Problems · NHTSA complaints

2022 Subaru Legacy problems

Owners filed 34 complaints about the 2022 Subaru Legacy with NHTSA between Jun 2021 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is visibility/wiper (16).

Complaints
34
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Visibility/wiper16
  2. Forward collision avoidance4
  3. Electrical system3
  4. Air bags2
  5. Vehicle speed control2
  6. Lane departure2
  7. Power train1
  8. Service brakes1
  9. Engine1
  10. Steering1
  11. Tires1
  12. Structure1
  13. Visibility1
  14. Other / unknown8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20212
20227
20239
202410
20251
20265

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Visibility/wiper

16 reports
“Safety Hazard: Subaru Sun Visor I own a 2022 Subaru Legacy, the first new car I've ever owned. The visor (to protect eyes from the sun) is too short and not wide enough. The seat is raised as high as it will go. I CAN'T position myself to protect my eyes from the Sun. On 1/8/26, I left my home at 7:45 a.m. Around the corner from my home, local road, I approached an intersection with a Traffic Light. As I approached the intersection to turn left, the Sun (dead ahead) totally blinded me. It was a complete WHITE OUT. The Visor did NOTHING to protect my eyes from the sun. IT'S TOO SMALL and useless. I used one hand to shield my eyes from the Sun. It didn't help. I was helpless. I stopped my car, prayed I wouldn't get hit When my vision returned, I maneuvered my way into my left hand turn It was the scariest thing I've ever experienced. I was BLINDED and HELPLESS. There needs to be a RECALL on Subaru visors. I could have been killed. PLEASE do a thorough and complete Subaru investigation. This issue is all over the internet and not just with Subaru car owners. Friends who own a Subaru complain about this dangerous visor. RECALL the VISORS. Thank you. P.S. I called…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2026Visibility/wiperODI 11710841

Forward collision avoidance

4 reports2 crashes
“The vehicle engaged the automatic braking system also known as phantom breaking while there was no objects on the roadway at the time of the incident it was 5:15 a.m. dark and light rain when approaching a curve on the road driving approximately 30 mph the system engaged and applied the brakes in the curve which in turn put the t legal into a slide causing a vehicle crash. Furthermore the airbags did not deploy the police officers were very dumbfounded with the amount of damage and also the speed in which occurred I obtained back injuries and also hit my head”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2026Air bags, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11767677

Electrical system

3 reports
“Emergency breaking deployed during traffic where no indication of collision was about to take place; vehicle safety features disabled and enabled off and on automatically while driving, this led up to sudden stop of vehicle in heavy traffic and vehicle would never restart. Subaru starlink emergency services failed to work or respond after trying for several minutes. Steering wouldn’t work to guide vehicle safely out of traffic”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 28, 2024Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11627822

Air bags

2 reports1 crash1 related recall

Vehicle speed control

2 reports2 crashes
“I experienced unintended acceleration while operating my vehicle. I was slowly pulling into a parking space at a gym when, without warning, the vehicle suddenly accelerated rapidly forward. I did not intentionally press the accelerator at that time. The unexpected acceleration caused the vehicle to surge ahead and collide with a light post, resulting in significant damage to the front bumper. Fortunately, there were no pedestrians or other vehicles in front of me, so no injuries occurred. This incident created a serious safety risk, as the sudden and uncontrolled acceleration could have resulted in harm to myself or others if anyone had been in the vehicle’s path. At this time, it is UNKNOWN whether the issue has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center. It is also UNKNOWN if any warning lights, messages, or prior symptoms were present before the incident. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 10, 2026Vehicle speed control, EngineCrash reportedODI 11730321

Lane departure

2 reports
“After a small pebble hit my windshield, an extremely large crack appeared and grew within moments of the impact. It has spiderwebbed all over the windshield and obstructed the vehicle's EYESIGHT cameras. A second impact within a few days has done the same right in front of the driver's seat. The spiderwebbing of the cracks was near immediate and grew faster than 3 inches per minute.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2023Visibility/wiper, Forward collision avoidance, Lane departureODI 11518574
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.