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2022 Subaru Forester

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
A
Safety Signal
92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns1
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA97
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA29 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2022 Subaru Forester is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Forester AWD, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 97 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Forester AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263329$2,150
Forester Wilderness AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl252826$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 44484, 44485.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2022 Subaru Forester is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Power Train

WRQ-23
95,830 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskAn inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
NHTSA campaign 23V755000reported Nov 9, 2023Subaru of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
97complaints filed

8 involved a crash · 6 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2022: 37 · 2023: 24 · 2024: 9 · 2025: 13 · 2026: 14

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance22
Visibility/Wiper20
Unspecified17
Electrical System10
Engine10
Service Brakes10

What owners describe

“I had adaptive cruise control set to the speed limit of 55, I looked down to input directions and then heard the collision warning tone. There was a large box truck sitting at the stop light ahead of me. I slammed on the breaks and swerved into the right-hand turn lane. The vehicle did not make it entirely out of the w…”Aug 31, 2022 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“Driving through a parking lot under 5mph, and the glass cracked with no warning or sign of anything hitting the windscreen.”Aug 19, 2022 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report
“Purchased car on 8/15/2022 and encountering issues with: 1. oil in the air when engine is turned on 2. Onion smell when engine is turned on 3. AC if affected by oil and onion smell ; too hot when sitting in car with engine on ..sulfur? 4. Please check the gas tank for possible leak. 5. 3-yr old grandson is affected by …”Aug 17, 2022 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Forester model years

B

2026 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 19 complaints

D

2025 Subaru Forester

4 recalls · 90 complaints

C

2024 Subaru Forester

2 recalls · 29 complaints

A

2023 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 73 complaints

A

2021 Subaru Forester

0 recalls · 207 complaints

A

2020 Subaru Forester

0 recalls · 598 complaints

C

2019 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 833 complaints

C

2018 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 493 complaints

A

2017 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 584 complaints

C

2016 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 411 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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