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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
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2019
Unknown Or Other

BATTERY ACID HAS LEAKED FROM BATTERY AND ALL OVER BRACKETS AND BOLTS. BATTERY HAS LOW CHARGE VOLTAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11277790

5 miles · Nov 3, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

RADIO AND MAPS WENT TO A BLACK SCREEN SEVERAL TIMES AT 5K MILES. IT WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR UPDATE. STILL HAD ISSUES, BUT NOT AS MANY. THEN THE LIGHTING WENT OUT ON THE RADIO BUTTONS. REPLACED MAIN HEAD WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY W/A 100 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PUT IN GE…

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RADIO AND MAPS WENT TO A BLACK SCREEN SEVERAL TIMES AT 5K MILES. IT WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR UPDATE. STILL HAD ISSUES, BUT NOT AS MANY. THEN THE LIGHTING WENT OUT ON THE RADIO BUTTONS. REPLACED MAIN HEAD WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY W/A 100 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PUT IN GEAR, DRIVERS WINDOW CONTROL PANEL DOES NOT WORK FOR ANY WINDOWS IN THE CAR OTHER THAN THE DRIVERS WINDOW. HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES AFTER 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE. IT IDLES HIGH AND DOES NOT SMOOTHLY GLIDE INTO GEAR. WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY A SMALL ROCK. IT WAS REPLACED AND TWO WEEKS LATER IT CRACKED AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11277788

30,000 miles · Oct 30, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I HAVE EXPERIENCE CASE OF MULTIPLE SPONTANEOUS CRACKED WINDSHIELDS.

NHTSA ODI #11277122

150 miles · Oct 29, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2018 OUTBACK CRACKED WITHIN THE FIRST 150 MILES OF OWNERSHIP.THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IS A POSSIBILITY BUT WAS NOT THE CASE. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT. I DROVE THE OUTBACK BACK TO MY…

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THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2018 OUTBACK CRACKED WITHIN THE FIRST 150 MILES OF OWNERSHIP.THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IS A POSSIBILITY BUT WAS NOT THE CASE. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT. I DROVE THE OUTBACK BACK TO MY HOUSE AND PARKED IT FOR A WEEK WHILE I DROVE MY OTHER CAR. WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE MY OUTBACK AFTER A WEEK OF IT JUST SITTING STILL I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD A BIG CRACK IN IT. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IN THE YEAR AND A SIX MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR I AM ON THE 4TH WINDSHIELD INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ONE.

NHTSA ODI #11276972

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I HAVE OWNED MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK FOR 8 MONTHS. THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED IN THE SAME SPOT TWICE ALREADY. IT STARTS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND EXTENDS ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I NEVER HEARD A ROCK HITTING, NOR WAS THERE A DING IN THE WINDSHIELD. I GOT IT FIXED THE FIRST TIME AND WITHIN A WEEK IT CRACK…

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I HAVE OWNED MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK FOR 8 MONTHS. THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED IN THE SAME SPOT TWICE ALREADY. IT STARTS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND EXTENDS ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I NEVER HEARD A ROCK HITTING, NOR WAS THERE A DING IN THE WINDSHIELD. I GOT IT FIXED THE FIRST TIME AND WITHIN A WEEK IT CRACKED IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT. IT WAS PARKED BOTH TIMES WE NOTICED THE CRACK.

NHTSA ODI #11271725

27,100 miles · Oct 28, 2019
Visibility/wiper

ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 AT ABOUT 1 PM MST I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON ARIZONA ROUTE 89, JUST NORTH OF THE RT 64 INTERSECTION. I WAS ON A DIVIDED SECTION OF PAVED HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT NO MORE THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AHEAD OF ME AND NONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A POP IN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD A…

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ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 AT ABOUT 1 PM MST I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON ARIZONA ROUTE 89, JUST NORTH OF THE RT 64 INTERSECTION. I WAS ON A DIVIDED SECTION OF PAVED HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT NO MORE THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AHEAD OF ME AND NONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A POP IN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD AND A CRACK APPEARED ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY UP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN I STOPPED LATER TO EXAMINE THE WINDSHIELD I COULD SEE NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING STRIKING THE GLASS. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PAVEMENT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE CRACK EXPANDED HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE WINDOW. I HAD THE WINDOW REPLACED AT THE GREELEY SUBARU DEALER ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27.

NHTSA ODI #11271722

54,000 miles · Oct 28, 2019
Seats

THE DRIVER'S SEAT CONTINUOUSLY SQUEAKS WHILE DRIVING. SUBARU DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW SEAT BOTTOM. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES AND YEARS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11271705

1,500 miles · Oct 28, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WINDSHIELD CRACKED LESS THEN 2 MONTHS FROM PURCHASE.. FOR NO REASON ..ASSISTED DRIVING DEACTIVATED... STEREO AND GPS SYSTEM ALSO NEED ED TO BE REPLACED... REAR DOOR MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED... STEREO AND GPS SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED... STILL HAD PROBLEMS.. FINALLY REPLACED SYSTEM...

NHTSA ODI #11271703

20,000 miles · Oct 28, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, A SMALL PEBBLE WAS KICKED UP FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF US AND BOUNCED OFF OUR WINDSHIELD. IT LEFT A TINY CHIP THE SIZE OF A PINHEAD. WE REPORTED IT IMMEDIATELY AND TOOK IT FOR REPAIR WITHIN TWO HOURS OF THE INCIDENT AT SAFE LITE. TWO DAYS LATER, THERE WAS A GIANT CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. WE BROU…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, A SMALL PEBBLE WAS KICKED UP FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF US AND BOUNCED OFF OUR WINDSHIELD. IT LEFT A TINY CHIP THE SIZE OF A PINHEAD. WE REPORTED IT IMMEDIATELY AND TOOK IT FOR REPAIR WITHIN TWO HOURS OF THE INCIDENT AT SAFE LITE. TWO DAYS LATER, THERE WAS A GIANT CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF NEARLY $1000, $500 OUT OF POCKET.

NHTSA ODI #11271674

35,000 miles · Oct 28, 2019
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS AND SHATTERS FOR NO REASON. I HAVE NOW REPLACED TWO WINDSHIELDS AND THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK, EVEN THOUGH NO IMPACTS WITH FLYING DEBRIS OCCURRED. MANY OUTBACK OWNERS REPORT SIMILAR THINGS HAPPENING. THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE WINDSHIELD THAT CAUSE THEM TO BE FRAGILE.

NHTSA ODI #11271644

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