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2022 Subaru Outback

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA462
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA29 mpg
2027202620252024202320222021202020192018

The 2022 Subaru Outback is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Outback AWD, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 462 complaints, most often about the visibility/wiper. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Outback AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263329$2,150
Outback AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl turbo233026$2,400
Outback Wilderness AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl turbo222624$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43865, 43866, 43867.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2022 Subaru Outback 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 (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

WRA-24
118,723 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskAn air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 24V227000reported Mar 22, 2024Subaru of America, Inc.
▲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.
▲high

Visibility

WRH-22
42 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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."RiskAn insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.FixSubaru 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V712000reported Sep 22, 2022Subaru of America, Inc.
▲high

Electrical System

WRC-22
15 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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).RiskA loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V473000reported Jul 1, 2022Subaru of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
462complaints filed

10 involved a crash · 4 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 19 · 2022: 184 · 2023: 125 · 2024: 69 · 2025: 35 · 2026: 30

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper255
Unspecified86
Electrical System50
Forward Collision Avoidance38
Visibility26
Engine21

What owners describe

“Started the 2022 outback on very cold Midwest winter day. When the car warmed up, the windshield proceeded to crack. ( It only has 7,500 miles on the odometer.) The crack is about 18 inches long and is across the drivers side making it a visual hazard. The windshield used by Subaru must be of poor quality and surely I …”Jan 15, 2022 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report
“Front windshield had a spontaneous crack form from some point out of sight under the bottom seal, just right of the center of the windshield. The windshield had no chips, and the car is four months old. This took place in early morning, before sunrise, with an outside temp. of 20 degrees F showing on the car thermomete…”Jan 3, 2022 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report
“Vehicle had 2,000 miles on it and a very small rock impact chipped the windshield and the chipped spot cracked across the windshield in minutes. I have never had a windshield fail like that before with such a minor chip in it and such a small impact. I had the windshield replaced with factory glass and I now have 6,000…”Dec 22, 2021 · Visibility/Wiper · 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
SW AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%

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

Other Outback model years

A

2027 Subaru Outback

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Subaru Outback

0 recalls · 14 complaints

A

2025 Subaru Outback

0 recalls · 77 complaints

A

2024 Subaru Outback

0 recalls · 98 complaints

B

2023 Subaru Outback

2 recalls · 89 complaints

D

2021 Subaru Outback

4 recalls · 296 complaints

F

2020 Subaru Outback

6 recalls · 896 complaints

C

2019 Subaru Outback

3 recalls · 1,033 complaints

C

2018 Subaru Outback

3 recalls · 808 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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