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2022 Subaru Forester engine problems

severe Owners of the 2022 Subaru Forester have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of November 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →

Ask A Mechanic
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
engine complaints on the Subaru Forester, by model year
Model yearengine complaints
2018 Forester 14
2019 Forester 60
2020 Forester 36
2021 Forester 17
2022 Forester (this page) 5
2023 Forester 4
2025 Forester 3
1crash
2fires
What stands out

No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.

Service Bulletin 09-122-24R Oct 2026

This bulletin the announces diagnostic procedures and availability of new Engine Control Module (ECM) reprogramming files to address DTC P2404 (Evap System Leak Detection Pump Sense Circuit Range/Performance) detection. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin 15-344-26 Oct 2026

This bulletin provides a step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES) failures for both Telematics and remote engine start equipped vehicles.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin 02-193-24R Jun 2026

This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers). (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin 09-74-21R Jun 2026

This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers). (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin 02-193-24R May 2026

This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers).

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

What owners are reporting 3 most recent

engine · filed 10/31/2022

-Engine failure: fuel line issue causing 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness to catch fire and explode - beforehand rod bearing was pulverized in separate incident a few months prior - engine was then replaced and car exploded 600 miles later causing total loss of vehicle. -Car exploded while driving in it, lost all personal belongings in car, barely got out of vehicle in time before explosion.…

engine · filed 10/19/2026

Head gasket failure. Caused oil in coolant. Caused coolant hose to break while driving. Subaru dealership says need to replace head gaskets, radiator, all hoses, cvt cooler(?), and will cost about $6400. My car has about 130000 miles. This seems to be rather unusual at this mileage.

engine · filed 10/04/2025

I hit a deer going 45 mph, the air bags deployed, and my engine caught on fire. Within 10 minutes my car burned to the ground.

Had engine trouble with your 2022 Subaru Forester? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.

Common questions

How serious is the engine problem on the 2022 Subaru Forester?

It's a meaningful issue. 5 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.

At what mileage does the engine typically fail?

Based on the 5 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 5,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to engine?

No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.

Related

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/Subaru/Forester. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.