal driving conditions and with all required maintenance performed. I believe my vehicle should be included in the existing recall, or a new recall should be issued to address this broader production issue. The defect puts occupants at risk of injury or death in the event of a collision. Please investigate this matter and require Subaru to expand the recall coverage to all affected VINs.
NHTSA #11679434
When I sit in the front passenger seat, the airbag sensor icon sometimes says off and sometimes says on--even during the same trip. and even if I have not changed positions. This means I am at risk of bodily injury when the system does not recognize that I am in the seat because the airbag is not operative while I was in the seat. On 7/22/24 the Subaru technician found "no active or stored codes and "recalibrated passenger side front seat. Rechecked to verify air bag warning system is operating as designed." Nevertheless, the sensor does not always recognize that I am in the seat so I am still at risk. I am, by the way, an adult who is over 5 Ft but weighs 90 pounds. I bought the car for safety because Subaru touts safety in advertisements. I find that I am not safe because there is no airbag working much of the time. We have owned the car since mid-June 2024 and this happens multiple times in the car when I am in the passenger seat (I am adding a date for only one date below) but this happens multiple times--the majority of times I am in the passenger seat.
NHTSA #11607400
I am reporting a critical safety failure involving an improperly installed (wrong year) passenger-side airbag in my 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness, which was negligently missed for nearly two years by multiple Subaru service departments. This is a pervasive life-safety defect and an extensive failure in manufacturer inspection protocols. Chain of Negligence: 1. Initial Misleading Certification: Shortly after my purchase, the vehicle underwent a "certified" multi-point safety inspection at a Subaru retailer in Ohio, which negligently certified the vehicle as safe with a critical safety defect present. 2. Systemic Dealer Misdiagnosis: Over the subsequent nearly two years, I took my vehicle to multiple other Subaru dealership service departments, actively showing them a persistent visual misalignment of the passenger-side trim. Despite active complaints, no dealership took the proper time to diagnose the underlying cause, and they missed the critical safety defect. 3. Discovery by Chance: Critically, there were no warning lights, messages, or other electronic indicators. The only symptom was the visual misalignment. The true cause was only traced back to the wrong part after I personally spoke with a Subaru parts department team member who was resourceful enough to figure it out. This finding was subsequently officially certified as correct by the service team at Mike Shaw Subaru, which finally provided documentation that the component was incorrect. Safety Risk: The incorrect airbag component poses an immediate and incalculable life-safety risk, as its deployment behavior is unknown and potentially compromised. This unaddressed safety risk was allowed to continue for nearly two years due to repeated inspection failures. Manufacturer Response Failure: Subaru of America has been formally notified of this systemic safety defect and the complete failure of their retailer network’s inspection protocols. After missing multiple self-imposed deadlines, they continue t
NHTSA #11727605
- Engine failure. Yes. - At a stop light the auto-restart function failed, following this event the vehicle began making a knocking noise, we towed it to the dealership for evaluation and their diagnosis was that it needed a new engine. - Dealership stated they too heard the knocking noise in the vehicle and it is engine damage due to low oil. However, the dipstick read fine when we took it into the dealership and we did not have a low oil warning. - Inspection completed by dealership - Received no warning lights nor messages regarding symptoms of the problem prior to failure. Initial event happened on 12/26 when at a stop light following the auto-off during braking function the car did not restart automatically. Car was turned off, and restarted. Following that event the vehicle had a knocking noise that increased in volume with driving. Did not drive the car after arriving to our destination. Towed the car to the dealership where we were told it needed a new engine.
NHTSA #11709008
We had had no issues at all with our 2022 Subaru Outback until June 2025. Mileage at the time of the incident was approximately 52,000. We were driving one evening in June and all of a sudden the engine stopped and we could not drive it. It only produced a knocking sound when we attempted to turn the engine on. We had the car towed to the dealership and after taking the engine apart, they reported that an intake valve broke, flew and split one of the pistons causing the motor to seize up. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the engine failure. Regular oil changes had been performed on the car. This issue came completely out of left field as we had previously had no engine issues.
NHTSA #11682830
I opened the trunk door went to retrieve my groceries and the trunk door came down with extreme force on the top of my head without warning hitting me in the head causing a concussion. The window sensors on the driver and passenger doors also were acting off prior. Not every time but I would try to close the window and it would go up half way and then come back down.
Allegedly reported: 1 injury (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11699581
1. The Subaru Outback OEM windshield has cracked and had to be replaced 3 times, so we are currently on our 4th windshield in just 2 years. The car has about 50k miles on it. 2. It is difficult to see through a broken windshield and puts us and others in danger. 3. Yes, the dealer has admitted that Subaru Outback windshields crack frequently and nothing has been done about it. 4. The manufacturer has ignored the issue. 5. No warnings that the windshield would break this frequently.
NHTSA #11614647
On September 27, 2025 at approximately 1:15 PM, I was traveling southbound on Minnesota 371 just north of Nisswa, Minnesota. I was towing a pontoon boat trailer with no boat on it. I was traveling in the right lane as I approached the County 29 / Wilderness Road intersection. 371 at this point curves gently to the left. A vehicle in front of me was in the right turn lane to turn west on County 29. A motorcycle with passenger was overtaking me on the left. The automatic emergency braking system incorrectly triggered for a few seconds as I approached the turning vehicle. You can see the indication of the triggering in the heads up display LEDS in the lower left of the video, starting at 13:15:42 and continuing for a few seconds. I could feel the trailer fishtail on the back of the car. My primary safety concern was the overtaking motorcyclist in the left lane. I also wonder what would have happened would I have had a fully loaded trailer, as opposed to an empty boat trailer, on the back of the car. I have a dash cam video of the incident, but it is over 300MB and can't be uploaded to your site. It is file 20250927_131517_51601F.MP4.
NHTSA #11691627
Several months ago Subaru updated the software in the above mentioned systems. Ever since the systems have become overly sensitive to the point of locking breaks up on the highway, at highway speed, for no obstruction. This has taken me from highway speed to a complete stop in the middle of the number 2 lane on several occasions.
NHTSA #11604989
Brake Rotor and Pad issues at 10k, 20k, 30k, and 44k. Severe damage to the Brake Rotor with bad gauging present. OEM parts replaced with aftermarket Duragold Rotors and Pads. Subaru dealership did not properly resolve issues
NHTSA #11673019
The front rotor warp excessively causing the brake pedal and the entire car to shake uncontrollably. The entire front brake assemblies were replaced at Subaru of Coconut Creek. Our safety was definitely at risk as it was very hard to brake going downhill with the brake pedal and the car shaking uncontrollably. The dealer confirmed black spots on the front rotors and warped front rotors. There were not warnings prior to, during, or after the shaking. Going downhill was made very uncomfortable. Subaru of Coconut Creek services the vehicle and notified me of the black spots and warped front rotors. There was nauseating burning smell coming from under the hood and we had to wait 15 minutes for it to disssipate.
NHTSA #11648319
The Thermo control valve on the vehicle failed. This has been such a consistent problem, that Subaru has extended the warranty for this item to 150K miles. I realize that alone is not a safety problem, but the issue is that when there is a check engine light error, the system shuts down the cruise control, lane departure, collision avoidance (EyeSIGHT), and XMODE (all wheel drive). The safety issue is shutting down these unconnected safety features because of a check engine light. I will say that the dealer promptly fixed the problem at no charge under the extended warranty. my concern was the loss of the 4 wheel drive right as major snow was hitting the Mid Atlantic Area.
NHTSA #11634670
My EyeSight device stopped working correctly when I had the interior cleaned and the front windshield was spray cleaned. "Obstacle Detected" warnings started popping up and slowing down the car. Per the dealership, this was caused by the backsplash from the cleaner and now the entire device has to be replaced at a cost of $3300. Subaru later offered to replace it for $1800. I wish I was told to only spray the cleaner on a cloth or this could happen. Now I have to replace it or it could suddenly stop the car on the highway.
NHTSA #11616439
Automatic auto off-on began to fail and car didn't start well. I began to disable the automatic auto on off while driving because it began to sound like it would stall out while stopped at a traffic light . Then I forgot to disable the automatic auto off on and car stalled out while stopped at a traffic light. I took it to dealer, Rafferty Subaru, they couldn't find anything wrong with it. Then a few days later check engine light and other icons started flashing on dashboard. I took it to dealer, they said the gas cap was off. For the next week the automatic auto off on sounded like it would fail so I disabled it, the car didn't start normally every morning, and it began to feel like it didn't shift correctly as I accelerated or slowed down. About one day later it suddenly lurched to almost a stop while driving, check engine light was flashing, other icons on dashboard were flashing, the Park Brake icon started flashing. The engine continued to run but I couldn't go more than 2 mph. I put it in park and it started to smell like something was burning so I turned it off. I had to have it towed to the dealer, Rafferty Subaru.
NHTSA #11619999
The relatively new car (2022) stalls out randomly at intersections and red lights. This is a major safety issue as we have had the car totally shut down in the middle of 2 busy intersections. We had to dial 911 and have the police come to assist. We brought the car to the dealer and they did not find a problem but it continued to happen. There were no warning lights or messages - stalling happened randomly. May be related to the gas saver engine stop feature when at a complete stop.
NHTSA #11549526
The contact owned a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 30 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the front of the vehicle, and the vehicle suddenly lost all electrical power. She was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. A short time later, the contact's wife observed white smoke rising from the engine compartment, and within 15 minutes, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. Local emergency services were called and were able to extinguish the fire. A fire and police report were filed, and no injuries were reported. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, awaiting inspection. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.
NHTSA #11553800
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the engine started sputtering with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle started losing motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and the engine revved and responded as needed. The contact stated that the power steering and power brakes failed while attempting to pull over to the side of the road. The contact continued to rev the engine which appeared to stabilize the instrument cluster view; however, the power steering and brakes were inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle was shifted into park(P) but while attempting to shift into drive(D), the gear shifter failed to move. The contact turned off the vehicle and waited for approximately one hour and when the vehicle restarted, all functionality had returned. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
NHTSA #11552963
On June 15th 2026, I was at a red light and the Auto Start-Stop feature shut off the engine. When light turned green, my car lost power and started rolling downhill. During this rolling downhill, the brakes stopped working, I was unable to engage parking brake, and I wasn't able to do anything except find a place to safely use gravity to slow the vehicle down. If the hill was steeper, this scenario could have been deadly. It was so scary, I called 911 for assistance but got lucky I was able to stop the car before there was an accident. It turns out the battery didn't have enough power to allow the vehicle to restart and if this happens when the Auto Start-Stop feature is engage you lose the ability to use the brakes. I spoke to the local dealership and acknowledge that is a problem.
NHTSA #11744690
Recently, the 2022 Outback my mom drives has been having some strange electrical issues. About a year-or-so ago the battery in her outback died. Not unusual in Arizona. I replaced it with an upgraded AGM (Interstate) version—same group, same cranking power. No issues. Recently, after an oil change at the dealer, she called back to report that a “Check Engine” light had come on. She was told that she probably had not put the gas cap on properly. Gas cap was on properly; light went off the next day. A few days later the Auto Stop/Start (ASS) feature started acting up (not functioning). A few days later the ASS turned the engine off and did not restart automatically—in the middle of heavy traffic during rush hour. The ASS light came on. The engine started manually, and we got it home. Battery was dead the next morning. I charged it up and took the car to the local mechanic for a quick assessment. The battery was fine, charging, but the car threw a Code: P0871 Transmission Fluid Pressure Sensor Switch. This mechanic told us that there was a Technical Service bulletin through Subaru that addressed this issue but was also aware that it could be caused by the ASS killing the battery OR other electronic modules which fail to enter sleep mode—which would also cause random lights to come on. An appointment was made to take the car into Peoria Subaru, thinking it would be something they could diagnose easily. It had previously been in for the routine oil change with the inspection. When we dropped the car off, I provided the Advisor the code and a associated TSB for the code. We got the car back that day and were told the following: The tech found that the car currently has a “Aftermarket” AGM battery. Subarus require a “Enhanced Flooded Battery” which would explain multiple codes found for loss of communications and parasitic battery drain--for systems that don't go to "sleep" when the car is not running.
NHTSA #11742391
After highway driving for 50 miles, stopped for a red light. Engine died but all lights stayed on. Sat 5 minutes with dead engine and when I tried again, the car started. Drove 1 mile to next light and it happened again. Went to Auto Zone (it was a Sunday and dealerships were closed) and they tested the battery which was 100%. Two days later, drove car for 10 minutes then parked for errand; 15 minutes later, car wouldn't start. Let it sit for a minute and it started right up. This happened 8 months ago (engine died at stop light after having been driven 30+ miles) but Subaru dealership could find nothing wrong. Also, radio speakers randomly will blast so loud it startles and distracts everyone in the car.
NHTSA #11739030
I have multiple malfunction codes on my car. without any incident in the car I have 4 separate codes of airbag ECU malfunction (3) and airbag ECU power supply voltage. B1149 Airbag ECU Power Supply Voltage History B1195 Airbag ECU Malfunction Current B1196 Airbag ECU Malfunction Current B1185 Airbag ECU Malfunction Current This has caused failure of safety components in my car. Warning lights caused me to pull the codes and evaluate the problems. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Seems to be a problem with these components in older vehicles as well.
NHTSA #11722396
Hood became unlatched while driving. Significant vehicle damage to hood, windshield and roof. No other vehicles involved or bodily injuries.
NHTSA #11717934
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving and coming to a stop, there was an abnormal oil-burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that there was an oil leak coming from the lower oil pan. There was oil dripping onto the exhaust system, creating a potential fire hazard. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,400.
NHTSA #11734535
I am writing to report what I believe is a significant ergonomic issue with my vehicle. Every time I drive the car—even for short trips—I experience pain on the right side and toward the back of my knee. I have owned the vehicle for several weeks and have made numerous adjustments to the seat position in an effort to resolve the issue, but the pain has persisted. After researching reviews and feedback from other owners of the same model, I believe the problem may be related to the design and placement of the center console and pedal alignment. Specifically, the center console appears to be quite large and positioned very close to the gas pedal, and/or the brake pedal seems to be shifted further to the left than expected. This positioning appears to cause my right knee to overextend when braking. Because I live in a city environment and frequently encounter stop-and-go traffic, this issue is constant and has become unmanageable. Although I truly enjoy every other aspect of this vehicle, the ongoing pain makes it impossible for me to continue driving it comfortably or safely. As a result, I will be trading in the vehicle for a different model, despite my overall satisfaction with its other features. I wanted to formally document this concern in case it is helpful for future design considerations or evaluations, particularly if other drivers are experiencing similar discomfort. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
NHTSA #11709629
Driving on the highway, engine started making a rattling noise, then began to labor and eventually stopped being able to accelerate at all. Oil pressure warning light came on around the time the acceleration gave out altogether. We pulled over to the side of the highway and got out of the car, seeing steam/white smoke coming out of the front of the car. The smoke increased and after several minutes, the front of the car caught on fire.
NHTSA #11695698
Sunroof shattered while driving 45mph on a city street. It was not hit by anything we could see, nor was there any debris flying in the air. We pulled over and took a photo. I called the dealership who said to call Subaru USA to start a case, but of course their offices are closed for the weekend.
NHTSA #11648394
The car has been to the dealership five times for electrical/computer issues. First the main dash UI computer screen would occassionally lock up and freeze shutting all safety systems off. (cruise control, lane holding, blind spot warning, etc.) Then the battery failure issues started - basically four times the car when parked and sitting overnight for approximately one week - will not start and the battery is completely dead. This is a know Subaru issue with earlier models and even involved a class action lawsuit. Subaru has not fixed the issue in newer model cars and continues to deny it is an issue. This is gross negligence by continuing to make unsafe cars with the same flaw and nof fixing the issue.
NHTSA #11628810
Last year, my car would not start up again after the start stop feature activated in an intersection. This is after leaving the dealer who told me the car was fine. I’ve since replaced the battery. It still is sluggish to start at times. It is especially bad starting when start stop is activated. I turn the feature off every time I start the car. I’m worried every time I take a long trip I will get stranded. The dealer cannot find anything wrong with it they say. The automatic braking system is also horrible. It goes on prematurely and I’m sure damages the car.
NHTSA #11675023
Lower oil pan leaks oil. Started leaking oil right after warranty expired. This is a known issue for Subaru cars with the 2.4 turbo engine. Seats ripped right after warranty expired.
NHTSA #11687315
Was just driving when I noticed my car was sounding louder than usual. Then when I stared it after running some errands it sounds like a bad engine nock. So I took it in for an oil change and they told me it was a cracked exhaust manifold. Also told me it fine to drive and shouldn’t cause further problems. Then I started to smell heavy exhaust smells inside the cab of the car. Now I have to drive it with windows down or risk passing out or dying
NHTSA #11611002
Went out to driveway and started car. Heard a ping. a few minutes later the windshield started to crack from drivers side bottom corner upward across the field of vision. At first it was about a foot long but spread to about 3 feet. No sign of impact.
NHTSA #11593849
I experienced a fuel leak while driving my car. It was leaking from the fuel lines in the engine bay. My fuel gauge was showing low and I had just refueled several days before. I didn't know it had a leak in the line. When I tried to put more gas in, the fuel ran out under the car. I had my car taken to the dealer where I had bought it less than two years ago. They called me and said it was a bad fuel line caused by squirrels biting the line. They said the insulation around the line had soy in its making which attracted them.I I got it back after a week. This is most certainly a safety hazard. They also said other makes and models have used these same components since 2010.
NHTSA #11583577
My brakes failed as I was pulling up to a curb as I attempted to break to put my car into park my breaks failed to engage. My vehicle is also equipped with emergency braking system that did not engage my vehicle crashed into and through a 7/11 while I was breaking the entire time manuall! The vehicle would not stop and did not stop until it hit the back wall of the store inside.
NHTSA #11581016
On 03Feb24, immediately following a 4-wheel alignment of my 2022 Subaru Outback Limited, my vehicle’s suspension feels unstable over patched potholes or rough/broken pavement. I can best describe the condition as similar to the movements felt while hydroplaning but it does it on dry road. It jerks side to side; 3 or 4 times; in rapid succession; just enough to command the driver’s full attention. The condition happens periodically at highway speeds. I’m afraid my vehicle might lose grip and crash. I have brought my vehicle in twice to my local Subaru dealership for inspection. The mechanics have been able to witness the condition. A few measures were taken to remedy the condition including, vehicle re-alignment, installation of one shock absorber on the rear suspension to no avail. The mechanic report, issued 10Apr24, states the condition may be due to the brand new tires installed on 19Feb24. However, this assessment is inconclusive and requires expensive trail and error tied to buying a new set of tires. The condition started on the OEM tires and still occurs with the new set of tires. The condition began 03Feb24, immediately following it’s first ever 4-wheel alignment at the dealership. I have been trying to get this fixed since then. The condition persists as of the date of this writing. On 16Apr24, I submitted a formal complaint through Subaru of America web form.
NHTSA #11583470
Low beam headlights are aimed too high from the factory. I have asked the dealer to adjust them, but there are only two options for aiming and the lower position only casts light about 20 feet in front of the vehicle. During nighttime driving my car is consistently blinding oncoming traffic as evidenced by oncoming traffic flashing their high beams regularly.
NHTSA #11566458
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle on a slightly inclined driveway, the vehicle erroneously rolled backwards. The failure occurred on several occasions and the parking brake was not activated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on two separate occasions, but no cause for the failure was found. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 13,927.
NHTSA #11630497
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while pulling into a bumpy parking space, the vehicle shuddered violently, unintendedly accelerated, and crashed into a stone wall. As a result, the hood of the vehicle was bent and the bumpers were damaged. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The contact was able to drive to an unknown dealer, where the vehicle was inspected, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would follow up in two business days. The failure mileage was 13,947.
NHTSA #11553407
Showing the 150 most significant of 451 complaints reported to NHTSA.
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