Windshields cracking, and other safety issues are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Sedans are a dying breed of vehicle on the road. However, the 2022 Subaru Legacy seeks to be at the top of the totem pole by boasting it provides “peace of mind on every drive.” Customers are receiving a lot of things from the Legacy, but driving confidence doesn’t seem to be one of them. Complaints highlight faulty electrics, lane departure, and widespread issues with windshields that crack spontaneously.
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The most overwhelming problem owners of the 2022 Subaru Legacy are facing is windshields that crack for no apparent reason. In fact, 75% of the complaints relate to this unfortunate malfunction. Some complaints note that there have been recalls due to “stress cracks” in previous Subaru vehicle models, “but no recall yet for the 2022 Subaru Legacy.”
Other complaints highlight other safety issues that relate to lane departure, forward collision avoidance, and faulty electrics that caused a battery fire.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Lane Departure: Assist | |
| Lane Departure: Warning | |
| Structure:body | |
| Tires |
Seeing clearly should always be priority number one when driving a vehicle. However, when windshields crack it’s virtually impossible to see clearly.
Typical complaints state that there is no impact before the windshield starts to crack:
Some give more details and voice considerable concern.
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An owner from Missouri found a large crack in the windshield of his Subaru that was parked at his place of work. There was “a tiny chip point of impact.” The complaint states that the automaker “to use specific, thinner glass due to EyeSight technology.” But, “if a small chip can crack half the windshield, what will a significant impact cause?”
The thin glass theory is confirmed by another owner from a different part of Missouri. This crack started at the bottom center of the windshield and was spreading daily. The dealership traced a very small impact point. “They said it doesn’t take much as the windshields are thinner in Subarus due to the camera system. I feel like this is a safety issue. And it seems to be (a) common issue with Subaru.”
Ironically, another complaint tells how a windshield crack obstructed the EyeSight cameras. This crack was initiated by a small pebble hitting the windshield, the complaint states. “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 spider webbing of the cracks was near immediate and grew faster than 3 inches per minute.”
A complaint from an owner in Arizona states that the car’s “windshield was hit by a small stone while driving on highway speed. At first it seemed to be a small chip/crack. After a minute or two the crack got bigger.” This was the second time it had happened. “I thought Subaru had (the) best safety ratings. But if this happens to someone while driving in the middle of nowhere, and the glass shatters all of a sudden for just a mere tiny stone chip, I don’t feel safe driving this car at all.”
The complaint goes on to say that he has “noticed many cars with a chip or small crack on (the) windshield. But they don’t pose any serious concern.” In his case though, “it’s a serious concern for safety as the small chip spreads across the windshield which is a threat to drivability of the vehicle.”
It hasn’t been that long since Subaru was facing massive class-action lawsuits because of the same problems with other model years. It seems to be a big piece of Subaru’s modern history to deal with cracking and exploding windshields.
Subaru boasts that, unlike other automotive brands, they have “dedicated countless hours and manpower to creating and fine tuning the EyeSight technology and its many features.” Lane Keep Assist is a primary feature of this technology. It is designed to keep Subaru vehicles in their lane, monitor traffic movement, optimize cruise control, and reduce rear-end crashes.
But when the lane assist feature failed, a Nevada owner of a 2022 Legacy nearly crashed into a “semi truck.” The truck had drifted into his lane, so he moved over to give it space. But “the lane assist function tried to turn me back into the semi truck I was driving over the lane to avoid. It failed to recognize a major hazard and in fact created a more dangerous situation for me. I had to jerk the wheel back to the left, fortunately it shut off and I was able to maintain control.”
Today’s vehicle is meant to include high-tech equipment for an enjoyable ride. It’s also meant to keep the journey safe. However, a complaint about the electrical system filed as an unknown or other issue, indicates that some Legacy owners are far from safe.
An owner from Missouri experienced an explosion and fire under the hood of a 2022 Legacy. The explosion happened while he was attempting to restart the battery, and opened the hood of the vehicle. This caused “a fire under the hood between what we believe to be the AC pipe and the battery/fuse box terminals. The car was not on, but we did notice that there appears to be a hole in the pipe that is leaking what we presume to be Freon. Reporting on behalf of GSA Fleet,” which is the government’s General Service Administration. “Not expecting any actions, just reporting for your records.”
Is Subaru oblivious to what’s happening with the electrical systems? Absolutely not! In fact, the automaker has issued multiple service bulletins about the systems. By late September 2023, they had issued 82 communications concerning the electrical system alone. One of these, Service Bulletin #15-258-19R, talks about issues with the remote engine starter. It tells Subaru service technicians if there are problems with control modules.
Do you think your 2022 Subaru Legacy might be a lemon? If you’re experiencing problems that affect your use and/or the value of the Legacy, it may be a lemon. Lemberg Law is available to assess your problems and advise you free of charge.
The law makes Subaru pay legal fees, and you may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of owners who have lodged claims after faulty vehicles. All you have to do is call our Helpline or fill out a contact form and we’ll do what we can to help you.
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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