IllustrationUNEXPLAINED BATTERY DRAIN AFTER SEVERAL SHORT TRIPS AND/OR AFTER CAR IS NOT DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS .
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
What owners actually said
811 reportsQUICK 3MI TRIP FOR FAST FOOD RUN. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START AFTER DRIVE-THRU, ENGINE OFF (TO SAVE GAS). VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN ALL INSTANCES. WEATHER WAS 50F, LIGHT RAIN. INCIDENCE ON 12/31/2020; 2/14/2021; 2/22/2021. RESOLUTION WAS SIMPLE JUMPSTART NOT LONGER THAN 10S CONNECTION FOR IGNITION TO WORK AGAIN. WITHOUT WH…
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QUICK 3MI TRIP FOR FAST FOOD RUN. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START AFTER DRIVE-THRU, ENGINE OFF (TO SAVE GAS). VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN ALL INSTANCES. WEATHER WAS 50F, LIGHT RAIN. INCIDENCE ON 12/31/2020; 2/14/2021; 2/22/2021. RESOLUTION WAS SIMPLE JUMPSTART NOT LONGER THAN 10S CONNECTION FOR IGNITION TO WORK AGAIN. WITHOUT WHICH, CAR SIMPLY STALLED. SPECULATION FOR CAUSE OF DEAD BATTERY WAS LOW MILEAGE DRIVEN DAILY.
BATTERY REPLACEMENT AFTER LESS THAN 2 YEARS
TWICE IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS MY SUBARU OUTBACK HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITH A DEAD BATTERY. THE FIRST TIME I DROVE TO THE GROCERY AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AFTER I FINISHED SHOPPING. SECOND TIME I DROVE TO CHURCH AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD UPON LEAVING.
BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DISCHARGED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS IN A VERY REMOTE LOCATION AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO FIND SOMEONE WHO PROVIDED A JUMP. THE OTHER TWO TIMES WERE IN MY GARAGE. FOR ALL THREE OF THESE OCCASIONS I LOOKED FOR A CAUSE LIKE A LIGHT LEFT ON OR SOME OBVIOUS BATTERY DRAIN AND I FOUND NONE. THIS HA…
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BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DISCHARGED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS IN A VERY REMOTE LOCATION AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO FIND SOMEONE WHO PROVIDED A JUMP. THE OTHER TWO TIMES WERE IN MY GARAGE. FOR ALL THREE OF THESE OCCASIONS I LOOKED FOR A CAUSE LIKE A LIGHT LEFT ON OR SOME OBVIOUS BATTERY DRAIN AND I FOUND NONE. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MYSTERY TO ME. I GREW UP IN AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS A MECHANIC IN THE US ARMY SO I'M NOT EXACTLY A NOVICE OR INEXPERIENCED ABOUT THESE SORTS OF ISSUES. ALL OF THESE EVENTS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED.
TTHE BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY ONE TIME UNDER WARRANTY. IT NOW INDICATES A WEAKNESS IN CRANKING POWER AFTER THE CAR SITS WITHOUT DRIVING FOR A FEW DAYS. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW AND MORE POWERFUL BATTERY.
MY SUBARU 2018 OUTBACK HAS HAD ONE EPISODE OF THE BATTERY DYING WHILE UNDER NORMAL USE WHILE STATIONARY. I HAD ONLY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON (NO GAS) FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES WHILE LISTENING TO MUSIC, USING THE BLUETOOTH PHONE FUNCTION FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, AND WITH THE FANS ON. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY UNABLE TO START THE…
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MY SUBARU 2018 OUTBACK HAS HAD ONE EPISODE OF THE BATTERY DYING WHILE UNDER NORMAL USE WHILE STATIONARY. I HAD ONLY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON (NO GAS) FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES WHILE LISTENING TO MUSIC, USING THE BLUETOOTH PHONE FUNCTION FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, AND WITH THE FANS ON. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY UNABLE TO START THE CAR AFTER COMPLETING THESE ACTIVITIES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE BATTERY WAS LOW PRIOR WHILE DRIVING, AND NO ERRORS WERE ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING ANY ALTERNATOR OR BATTERY ISSUE. I HAD TO SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM STRANGERS TO GET MY CAR JUMP STARTED. THE ISSUE HAS NOT RECURRED BUT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO NOT PLACE STRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SINCE, FEARING BEING STRANDED.
BATTERIES DRAINED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. OLD BATTERY REPLACED WITH NEW ONE AND THE NEW ONE WAS DEAD 24 HOURS AFTER REPLACEMENT
DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THE BATTERY KEEPS GOING COMPLETELY DEAD, AFTER WE TURNED IF OFF, FOR THIS REASON THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE DCM OR SOMETHING THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT, THAN 2ND TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY THEY INSTALLED A NEW …
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DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THE BATTERY KEEPS GOING COMPLETELY DEAD, AFTER WE TURNED IF OFF, FOR THIS REASON THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE DCM OR SOMETHING THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT, THAN 2ND TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY THEY INSTALLED A NEW ONE, THAN THE 3RD TIME THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT WHY THE BATTERY WAS DRAINING THEY USED A PARASITIC DRAW TEST TO FIND OUT, BUT THEY JUST RECHARGED THE BATTERY AND GIVE US THE CAR BACK.
DIDN'T HAVE ANY CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK, PARKED, AND WENT INSIDE FOR 8 FOR MY SHIFT. AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN I CAME OUT TO THE CAR AND GOT IN TO GO THERE WAS A SINGLE LONG CURVING CRACK THAT WAS OVER 12 INCHES LONG. DIDN'T SEE ANY IMPACT MARKS OR OTHER REASON THAT IT MAY HAVE CRACKED.
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.