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2022 Subaru Forester: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

What the public record actually says about the 2022 Subaru Forester — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.

The read

Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for SUV.

Owners filed 94 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 65% of 2022 SUVs. Unknown Or Other leads the reports (17%). 1 safety recall campaign on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.

Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2022 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.

Complaints filed

94

Reports to NHTSA, 2022

Safety recalls

1

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

27.5

EPA estimate

Complaint volume vs. segment peers

More complaints than 65% of 2022 SUVs

The bar is this car's percentile among 2022 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.

Known issues

Unknown Or Other issues lead owner complaints (17% of 94 reports), followed by visibility/wiper (17%).

Unknown Or Other17% · 16 reports
Visibility/Wiper17% · 16 reports
Electrical System9% · 8 reports
Exterior Lighting9% · 8 reports
Forward Collision Avoidance7% · 7 reports
Vehicle Speed Control7% · 7 reports
Service Brakes6% · 6 reports
Air Bags4% · 4 reports

+ 10 more component categories with fewer reports.

Share of all 94 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11528568, ODI 11566263, ODI 11725294, ODI 11717893, ODI 11613159.

Recalls(1)

Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.

Power TrainSep 2023 · 23V755000Details +

Subaru 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.

Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers 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.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2022 Subaru Forester SUV AWD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
Forester AWD2.5L 4-cylAll-Wheel Drive263329
Forester Wilderness AWD2.5L 4-cylAll-Wheel Drive252826

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

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Compare model years

"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.

2022 Subaru Forester: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2022 Subaru Forester?

Owners filed 94 NHTSA complaints about the 2022 Subaru Forester — more complaints than 65% of comparable 2022 SUVs, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.

What are the most common problems on the 2022 Subaru Forester?

The most-reported problem areas are Unknown Or Other (17% of complaints) and visibility/wiper (17%).

How many recalls does the 2022 Subaru Forester have?

1 recall has been issued that affect the 2022 Subaru Forester, covering components such as power train. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.

What gas mileage does the 2022 Subaru Forester get?

The EPA rates the 2022 Subaru Forester between 26 and 29 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.