2022 Subaru Outback Driver assistance Problems

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 the left unprompted causing the crash. A witness behind stated they saw the car behave the same as did the two passengers in the car.

NHTSA ID

11751418

Incident

Jul 16, 2026

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 ID

11691627

Incident

Sep 27, 2025

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 ID

11675023

Incident

Sep 10, 2024

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 ID

11634670

Incident

Jan 4, 2025

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 speakers randomly will blast so loud it startles and distracts everyone in the car. This seems to happen randomly, can be at start up, or after sound system has been in use. Additionally, the power windows occasionally will not go back up. Thry reverse partway through raising. Then we have to wait a few seconds and try again. Please make Subaru issue a recall and remedy for-the control screen issue. It is the most dangerous problem we’ve listed here.

NHTSA ID

11634209

Incident

Jan 4, 2023

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 ID

11628810

Incident

Dec 2, 2024

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 ID

11616439

Incident

Sep 19, 2024

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 ID

11604989

Incident

May 1, 2024

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 ID

11593849

Incident

Jun 11, 2024

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 ID

11581016

Incident

Mar 7, 2024

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 ID

11553407

Incident

Oct 25, 2023

Mileage

13,947 mi

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 crashes/freezes, the EyeSight safety features of the car such as Lane Keeping Assistance, Blind Spot Warning, Forward Crash Warning also stop working. I'll see all of the dashboard signals and notifications on the dashboard screen indicating the features are disabled. Additionally, I'm unable to control the AC when the screen crash happens. This happens while the vehicle is in operation and the vehicle user manual doesn't provide any troubleshoot options. Sometimes the screen will remain on after I've turned the car off. I can only hope the screen will shut off and restart after I've completely shut the car off to "fix this". There have been many times I've had to keep driving without the Eyesight safety features or AC when the screen crashes. I've tried to update the Infotainment screen myself with the supposedly "over the air" updates Subaru offers. It says my system is up to date even though I've found online Subaru service bulletins saying there are new software versions released. At my first six month dealer service, I asked about released updates and the service manager denied the newest updates can be installed on my car (which is STILL less than a year old). I brought my vehicle to another subaru dealership with this issue and they said they are aware of it. The service manager also said that the software update only fixes about 20% of vehicles that have this issue and a full replacement of the center screen unit is likely needed. Why has the NHTSA not directed Subaru to issue a recall?

NHTSA ID

11536503

Incident

Nov 19, 2021

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 have to stop driving immediately. No advanced safety features can be accessed, you have no idea of your speed, the list goes on. We have brought the car in twice and had a software update but the problem persists. We left the car for a week and were told it was fine but the next day the issue persisted. The display screen will come and go which is completely unacceptable from a safety standpoint. The Subaru forums seem to indicate this is a widespread problem that Subaru has yet to address or come up with a viable solution. We have the records to back up all of these assertions as well as video of the failures of the display screen once returned to us.

NHTSA ID

11535689

Incident

Jul 1, 2023

Windshield crack caused by either a defective windscreen or incorrect installation. -no evidence of damage prior. -cracked overnight. -on both sides of the crack the windshield was offset, one side being higher than the other. The collision center advised that there was likely a 'bad batch' of windshields Subaru installed.

NHTSA ID

11527174

Incident

May 18, 2023

Pulled into a parking space at the Village Green strip mall, applied brakes and immediately, the engine accelerated and lunged my vehicle into another car that was parked in the parking space in front of my car. When the car accelerated, the brakes did not work. I reversed the car since it continued to accelerate into the parked car in front of me and the car went back as fast as it was accelerating forward. I put the car into drive since I had parked cars behind me as well. The car accelerated forward at a very high rate, I did not have brakes, I guided the car between parked cars as best I could but could not make a left turn and the car drove into a brick building in the strip mall. I opened a claim with Subaru Corp, Case #230508-190-1112.

NHTSA ID

11522566

Incident

Apr 25, 2023

The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 1 to 2 mph on two occasions into a parking spot, the vehicle hesitated then accelerated and crashed into a pole. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a collision shop. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and had an investigator inspect the vehicle but was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 700. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11507870

Incident

Mar 1, 2022

Mileage

700 mi

Main Wiring harness / Main Electrical system malfunction, causing all dash lights to consistently be on. which in turn prevents all of the ADAS functions to no longer work. Vehicle has now been in 2 accidents which could have been prevented by these safety features. vehicle had had main harness replaced at dealers cost at dealership , and one at cost of insurance, problem remains unfixed/unfixable. vehicle is specifically 2022 Subaru outback Onxy XT.

NHTSA ID

11498979

Incident

Jun 9, 2022

Subarus forward looking eyesight and rear auto braking functions will stop working periodically also the stereo/infotainment system will go blank causing you to no longer access the the safety features of the car or any controls for the heating/AC system.

NHTSA ID

11497833

Incident

Dec 15, 2022

The entire electronics system resets while driving, all driving metrics, speed, eye-sight/collision detection shows reboot screen, and infotainment system goes blank for several seconds. It would appear that none of this vehicles safety systems or speed indicators are online for several seconds up to 20 at times. I have tried to catch this on camera, but since I am the sole driver of this vehicle, I am rarely in a position to safely operate my phone. It has been going on since I purchased the vehicle, but I am seeing more and more posts with other drivers and the same issue.

NHTSA ID

11495686

Incident

Nov 29, 2022

On multiple occasions my car has braked on its own when there was no reason to. It has happened on at least four (4) different times and has been taken to Subaru of Kennesaw to be looked at. Unfortunately the dealership has been unable to duplicate the problem. When I took my car back to the dealership on September 28, 2022 for this I contacted Subaru of America and they had an Engineer, [XXX] come and get the data off the Event Data Recorder in the vehicle. The engineer verbally said they have pictures from each time my car braked on its own and advised there was nothing in front of me. He said it is an eyesight issue but they cannot adjust the eyesight and they cannot fix the problem. The car just brakes without warning the engineer said this can happen if the eyesight sees a mailbox, cars to the right or left of me, trees, curbs and even a change in color in the roadway. This has continued to happen and now Subaru of America will not take my calls nor will they respond to my emails. I have asked for a copy of the pictures, a letter stating their findings and a letter stating my car is safe to drive but they will not issue this to me. This has been going on since April 2022. I am afraid I am going to be in accident one day when the car brakes on its own if someone is behind me and not paying attention. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11494721

Incident

Sep 28, 2022

No matter what Subaru does the infotainment system which controls the safety systems crashes randomly and weekly. Disabling all the Eyesight safety features.

NHTSA ID

11489422

Incident

Oct 15, 2022

On a reoccurring basis, my Subaru will randomly slam on the breaks, detecting an object that isn't there. Dealership has done nothing, and Subaru of America has ignored my complaints

NHTSA ID

11488520

Incident

Oct 9, 2022

Rab system not working, no foward or reverse cameras work. No climate control access, no radio, no GPS, can't access any touch screen controls

NHTSA ID

11485958

Incident

Sep 22, 2022

Windshield cracked while parked. Date of crack 9-13-2022 All the electronic safety features rely on an intact windshield to work properly. This crack occurred for no reason. No impact to windshield. Parked in an open parking lot. Not reproduced that I know of. Vehicle will be inspected tomorrow by dealer. 9-14-2022

NHTSA ID

11484344

Incident

Sep 13, 2022

SafeLite is Unable to calibrate vehicle EyeSight after non-OEM windshield replacement. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There have been two attempts to calibrate the vehicle EyeSight by SafeLite. The dealer says the EyeSight with a non-OEM windshield can not be properly calibrated. According to Subaru, the 2022 model requires that OEM glass be used for windshield replacements on models that are equipped with the EyeSight Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). Lane detection works randomly, periodically there a warning beep showing a vehicle icon between two bars and the word "Off" . In addition to the alarms, the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) keeps nudging the steering wheel causing the vehicle to swerve. None of the front safe driving features of the vehicle can be trusted. The steering nudging problem doesn't happen when the VDC is turned off. The VDC defaults to on. To safely drive the vehicle the VDC needs to be manually turned off each time the car is started. No the problem has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. I assume the vehicle logs have a record of the warnings.

NHTSA ID

11475001

Incident

Jul 19, 2022