2022 Subaru Outback electrical problems
51 of the 464 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Subaru Outback name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 252 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 51 reports a crash · 3 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2021: 4 · 2022: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 11
Half of the 13 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 9,000 and 40,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
464 complaints in all about the 2022 Subaru Outback, 11 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Outback electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Battery drained, car would not start. First occurrence with new car at 831 miles, battery diagnosed as defective and replaced by manufacturer. Second occurrence at 4620 miles after sitting unused 8 days at airport parking, battery drained and most "check engine" lights on after jump-starting.
Battery dies or runs so low the vehicle won’t start, if a door/hatchback is left open just a short time with the engine turned off. Or if the key fob is in the cab more than a few minutes with the engine off, or the accessory function is used more than a few minutes with the engine off. I bought the car on July 21st 2022.
1. Front Windshield cracks easily instead of chipping. Appears to be under pressure in a strange way and it cracks then starts to delaminate. I had 2 windshields replaced within 30 days. Water also starts to enter the crack and it impacts the wiper blades when in use. 2.
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that whenever the weather was below 15 degrees, the vehicle would fail to start up as needed. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated.
We have a Brand New 2022 Subaru Outback premium We parked it in our indoor garage for 1 week. We left no lights on, etc. We came back and could not start the car. The dashboard lit up, a lot of flashing icons, the radio and lights came on. We called service they charged battery fully, we drove car for over an hour. Parked in garage.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 22V473000 HighJul 1, 2022 · 15 vehicles
- Subaru 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).
252 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 15-261-20R Service bulletinAug 31, 2026
- This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4 Denso CP1 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models listed. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- SubaruNet Announcement (C OtherAug 21, 2026
- This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
- 15-308-23R Service bulletinAug 20, 2026
- This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
The 3 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B2A16 P0087 P2404 P0871 B2256 B2A20 P0016 P0017
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2022 Subaru Outback names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2022 Subaru Outback
Source: the same files- visibility and wiper problems 281 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2022 Subaru Outback?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 51 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (11% of everything owners filed about it), and 252 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2022 Subaru Outback?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 22V473000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2022 Subaru Outback?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 25,000 miles; half of them between 9,000 and 40,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.