IllustrationMY FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A SPONTANEOUS CRACK BELOW THE WIPER BLADE. IT WAS STATIONERY.
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 reportsLIKE OTHER LATE MODEL SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS, A SPONTANEOUS CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK APPEARED AT APPROXIMATELY NOON ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29TH, 2019 IN THE PARKING LOT OF A RESTAURANT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM TOMORROW AT THE SUBARU DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE INITIAL INDI…
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LIKE OTHER LATE MODEL SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS, A SPONTANEOUS CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK APPEARED AT APPROXIMATELY NOON ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29TH, 2019 IN THE PARKING LOT OF A RESTAURANT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM TOMORROW AT THE SUBARU DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE INITIAL INDICATION IS THAT THE CRACK MAY NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT THE ISSUE AND PERHAPS TO RECOVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR ,IF INCURRED, FROM SUBARU.
SMALL ROCK (MAYBE?) HIT WINDSHIELD AND IT IMMEDIATELY CRACKED. WAS DRIVING BACK FROM MEMPHIS, TN TO LITTLE ROCK, AR CHRISTMAS EVENING ON I-40. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 1.5 YEARS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE.
CRACKED WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. CRACK SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD.
I FOUND A CRACK IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF MY WINDSHIELD (SUBARU OUTBACK 2018). THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE CRACK (HAIL STORM, ROCK/GRAVEL HITTING CAR). AT THIS TIME, THE CRACK HAS SPREAD AND THE SUBARU EYESIGHT PROGRAM (SENSOR PROGRAM) DOES NOT WORK.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A ROCK OF PIECE OF GRAVEL HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD APPROXIMATELY 1/8" FROM THE TOP EDGE OF THE GLASS IMMEDIATELY RESULTING IN A CRACK WHICH WITHIN HOURS SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD.
MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK DOES NOT HAVE STEERING ASSIST AND WAS PURCHASED NEW. AT ALL SPEEDS, THE STEERING FEELS VERY LOOSE WHEN TRAVELING RESULTING IN A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE ROAD/WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT IS HYDROPLANING OR WIND IS FORCING IT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DESPITE DRIV…
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MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK DOES NOT HAVE STEERING ASSIST AND WAS PURCHASED NEW. AT ALL SPEEDS, THE STEERING FEELS VERY LOOSE WHEN TRAVELING RESULTING IN A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE ROAD/WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT IS HYDROPLANING OR WIND IS FORCING IT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DESPITE DRIVING ON DRY ROADS IN CALM WEATHER. THE STEERING IS ERRATIC AND IS ESPECIALLY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN OR SNOW COVERED ROADS. ON SNOWY ROADS, THE CAR DRIFTS AND FEELS LIKE IT IS UNCONTROLLABLY STARTING TO SLIDE RESULTING IN AN OVER CORRECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM IS TERRIFYING AND THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF HOW SUBARU ADVERTISES THE CAR PERFORMANCE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER AS IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY ONLY SAID IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT WHICH WE JUST HAD DONE THE PREVIOUS WEEK. SUBARU HAS HAD STEERING PROBLEMS BEFORE AND I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM. IM SURPRISED THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL SINCE THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN DRIVING ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS.
A SMALL ROCK OR PIECE OF GRAVEL HIT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD APPROXIMATELY 3" FROM THE TOP EDGE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY A 12" LONG CRACK DEVELOPED AND HAS CONTINUED TO SPREAD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 16 MONTHS.
SUDDEN CRACKING OF THE WINDSHIELD. NO ROCKS OR PEBBLES HIT THE WINDSHIELD. IN THE MORNING I ENTERED MY VEHICLE (THAT WAS STATIONARY ALL NIGHT) AND NOTICED A 2 INCH CRACK THAT DIDN'T EXIST THE DAY BEFORE. BY AFTERNOON, THE CRACK GREW TO ALMOST HALF THE WINDSHIELD AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. GLASS CLAIM WAS PLACED VIA GEICO W…
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SUDDEN CRACKING OF THE WINDSHIELD. NO ROCKS OR PEBBLES HIT THE WINDSHIELD. IN THE MORNING I ENTERED MY VEHICLE (THAT WAS STATIONARY ALL NIGHT) AND NOTICED A 2 INCH CRACK THAT DIDN'T EXIST THE DAY BEFORE. BY AFTERNOON, THE CRACK GREW TO ALMOST HALF THE WINDSHIELD AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. GLASS CLAIM WAS PLACED VIA GEICO WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD.
CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO REASON. ALSO, RADIO IS CONTINUALLY DEFUNCT.
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.