Visibility, steering, and electric issues are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2022 Subaru Impreza has gained quite the following, mainly because of its standard all-wheel-drive and rugged appeal. Even the automaker claims this is “more than a car.” However, owners are finding that the additional aspects aren’t necessarily good, especially when dealing with a defective electrical system and poor visibility conditions.
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The most common problem reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is that windshields crack for no reason at all. Other issues highlighted in consumer complaints include the powertrain, steering, and an electrical system that can cause the Impreza to catch on fire.
There is also a disturbing recall that affects a relatively small number (42) of 2022 Subaru Impreza and Outback vehicles. This warns that windshields may detach in a crash due to the application of the wrong paint clearcoat. If the windshield isn’t bonded properly to the vehicle, it can come away in a crash, which will increase the risk of injury.
Auto glass has been an issue for Subaru vehicles over the past few years, with very little changing even after class-action lawsuits. So it’s no surprise to many that the 2022 Impreza has problems with windshields that crack for no reason at all
One of the earliest NHTSA complaints is from an owner in Missouri. This states that while waiting for the Impreza to get warm, he turned on the heat and the windshield cracked by itself.
Another owner, also from Missouri, states that the “windshield cracked spontaneously at the middle base of the windshield in a perfect arch.” It appears that the crack was on the inside of the glass. There was no impact on the outside of the windshield, and the car was parked in a garage at the time. But Subaru insists there is no recall opportunity.
An owner from Utah had a better resolution from Subaru after his 2022 Impreza windshield crack on the freeway. The complaint states that it had nothing to do with rocks, and that it “has since spread dramatically.” Unsurprisingly, it affects visibility when the sun shines through the cracks. Because the windshield is shattered, it obstructs the view and makes objects appear different. “Subaru has apparently known about this for years and they haven’t remedied it. In addition, they offer a protection plan for windshields when you buy it (the vehicle) new, but they’ll only replace 2 of them. And every subsequent windshield is subject to the same problem.”
Subaru was supposed to fix the spontaneous combustion of the windshields, but the problems still exist.
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It’s a very simple conundrum that if a vehicle doesn’t steer correctly it’s likely to crash. Luckily, this didn’t happen to the New York owner who reports to the NHTSA that the steering in his 2022 Impreza is overly sensitive.
After only 12 days of ownership he returned the car to the dealer because the “steering wheel felt disconnected from the car.” They test drove the vehicle and said (in writing) that it felt like “it wanders.” The service advisor also told the owner that “he had a hard time keeping it in lane.”
Their solution was to “let some air out of the tires.” While this seemed to help for a while, the owner returned the car to the dealership three weeks later. This time, the dealership responded by saying that “the car drove like normal for their technicians. I believe they are simply saying that there is nothing wrong with the car simply because they need their loaner back.”
Having a reliable electrical system is essential, not just for entertainment and comfort but also for safety. But 2022 Subaru Impreza owners with electrical system problems are concerned.
One NHTSA complaint filed as an unknown or other issue describes what seems to be an electrical problem tells a scary story. “I had the cruise control ready to be set as I had turned it on briefly earlier in the drive. But it was not turned on at the time. When the cruise control button is pushed and ‘ready,’ lane keeping assistance turns on. The dashboard suddenly alerted saying the EyeSight Driver Assist was not working. Seconds later, it said ‘check owner’s manual’ and then ‘check engine’.”
“Within a few seconds, the car began decelerating quickly. I got over to the right lane, turned on my hazard lights, and then pulled off on the shoulder where the car came to a full stop. I turned the car off and could see smoke coming from under the hood of the car.”
It took the owner only 10-20 seconds. He “climbed over the center console and out of the passenger door on the right and began backing quickly away from the car while watching it.” When the fire started under the hood, he called 911. “This whole incident–from driving to the start of the fire–occurred within about 1 minute or at most 2 minutes total.”
I had the car for less than two months, and it had just over 1000 miles on it. … never seen any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms on the car before. I had driven the car home from work the previous day and got home around 7:00 pm. This was the first time I had seen any of the warning signs on the dashboard indicated above. The police department arrived within a few minutes and then the fire department arrived a few minutes after that. The fire spread to the entire vehicle and it was towed.”
If you think you’ve got a lemon, phone the Lemberg Law Helpline or fill out a contact form. We will assess your problems and get back to you. The fact that the law makes Subaru pay lemon law legal fees means that we won’t charge you.
Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of people who have discovered they bought lemons. You might find that you get lemon justice too.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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