IllustrationVEHICLE IN MOTION APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH IN REGULAR STREET DRIVING. THE CAR HAS FELT AS IF THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO STALL OR AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SEIZING UP. THIS OCCURRED A FEW TIMES. A BIT UNNERVING BECAUSE IT HAPPENED WITH MOVING TRAFFIC BEHIND, IN FRONT AND TO THE SIDES.
2018 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Outback years
Owner complaints for the 2018 Subaru Outback are substantially higher than the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
3130–25K
13625–50K
2850–75K
875–100K
2100–150K
1150K+
488 reports with mileage · 323 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 265 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports4 fire reports10 injury reports
Power Train complaints
14 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHERN STATES SUBARU OF RALEIGH (2511 WAKE FOREST RD, RALEIGH, NC 27609, 888-439-5154), BUT THE TECHN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHERN STATES SUBARU OF RALEIGH (2511 WAKE FOREST RD, RALEIGH, NC 27609, 888-439-5154), BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT A SPECIALIST TO ASSIST THE DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10.
2018 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS 12000 MILES ON THE CAR. HESITATION WANDERING,BUCKS,SHAKE,SOLW DOWN VERY QUICK WHEN COASTING. WENT TO DEALER 3 TIMES DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
I WAS DRIVING MY CHILD TO SCHOOL ON A RAINY MORNING IN TRAFFIC,20-30MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. THE CAR STALLED AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. (I AM LUCKY I DID NOT GET REAR ENDED; OTHERWISE I WOULD BE IN THE HOSPITAL GETTING MY CHILD CHECKED OUT.) ROLLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; AS CLOSE AS I COULD GET.. SHIFTED INT…
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I WAS DRIVING MY CHILD TO SCHOOL ON A RAINY MORNING IN TRAFFIC,20-30MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. THE CAR STALLED AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. (I AM LUCKY I DID NOT GET REAR ENDED; OTHERWISE I WOULD BE IN THE HOSPITAL GETTING MY CHILD CHECKED OUT.) ROLLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; AS CLOSE AS I COULD GET.. SHIFTED INTO PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR. STARTED RIGHT UP. I HAD A QUARTER TANK OF GAS AND DROVE THREE MILES AFTER THAT AND STILL HAVE ENOUGH TO GET TO A GAS STATION; SO IT IS NOT A FUEL SUPPLY ISSUE. THIS IS NOT SAFE!!! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!! THIS IS A NEW CAR PURCHASED THREE MONTHS AGO!!! CALLED THE DEALER'S SERVICE REP AND ASKED IF THIS COULD BE PART OF THE ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH FUEL ECONOMY. I AM AVERAGING 16.1 MPG. MY 2007 MERCURY MILLAN PREMIER AWD AVERAGED AROUND 22.8MPG: 10 YEARS OLDER AND LARGER ENGINE (3.0 VS 2.5). I ALSO LET HIM KNOW THAT AT LOW SPEEDS THE CAR IS FIGHTING AS IF IN THE WRONG GEAR AND LOW TORQUE. ALSO THERE IS NOT A SMOOTH COAST, IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE CAR IS BRAKING BY BEING IN THE WRONG GEAR. I HAVE HAD A TOYOTA, DODGE, FORD, MERCURY, HONDA, AND HYUNDAI IN THE FAMILY AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. THIS IS NOT SAFE!!! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!! THIS IS A NEW CAR PURCHASED THREE MONTHS AGO!!! I ALSO ASKED HIM IF THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HEAD UNIT WHICH IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS. HOW DID SUBARU LET A CAR LIKE THIS OFF THE LINE? I NOW FEAR USING THIS CAR. I DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A FATAL ACCIDENT AND I DO NOT WANT TO INTRODUCE FATAL RISKS TO MY FAMILY. I AM TOLD THAT IF THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE REPRODUCED AT THE DEALER, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. TRANSLATION: CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, I AM STUCK WITH A DEATH TRAP.
Official recalls
321V587000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Jul 29, 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
18V935000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices
Dec 31, 2018
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the rearview image will not display while backing up the vehicle. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTZ-85.
18V773000 · Electrical System:software; Fuel System, Gasoline
Nov 1, 2018
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTW-82.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
Consequence: The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTW-82.
Fuel System, Gasoline
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
Consequence: The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTW-82.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.