TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A PARKING LOT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000.
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
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.
Visibility complaints
41 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK HAD FORMED HORIZONTALLY ON THE UPPER DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT CALLED TOM WOOD SUBARU (3300 E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240, (317) 805-7775) AND WAS INFORMED BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE PLASTIC IN BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD GLAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK HAD FORMED HORIZONTALLY ON THE UPPER DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT CALLED TOM WOOD SUBARU (3300 E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240, (317) 805-7775) AND WAS INFORMED BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE PLASTIC IN BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD GLASS WOULD PREVENT MAJOR FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN REFERRED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A SMALL ROCK IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A SMALL CRACK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED AT A WINDSHIELD REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT CA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A SMALL ROCK IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A SMALL CRACK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED AT A WINDSHIELD REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER METROWEST SUBARU (948 WORCESTER ST, NATICK, MA 01760, (508) 651-2000) AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED LOU FUSZ SUBARU ST. LOUIS (900 N LINDBERGH BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED LOU FUSZ SUBARU ST. LOUIS (900 N LINDBERGH BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED A $500.00 CREDIT FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER DECLINED AND THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A GLASS REPAIR COMPANY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NATE WADE SUBARU SALES (1207 S MAIN ST, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111, (888) 654-7340)…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NATE WADE SUBARU SALES (1207 S MAIN ST, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111, (888) 654-7340) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER AN UNKNOWN OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, HE BECAME…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER AN UNKNOWN OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WAS ALSO CRACKED. THE TECHNICIAN RETURNED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY THE PLASTIC TRIM USED FOR THE WINDSHIELD SUPPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS BEING REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS RIDING IN THE VEHICLE AFTER LEARNING THAT THE PLASTIC TRIM WAS ABLE TO CRACK THE WINDSHIELD. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK CONTINUED TO EXPAND. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT YET NOTIFIED OF …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK CONTINUED TO EXPAND. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHE NOTICED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER SUBARU (1592 NJ-38, LUMBERTON, NJ 08048, (609)267-4000) WHERE IT WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHE NOTICED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER SUBARU (1592 NJ-38, LUMBERTON, NJ 08048, (609)267-4000) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED EACH TIME SINCE THE CRACK OBSTRUCTED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED O…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED EACH TIME SINCE THE CRACK OBSTRUCTED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, THE NEXT DAY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN REPLACED ON 2 PREVIOUS OCCASIONS AND EACH TI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, THE NEXT DAY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN REPLACED ON 2 PREVIOUS OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME NO IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD HAD OCCURRED TO CAUSE THE CRACKS. THE LOCAL DEALER FAULKNER SUBARU LOCATED AT 3233 PAXTON ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17111 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
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.
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