Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
95
+1 complaint in 30 days
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
14
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
17
Reports on file since Feb 25, 2022
What this page shows
Our database holds 95 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2022 Subaru Forester. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 95 · page 1 of 4
Filed Aug 12, 2026
We are experiencing the exact same problem as the recall Under NHTSA Campaign No. 23V755000 (Subaru recall code WRQ-23) for an ineffective weld leading to moisture affecting the backup camera and dashboard lights. However, our VIN is NOT included in the recall.
NHTSA ID
11756597
Incident
Aug 12, 2026
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 9, 2026
While driving my 2022 Subaru Forester, the factory EyeSight autonomous safety system completely failed and disabled itself permanently. The total system shutdown caused an immediate loss of Pre-Collision Emergency Braking, Lane Change Detection, and Adaptive Cruise Control, creating an active highway safety hazard. A subsequent diagnostic scan by an authorized retailer confirmed hard fault code B1402, indicating that the internal factory camera software permanently corrupted itself and erased its own model code data profile. The manufacturer has issued TSB 07-225-24 to address this exact internal memory logic crash, but is currently refusing to replace this critical, failed safety system on a vehicle with only 32,364 miles.
NHTSA ID
11749419
Incident
May 21, 2026
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed inhibitor switch. The contact was informed that the inhibitor switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact was informed that parts were on back order. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
NHTSA ID
11746009
Incident
Jun 17, 2026
Mileage
51,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for a service appointment, the contact was advised that the batter was defective. The contact was informed that the battery was not large enough for the power of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure of the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,200.
NHTSA ID
11737260
Incident
May 11, 2026
Mileage
30,200 mi
Filed Mar 18, 2026
Back window shattered spontaneously. No known cause. No evidence of vandalism. Temperature did drop 45 degrees over night. Shut side door and back window shattered. Had not started car yet. Rear defroster not engaged.
NHTSA ID
11725294
Incident
Mar 17, 2026
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 13, 2026
I had two codes on my 2022 Forester over last two weeks. First one u0284 was for the Active Grill Shutter. This happened because for some reason Subaru decided to put the fog lights on the same fuse as the AGS. Fog light blew, shorted out blew the fuse, this caused every safety system in the car to turn off. By default these are open so why does loosing 1-2MPG, or longer time to warm up a car cause every safety feature to turn off. Answer is they kill everything so you have to come in and pay hundreds for $15 bulb. This week had a o2 sensor go bad while I was driving. Had lane assist on , adaptive cruise, etc. Check engine went on and car start to rapidly decelerate, and again all safety features where turned off for something that is not fixed would potential cause reduce MPG, damage the catalytic converter, cause black smoke. None of this should require all safety features to be turned off. This is going to kill someone. I know your not suppose to have your hands off the wheel when using lane assist but people do it. I was in bumper to bumper traffic on 40 going 65 MPH. Not only would I have been at risk but everyone around me. Worse case is I do not have my hands on the wheel, the o2 sensor fails, car pulls into the car beside me and someone dies because Subaru wants money more than safety.
NHTSA ID
11724029
Incident
Mar 11, 2026
Brakes
Filed Mar 5, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the brakes inadvertently activated. The contact was unaware whether any warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the brakes, and the brakes locked up during the failure. The contact regained control of the vehicle and continued driving after the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 16,764. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA ID
11722279
Incident
Mar 5, 2026
Mileage
16,764 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 25, 2026
I am filing this complaint regarding repeated premature strut failure on my 2022 Subaru Forester. The original set of struts failed at approximately 36,000 miles. The issue was not covered under warranty and required replacement. At approximately 60,000 miles, the replacement struts are again failing. This means two full sets of struts have failed before 100,000 miles, which is highly abnormal for a vehicle of this age and mileage. Premature strut failure affects vehicle stability, ride control, and braking performance. This raises safety concerns, particularly at highway speeds and during emergency maneuvers. Suspension components such as struts should not require replacement this frequently under normal driving conditions. Given the repeated nature of this issue, I believe this may represent a broader defect rather than normal wear and tear. I have seen many other 2022 Subaru Foresters have this same issue but have not heard of a recall to date. I am requesting that this matter be investigated for potential recall or technical service action.
NHTSA ID
11720395
Incident
Jan 22, 2026
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 13, 2026
My Subaru Forrester Eyesight system cuts out and is disabled while driving, including while the cruise control was engaged causing me to brake hard while driving to avoid a collision and a message announcing it is disabled is displayed on the screen. I took the car to my dealership who confirmed that there is a software problem but because I was out of the initial warranty I would have to pay to have the fix installed on my car. They charged me for an hour of service ($288.60) to install a software update to the "EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology[ ] the culmination of everything Subaru engineers know about safety". Obviously they know there is a problem with their safety system and have created a fix but are charging the customers to correct it.
NHTSA ID
11717893
Incident
Feb 11, 2026
Visibility
Filed Feb 5, 2026
I was driving along and noticed my windshield was cracked on the passenger side. The crack is vertical from the bottom of the windshield to about halfway up. It was fine the day before. No rocks, etc struck my windshield. I understand that Subaru has had issues with windshields cracking for no reason.
NHTSA ID
11715806
Incident
Feb 5, 2026
Visibility
Filed Jan 15, 2026
I was driving to work in the morning and was going down a slow side street when I heard a soft noise behind me. When I looked in my rearview I noticed that my back window was cracked all over it though nothing had hit it or fallen in it. The glass then completely fell out.
NHTSA ID
11711104
Incident
Jan 13, 2026
ElectricalSteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 4, 2026
My 2022 Subaru Forester Sport, <24,640 miles, suffers from persistent, life-threatening safety failures. Thick white exhaust is present in every temperature, and a heavy burning smell fills the cabin during acceleration regardless of outside temperature. I have been dealing with these failures since March/April of 2023. My car was in a rear-end collision in May 2023 and was repaired at an authorized Subaru body shop. Despite these authorized repairs, the mechanical and electronic failures have continued to deteriorate. My car has required 4 emergency tows and was out of service for around 90 days in 2025 alone. It has been to several independent mechanics and they tell me that since everything happens intermittently, I must take it back to Subaru as it should be covered under warranty due to the low mileage. However, four different authorized dealerships consistently claim "nothing is wrong". My car sits at these dealerships for weeks at a time without a significant change in the odometer. I had 2 claims with Subaru of America this year, including a claim for the vehicle randomly unlocking itself (not via remote), but they closed both claims and nothing was done. Ongoing failures in steering, suspension and braking systems make the vehicle unstable and dangerous to drive. I have a 2-inch thick file documenting repeated service visits for these specific issues yet Subaru refuses to acknowledge or repair them. The primary computer system, media system, and Eyesight (ADAS) safety suite fail daily. The dashboard lights up constantly when these safety features fail. The system frequently freezes and resets while driving, which disables all safety and navigation features without warning. The remote start fails to warm the car after 10 minutes in cold weather; once the heat functions, the car is filled with chemical fumes. All of these issues continue to get worse as time goes on.
NHTSA ID
11708697
Incident
Mar 31, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Dec 4, 2025
The exterior B-pillar trim on my 2022 Subaru Forester (passenger side) has warped, bubbled, and lifted away from the vehicle. At approximately 24,700 miles, the trim began deforming significantly, with visible bubbling and separation at the top edge. The dealer inspected it and recommended replacing the entire window panel assembly, stating it is not covered under warranty. I am concerned that the loose and distorted trim could detach while driving, especially at highway speeds, creating a hazard for me and other drivers. The damage also affects visibility around the door frame and may compromise the door and window sealing. Subaru of America declined to cover the repair, and I believe this may be a material or manufacturing defect that could impact other owners.
NHTSA ID
11703066
Incident
Nov 12, 2025
Engine
Filed Oct 4, 2025
Crash reportedFire reported
I hit a deer going 45 mph, the air bags deployed, and my engine caught on fire. Within 10 minutes my car burned to the ground.
NHTSA ID
11691363
Incident
Sep 26, 2025
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 30, 2025
I was steering my car into my own garage as I do daily. Suddenly, as the car was making the turn, the car accelerated abruptly on its own. I was somehow able to steer into the garage, but the rapid acceleration continued. I braked and stopped the car just before it went into the wall that adjoins the interior of my home. There was an inch to spare. There were no warnings or messages or sympoms prior to this event.
NHTSA ID
11690671
Incident
Sep 30, 2025
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 9, 2025
I am writing to report a serious safety concern involving my '22 Subaru Forester, which is equipped with the Auto Start/Stop feature. This issue created a dangerous driving situation that could have resulted in severe injury or death to myself, my family, or other drivers on the road. While driving on the highway, our Forester's Auto Start/Stop system malfunctioned causing the engine to shut off completely while the vehicle. Specifically, the vehicle shut down in the left lane of traffic and failed to restart immediately leaving us unexpectedly immobile. Fortunately, my husband remained calm and immediately placed his foot back on the brake, placed the vehicle in park and restarted the vehicle manually by pressing the ignition button. However, had he hesitated during the confusion by not placing his foot back on the brake we could have been rear-ended, possibly by a large semi-truck which would have propelled us into the vehicle in front of us. Our dealer said the Auto Start/Stop system failing to restart the vehicle due to a weakening battery—for which there is no warning. The fact that a non-critical feature like fuel-saving Start/Stop is allowed to override the engine's operability based on battery voltage is deeply concerning. Batteries degrade over time. But a degraded battery should not be allowed to disable a moving vehicle.Having spoken directly with Subaru of America about this issue, they acknowledged and documented my case however I was told that it would be used as data for potential future action if other similar cases arise. In the meantime, no corrective action is being taken by Subaru, with me as an owner or proactively with the feature design.I respectfully urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter as a potential safety defect. The Auto Start/Stop system, as implemented in certainSubaru models (specifically the 2022 Forester in my case) may compromise safe vehicle operation when battery voltage drops below a certain threshold which is a safety flaw.
NHTSA ID
11686115
Incident
Aug 24, 2025
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 26, 2025
Several months ago, the automatic front collision activated on the freeway doing about 65mph. There was nothing in front of us, but there was a car behind us that almost rear ended us. I thought this was a one-off thing but reading this site I am not the only one. Also, with in the last 2 weeks the Eye Site has turned off. This I see is also a known problem.
NHTSA ID
11683266
Incident
Jun 14, 2025
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving on a main road at 32 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system suddenly engaged while there were no objects or vehicles nearby. Additionally, the contact stated that the Subaru EyeSight system was disabled due to being a seasoned driver. The contact stated that she was forced to purchase the vehicle with the feature. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was inspected and recalibrated. The dealer informed the contact that the EZ Pass may have contributed to the failure; however, the contact stated that the EZ Pass had been on the console for approximately three years. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.
NHTSA ID
11678984
Incident
Aug 4, 2025
Mileage
23,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the front windshield was cracked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle was scheduled for the front windshield replacement. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.
NHTSA ID
11673298
Incident
Jul 12, 2025
Mileage
29,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 5, 2025
I pulled into a parking space and as I slowed to a stop my car surged forward. I put my foot on the brake and the car continued to surge for a few seconds before the brakes engaged. I almost hit a fence and had to circle my car on a grassy lawn until the brakes egaged and I was able to park the car.
NHTSA ID
11658939
Incident
May 5, 2025
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 17, 2025
This happened to me a few days ago: The pre-collision braking system slammed my car to a stop when I was going 30 mph on a straight country road, and there was nothing in front of me or on the side of the road. No one anywhere around. It was 1 PM with good weather. Nothing to trigger the pre-collision braking system on my 2022 Forester. The sensors weren't dirty. The car suddenly slammed on the brakes. It felt like I'd slammed into something, but nothing was there! There was nothing anywhere around. I turned off the pre-collision feature and took the car to the dealer (where I bought the car and have it serviced). Cost me $135 to be told that there was nothing wrong. And they said that my extended warranty wouldn't cover the cost because they didn't find anything wrong and couldn't make it happen in a test drive. Having the brakes slam on like that was terrifying! Imagine if I'd been on a highway and there had been someone behind me. They would have rear-ended me! And I've read MANY, MANY similar accounts by Subaru owners on Reddit and the Subaru owners forum. Please do something about this. It's dangerous! Thank you!
NHTSA ID
11648782
Incident
Mar 14, 2025
Engine
Filed Mar 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while her husband was stopped at a stoplight, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to move. There were three abnormal beeps heard. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
NHTSA ID
11645910
Incident
Mar 2, 2025
Mileage
5,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 27, 2025
While using adaptive cruise control, the vehicle will employ emergency braking even though a vehicle/obstruction is not in front of the vehicle, it is usually diagonal while passing. It, also has been giving a forward collision warning when there is nothing in front of me. Since these events, eyesight has been turning on and off numerous times while vehicle is in operation.
NHTSA ID
11645452
Incident
Feb 12, 2025
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 20, 2025
Premature wear on Bridgestone Ecopia Tires. We have had several instances in our company with these tires wearing prematurely, some as low as 12k miles but usually somewhere in the 20's & 30's thousand-wise, these tires exhibit numerous cracks especially on the inner side that is difficult to see unless you pull the tires off. A lot of WEB chatter indicates that they are especially vulnerable in cold weather states. We've informed Subaru several times but are often hushed since they fear a major Recall.
NHTSA ID
11643956
Incident
Feb 20, 2025
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 1, 2025
I was driving with adapative cruise on a highway around 65 mph. I can only assume it did a sudden and rapid slow down on its own due fairly defined shadows on the road from tall rocks/cliffs on the side of the road. Luckily I was the only one on the road at the time. It was a clear sunny day. This to me is pretty unsafe if there had been other cars. I have made a service appointment about the issue as well a head unit that is very glitchy
NHTSA ID
11633546
Incident
Dec 1, 2024
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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