2022 Subaru Outback Engine Control Module Recall (22V473)
Subaru of America, Inc. · 15 vehicles · Reported July 1, 2022
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling 15 2022 Subaru Outback vehicles. The engine wiring harness may have been damaged, resulting in a loose electrical connection to the engine control unit (ECU). A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V473 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V473000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | WRC-22 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 1, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2022 Subaru Outback |
| Units affected | 15 |
| Build dates | May 3, 2022 to May 5, 2022 |
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling > Engine > Engine Control Module (Ecu / Ecm) |
| Safety risk | A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Subaru Outback in recall 22V473?
The engine wiring harness may have been damaged, resulting in a loose electrical connection to the engine control unit (ECU).
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Outback vehicles. The engine wiring harness may have been damaged, resulting in a loose electrical connection to the engine control unit (ECU).
Is it safe to drive a 2022 Outback with recall 22V473?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Outback shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the engine control module, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V473?
Recall 22V473 covers 15 vehicles: 2022 Subaru Outback.
NHTSA lists 15 vehicles in this campaign, built May 3, 2022 to May 5, 2022. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Subaru | Outback |
What is the fix for the Outback engine control module recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the engine wiring harness and ECU, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the engine wiring harness and ECU, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-22.
When was recall 22V473 announced?
Subaru of America, Inc. reported recall 22V473 to NHTSA on July 1, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 30, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 3, 2022 | First affected vehicle built (per Subaru of America, Inc.'s filing). |
| May 5, 2022 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| July 1, 2022 | Subaru of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V473000. |
| August 30, 2022 | Owner notification letters scheduled (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 51 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 2 days. If your Outback was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Outback is part of recall 22V473?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V473 is open on your Outback, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 22V473000 is open on your Outback, it will be listed there, along with Subaru recall number WRC-22. You can also ask any Subaru dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Outback owners do about recall 22V473?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V473000 applies to your Outback.
- Call a Subaru dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the engine control module happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Outback owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 463 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 21 of them about the engine.
Since recall 22V473 was reported on July 1, 2022, owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 3 of them (15%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the engine and were received on or after July 1, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related engine issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 463 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 21 of them involve the engine. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Subaru Outback: 463 complaints in total, 21 about the engine
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
While stopped at a yield sign waiting for traffic to clear so I may proceed with my left turn, I stepped on the accelerator pedal to make my left turn; however, my car did not go because the engine had turned off due to the auto stop feature.
2022 Subaru Outback owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11661946, filed May 19, 2025
We had had no issues at all with our 2022 Subaru Outback until June 2025. Mileage at the time of the incident was approximately 52,000. We were driving one evening in June and all of a sudden the engine stopped and we could not drive it.
2022 Subaru Outback owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11682830, filed August 25, 2025
Lower oil pan leaks oil. Started leaking oil right after warranty expired. This is a known issue for Subaru cars with the 2.4 turbo engine. Seats ripped right after warranty expired.
2022 Subaru Outback owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11687315, filed September 15, 2025
Can recall 22V473 make my Outback a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this engine control module recall means their Outback qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An engine problem that leaves you stranded, or that keeps lighting up the check engine light after a repair, is the kind of defect that can substantially impair a vehicle's use, value or safety.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2022 Subaru Outback has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Outback been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Subaru Outback recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V473
Did the recall 22V473 fix work?
Since recall 22V473 was reported on July 1, 2022, owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 3 of them (15%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed August 30, 2022.
Is the 22V473000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Outback is part of recall 22V473000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V473000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.