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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 →

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.

27 crash reports4 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

811 reports
31,000 miles · Apr 5, 2021
Electrical System

DEAD BATTERY ISSUES - IF DOORS OR LIFTGATE IS OPEN FOR EVEN SHORT AMOUNTS OF TIME THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. HAVE HAD TO HAD IT JUMPED 6 OR 7 TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO. THAT LEADS TO ISSUES WITH LIFTGATE AND PASSENGER WINDOWS, REQUIRING DEAL RESETS. ISSUE STARTED AT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11406571

60,000 miles · Apr 5, 2021
Visibility

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.

NHTSA ODI #11406526

600 miles · Mar 31, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceSteering

WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE OUTBACK I HAD TO HAVE THE INFOTAINMENT HEAD UNIT REPLACED TWICE. I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE RADIO WILL COME ON BUT THERE IS NO SOUND, THE RADIO WILL TURN ON FULL BLAST AFTER A HANGING UP FROM A CALL, BACK UP CAMERA WILL BE BLACK UPON BACKING UP, SCREEN WILL FREEZE, STEERING WILL LOCK …

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WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE OUTBACK I HAD TO HAVE THE INFOTAINMENT HEAD UNIT REPLACED TWICE. I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE RADIO WILL COME ON BUT THERE IS NO SOUND, THE RADIO WILL TURN ON FULL BLAST AFTER A HANGING UP FROM A CALL, BACK UP CAMERA WILL BE BLACK UPON BACKING UP, SCREEN WILL FREEZE, STEERING WILL LOCK UP WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND AFTER MY 36K MILE MAINTENANCE NOW MY CAR IS MAKING A STRANGE HUMMING NOISE. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. SUBARU NEEDS TO PROVIDE MORE THAN A PUNY EXTENDED WARRENTY. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND THEY KNOW IT.

NHTSA ODI #11405830

14,836 miles · Mar 30, 2021
Electrical System

BATTERY ON CAR JUST GOES DEAD. PUT 3RD BATTERY IN CAR BEFORE IT WAS 3 YEARS OLD. SEVERAL TIMES, WE NOTICED THAT REAR HATCH MOTOR DOES NOT SHUT OFF - JUST KEEPS RUNNING. THEN IF YOU START CAR AGAIN & IMMEDIATELY TURN IT OFF - REAR HATCH MOTOR STOPS RUNNING. BEEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES & SENT LETTER TO SUBARU CUSTOMER ADVOCAC…

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BATTERY ON CAR JUST GOES DEAD. PUT 3RD BATTERY IN CAR BEFORE IT WAS 3 YEARS OLD. SEVERAL TIMES, WE NOTICED THAT REAR HATCH MOTOR DOES NOT SHUT OFF - JUST KEEPS RUNNING. THEN IF YOU START CAR AGAIN & IMMEDIATELY TURN IT OFF - REAR HATCH MOTOR STOPS RUNNING. BEEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES & SENT LETTER TO SUBARU CUSTOMER ADVOCACY DEPT - THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE CAR HAS A PROBLEM. OFFERED TO PAY FOR EXTENDED LIFE BATTERY. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE OVERNIGHT - HAVING BEEN LOADED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT TO LEAVE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING ON VACATION - CAR WOULDN'T START AND BATTERY COULDN'T EVEN BE RECHARGED. ONE TIME BACKED CAR OUT OF GARAGE, TURNED IT OFF, THEN WHEN TRIED TO START IT 5 MINUTES LATER, BATTERY WAS DEAD. WE WERE ABLE TO RECHARGE IT, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE IT FAILED THE BATTERY TEST AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. VEHICLE DEEMED UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO US, AS YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT WILL START. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO GET TO ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEM - JUST PUT ANOTHER BATTERY IN CAR. CAR HAS 25,000 MILES AND WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 2/24/2021. ATTACHED ARE DETAILS FROM 2 DEALER VISITS AND LETTER TO CUSTOMER ADVOCACY DEPT. FIRST TIME BATTERY FAILED, WE REPLACED BATTERY BECAUSE IT WAS IMPACTING OUR VACATION. WE HAD EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT BATTERY ON 7/19 DEALER VISIT, AND BATTERY THEN DIED ON 10/19. SUBARU REFUNDED US THE COST OF THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI #11405580

18,000 miles · Mar 30, 2021
Electrical System

CHRONIC DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED 4-YEAR-OLD COMPLETELY DEAD BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY, WHICH WAS ALSO DEAD WITHIN 3 DAYS. RESEARCH SHOWS THERE IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH SUBARU BATTERY DRAIN, POSSIBLY WITH REGARD TO A FAULT WITH THE REAR LIFT GATE. HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE BUT WAS SENT TO VOICE MAIL AND HAV…

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CHRONIC DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED 4-YEAR-OLD COMPLETELY DEAD BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY, WHICH WAS ALSO DEAD WITHIN 3 DAYS. RESEARCH SHOWS THERE IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH SUBARU BATTERY DRAIN, POSSIBLY WITH REGARD TO A FAULT WITH THE REAR LIFT GATE. HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE BUT WAS SENT TO VOICE MAIL AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK.

NHTSA ODI #11405533

30,104 miles · Mar 29, 2021
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (2 LANE HIGHWAY) AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME, AND NO VEHICLE NEAR TO THROW UP A ROCK. I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I ONLY RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THESE WINDSHIELDS DO THIS ON THEIR OWN. DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11405446

34,000 miles · Mar 28, 2021
Visibility/wiper

IT HAPPENED IN AUGUST OF 2020. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT ON A CLEAR SUNNY DAY. IT WAS FAIRLY HOT OUTSIDE (A/C WAS RUNNING) AND I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR EATING WHEN I HEARD A POPPING/CRACKING SOUND. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PLASTIC SUSHI CONTAINER I WAS EATING OUT OF BREAKING, BUT THEN I SAW A CR…

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IT HAPPENED IN AUGUST OF 2020. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT ON A CLEAR SUNNY DAY. IT WAS FAIRLY HOT OUTSIDE (A/C WAS RUNNING) AND I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR EATING WHEN I HEARD A POPPING/CRACKING SOUND. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PLASTIC SUSHI CONTAINER I WAS EATING OUT OF BREAKING, BUT THEN I SAW A CRACK HAD FORMED AT THE TOP OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD. IT CONTINUED RADIATE AND NOW IS A LONG CRACK RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD AND IS PARALLEL TO THE ROOF LINE.

NHTSA ODI #11405238

9,000 miles · Mar 26, 2021
Electrical System

BATTERY FAILED AT 9,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11404999

55,000 miles · Mar 24, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidanceLane DepartureVisibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND WITHIN 3 DAYS RAN ACROSS MOST OF THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #11404696

6,000 miles · Mar 22, 2021
Electrical System

BATTERY FAILING TO START CAR, RECEIVED NEW BATTERY FROM SCHOMP SUBARU SUMMER 2019 AFTER REPEATED JUMP STARTS, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, CONTINUING WITH SAME PROBLEM AND TODAY I AM STUCK AT HOME WAITING FOR MY SCHUMACHER PORTABLE CHARGER TO RECHARGE.I AM ARAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL STOP WORKING.I WAS…

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BATTERY FAILING TO START CAR, RECEIVED NEW BATTERY FROM SCHOMP SUBARU SUMMER 2019 AFTER REPEATED JUMP STARTS, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, CONTINUING WITH SAME PROBLEM AND TODAY I AM STUCK AT HOME WAITING FOR MY SCHUMACHER PORTABLE CHARGER TO RECHARGE.I AM ARAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL STOP WORKING.I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T DRIVE IT ENOUGH. I LEAVE THE CAR IDLING

NHTSA ODI #11404312

Official recalls

3

21V587000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Outback problems