2022 Subaru Forester problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 2022 Subaru Forester have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2022 Subaru Forester. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

Q: What gas mileage does the 2022 Subaru Forester get?

The 2022 Subaru Forester has U.S. EPA estimates of 26–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

2022 Subaru Forester at a glance

Safety recalls1

Owner complaints98

Overall safety5 / 5 ★

Combined26–29 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2022 Subaru Forester recalls 1

Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch NHTSA Campaign #23V755000 · manufacturer #WRQ-23 · 09/11/2023

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.

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2022 Subaru Forester common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Visibility/wiper

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Forward Collision Avoidance

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Engine

Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

Service Brakes

Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Vehicle Speed Control

Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.

2022 Subaru Forester safety ratings

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash★★★★★

Side crash★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Frontal — driver★★★★★

Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Side — front seat★★★★★

Side — rear seat★★★★★

Side pole★★★★★

Rollover risk: 16.9% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Frontal crash test — 2022 Subaru Forester SUV AWD

Frontal crash test · ▶ watch video

Side barrier test — 2022 Subaru Forester SUV AWD

Side barrier test · ▶ watch video

Side pole test — 2022 Subaru Forester SUV AWD

Side pole test · ▶ watch video

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2022 Subaru Forester SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2022 Subaru Forester MPG & running costs

Combined26–29 mpg

City26 mpg

Highway31 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$2,450

EPA size classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S7) or Automatic (AV-S8)

Engine start-stopYes

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$250 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2022 Subaru Forester costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$12,250

Fuel only$12,250

Per mile$0.16

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length

182.3 in

Width

71.7 in

Height

68.1 in

Wheelbase

105.1 in

Curb weight

3,459–3,549 lb

Front track

61.8 in

Rear track

61.8 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2022 Subaru Forester — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2022 Subaru Forester. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Label

Issue: On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" appear in English only, when they should be listed as "Tires/Pneus", "Rims/Jantes", "Front/Avant" and "Rear/Arriere". Canadian regulations require this information to be listed on the label in both English and French. Safet…

Transport Canada #2024546 · Aug 2024

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV that has been manufactured by Subaru since 1997. The first generation was built on the platform of the Impreza in the style of a taller station wagon, a style that continued to the second generation, while the third-generation model onwards moved towards a crossover SUV design. A performance model was available for the second-generation Forester in Japan as the Forester STi.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2022 Subaru Forester vehicles on record

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKARC0NH490732

2022 Subaru ForesterJF1SK9LL5PG185045

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKACC4PH434319

2022 Subaru ForesterJF1SK9LL5NG167796

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAEC3NH492173

2022 Subaru ForesterJF1SK9LL5PG180065

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAPC0NH486148

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAAC7NH513936

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAPCXNH440181

2022 Subaru ForesterJF1SK9LL5PG180036

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAPC9PH421740

2022 Subaru ForesterJF1SK9LL5PG182002

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAMC1PH429545

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKARC5NH475272

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAPC9NH464262

2022 Subaru ForesterJF1SK7LL5PG183938

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAMC9NH524660

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAEC5PH411581

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKARC1NH486222

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAMC1NH514205

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAPC8NH469646

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAPC7NH502832

2022 Subaru ForesterJF1SK9LL5PG184758

2022 Subaru ForesterJF2SKAEC7NH448614

Other Subaru Forester model years

2022 Subaru Forester — frequently asked questions

Does the 2022 Subaru Forester have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2022 Subaru Forester. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

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

Across all 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are visibility/wiper, forward collision avoidance, engine.

What is the 2022 Subaru Forester safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2022 Subaru Forester an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2022 Subaru Forester get?

The 2022 Subaru Forester has U.S. EPA estimates of 26–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.