2022 Subaru Outback driver assistance & safety tech problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Jul 19, 2026OH2 injuredDriver Assistance & Safety TechSteering

   While day driving on a clearly marked interstate in slightly hazy weather from fires, the car suddenly, unprompted, steered to the left without any warning or any indicators going off. This caused the car traveling at highway speed to crash into a barrier wall, drive half way up before driver could regain control of the steering and then spun out across 4 lanes of traffic. Driver said cars lane assist was on and it was ping ponging for a moment before it suddenly steered to…

   NHTSA complaint #11751418 · source
2. Filed Oct 6, 2025MNDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11691627 · source
3. Filed Jul 21, 2025CTDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11675023 · source
4. Filed Jan 7, 2025DCDriver Assistance & Safety TechOther / Unknown

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11634670 · source
5. Filed Jan 5, 2025IADriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   The touchscreen shuts down and makes the safety features shut off. This use to happen a few times per quarter, but now is happening a few times per month. Happens always while driving which causes the adaptive cruise to shut off, causing deceleration, the eyesight shuts off, the controls on the keyboard are not available. It takes a minute or two for the screen to reboot and safety features to re-engage, this causes distraction and possible safety hazard. Additionally, the…

   NHTSA complaint #11634209 · source
6. Filed Dec 4, 2024KYDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11628810 · source
7. Filed Sep 25, 2024MDDriver Assistance & Safety TechOther / Unknown

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11616439 · source
8. Filed Jul 28, 2024KYDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   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 complaint #11604989 · source
9. Filed Jun 12, 2024ILDriver Assistance & Safety TechVisibility & Wipers

   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 complaint #11593849 · source
10. Filed Apr 3, 2024CACrashTowedBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

    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 complaint #11581016 · source
11. Filed Aug 4, 2023NVDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

    I've experienced problems with the center Infotainment screen about 2 months after purchasing a 2022 Outback Wilderness edition. It seems to happen when I use Apple CarPlay (as this is the only way I listen to music and must plug in my phone using the USB to start CarPlay). The Infotainment screen has a long lag time to respond to clicks on the center screen, will freeze, and crash the system suddenly. The most extreme effect of this is that when the Infotainment screen…

    NHTSA complaint #11536503 · source
12. Filed Aug 1, 2023MADriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

    8/1/23 - the Electronic center console display as well as the display behind the steering wheel continually fails. The center console controls all electronics such as defroster, heater, and of the advance safety features. The display behind the steering wheel controls the odometer, speed etc. The inability to control any vehicle functions is a huge safety risk. For example, the defroster can not be accessed not controlled. If you had an immediate need for this, you would…

    NHTSA complaint #11535689 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology