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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
22,000 miles · Apr 15, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

WHEN I COME TO A STOP AND WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN I START TO TURN. ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE CAR ESSENTIALLY STOPS IN MID TURN. THIS LEAVES ME EXPOSED TO A BROADSIDE COLLISION. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. IN THE LAST 1000 MILES IT HAS OCCURRED…

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WHEN I COME TO A STOP AND WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN I START TO TURN. ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE CAR ESSENTIALLY STOPS IN MID TURN. THIS LEAVES ME EXPOSED TO A BROADSIDE COLLISION. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. IN THE LAST 1000 MILES IT HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES. AFTER THE HESITATION, ABOUT 3 -5 SECONDS, IT STARTS TO MOVE. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHEN MOVING FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER AFTER COMING TO A NEAR STOP DUE TO A CLOSED LANE IN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11196562

20,000 miles · Apr 9, 2019
Electrical System

THREE ITEMS: WHEN VEHICLE IS SWITCHED-ON - VIDEO DISPLAY FOR REVERSE/BACKUP CAMERA IS NOT WORKING. DISPLAY COMPONENTS ARE RESPONDING TO TOUCH BUT NO AUDIO IS HEARD FOR RADIO, PHONE, OR NAVIGATION. ONCE VEHICLE IS SWITCHED-OFF - DISPLAY CONSOLE AND SIDE LIGHTS (ON CENTER COMPUTER) REMAIN ILLUMINATED PULLING FROM THE BATTERY. NOW …

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THREE ITEMS: WHEN VEHICLE IS SWITCHED-ON - VIDEO DISPLAY FOR REVERSE/BACKUP CAMERA IS NOT WORKING. DISPLAY COMPONENTS ARE RESPONDING TO TOUCH BUT NO AUDIO IS HEARD FOR RADIO, PHONE, OR NAVIGATION. ONCE VEHICLE IS SWITCHED-OFF - DISPLAY CONSOLE AND SIDE LIGHTS (ON CENTER COMPUTER) REMAIN ILLUMINATED PULLING FROM THE BATTERY. NOW MY CAR IS DEAD AND REQUIRES A JUMP!

NHTSA ODI #11194972

15,000 miles · Apr 7, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I HAVE HAD 2 ROCK CHIP REPAIRS AND I WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WITHIN A SPAN OF 6 MONTHS. ALL THESE CRACKS WERE RIGHT ON THE LINE OF SIGHT. SINCE I AM DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I CANNOT STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. IT IS REALLY RISKY TO DRIVE WITH SUCH A DELICATE WINSHIELD. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CRACK IS LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE LIFE DAMAGE…

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I HAVE HAD 2 ROCK CHIP REPAIRS AND I WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WITHIN A SPAN OF 6 MONTHS. ALL THESE CRACKS WERE RIGHT ON THE LINE OF SIGHT. SINCE I AM DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I CANNOT STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. IT IS REALLY RISKY TO DRIVE WITH SUCH A DELICATE WINSHIELD. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CRACK IS LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE LIFE DAMAGE ? THE COST OF A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH RECALIBRATION IN 700$. IF I KEEP DOING THIS EVERY 2 MONTHS, IT WILL SURPASS THE AMOUNT I USED TO PURCHASE THE CAR?. IT HAS BEEN WIDELY SPOKEN THAT OUTBACK HAS A WINDSHIELD DEFECT. THOUGH THEY HAD SOME RECALLS IN 2015, EVEN THE NEWER VERSIONS LIKE MINE 2018, HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE OUTBACKS WINSHIELD CANNOT WITHSTAND EVEN SMALL STONES. YOU CAN LITERALLY HEAR THE IMPACT OF EVEN A RAINDROP FALLING ON THE GLASS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE GONE TO THE POINT OF MAKING SURE THAT MY WINDESIELF IS NOT CRACKED WHEN IT RAINS WITH HAIL AT TIMES. DOING SO MAKE ME STRESSFUL ABOUT MY SAFETY AS WELL AS FINANCIAL BURDEN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. IT CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS EXTERNAL IMPACT BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER CARS DRIVING ALONG SIDE THE HIGHWAY AND WERE EXPOSED TO THE SAME ROCK CHIPS FROM A TRUCK, ONLY MY OUTBACKS WINSHIELD CRACKED. 2 OF THE CRACKS WAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEREAS THE OTHER ONE WAS WHILE DRIVING NEAR MY HOME (A VERY VERY RARE SCENARIO). I HOPE THIS ISSUE IS NOTICES AS THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND SUBURU HAS SO FAR IGNORED ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND THE TAXPAYER ENDS UP PAYING THE COST OF THE VEHICLE FOR ITS REPAIRS DUE TO A DEFECT FROM SUBARU'S END

NHTSA ODI #11194459

19,000 miles · Apr 4, 2019
Steering

VEHICLE LOSES CONTROL AT 50 MPH AND HIGHER SPEEDS. STEERING FEELS VERY LOOSE AND LIKE VEHICLE IS HYDROPLANING ON DRY SURFACES. ON OCCASION IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY A GUST OF WIND AND FLOATS. VEHICLE FEELS VERY INSECURE ON HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT'S SCARY!

NHTSA ODI #11193818

10,000 miles · Apr 2, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

SUBARU LANE ASSIST STEERING ISSUE. WHEN YOU HAVE LANE ASSIST ON THE CAR WILL TRY AND STEER FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY AND STARTED AFTER 10,000 MILES WAS ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11193481

1,000 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING DEFECT - FUEL WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE NOR READ PROPERLY BELOW 50 MILES. I HAD 30 MILES LEFT IN THE TANK, PARKED THE CAR AND AFTER WORK (APPROX. 8 HOURS) I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. HAD TO UTILIZE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE - THANK GOODNESS THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS …

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FUEL SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING DEFECT - FUEL WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE NOR READ PROPERLY BELOW 50 MILES. I HAD 30 MILES LEFT IN THE TANK, PARKED THE CAR AND AFTER WORK (APPROX. 8 HOURS) I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. HAD TO UTILIZE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE - THANK GOODNESS THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION OR ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. BRAND NEW CAR RUNS WORSE THAN MY 1988 HONDA CRX.

NHTSA ODI #11192927

7,228 miles · Mar 31, 2019
Electrical System

VIDEO SCREEN FOR THE DISPLAY OF THE BACKUP CAMERA VIEW IS NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ODI #11192706

10,100 miles · Mar 27, 2019
Electrical System

STEREO OUTPUT ABRUPTLY CHANGED FROM ALL SPEAKERS AT NORMAL VOLUME, TO ONE SPEAKER AT INCREASED VOLUME. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN AN URBAN SETTING. THIS KIND OF RANDOM VOLUME CHANGE FROM THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING CAN BE QUITE JARRING AND SURPRISING.

NHTSA ODI #11191830

50 miles · Mar 18, 2019
Electrical System

HEAD UNIT IS MALFUNCTIONING MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY. INTERMITTENT PHONE MUTING, INTERMITTENT PHONE DISCONNECT, NO VOLUME THROUGH APPLE CAR PLAY WHILE IN PARK, SPEAKERS COME THROUGH ON WEIRD CHANNEL EXTREMELY LOUDLY ALL OF A SUDDEN, NO VOLUME ON RADIO, CHANNELS ON RADIO ALL OF A SUDDEN CHANGE, PULSATING POWER SIGNAL THROUGH USB P…

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HEAD UNIT IS MALFUNCTIONING MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY. INTERMITTENT PHONE MUTING, INTERMITTENT PHONE DISCONNECT, NO VOLUME THROUGH APPLE CAR PLAY WHILE IN PARK, SPEAKERS COME THROUGH ON WEIRD CHANNEL EXTREMELY LOUDLY ALL OF A SUDDEN, NO VOLUME ON RADIO, CHANNELS ON RADIO ALL OF A SUDDEN CHANGE, PULSATING POWER SIGNAL THROUGH USB PORT(CHANGED MULTIPLE CABLES)SAYS ITS CHARGING DEVICE BUT DEVICE DIES, VOICE COMMAND BUTTON ON STEERING WHEEL NOT WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, PHONE CONNECTED ON CAR PLAY BUT CAR SAYS NO PHONE CONNECTED. STARLINK WILL NOT START UP AND HAVE TO RESTART CAR. INTERMITTENTLY SQUEALING IN THE CAR. FOR ALL PROBLEMS CAR MAY BE MOVING OR STATIONARY. IN PARK OR DRIVE OR REVERSE. MAY BE ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD CONDITION GOING ANY DIRECTION. THIS INTERMITTENT BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE ONSET OF OWNERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #11189768

7,465 miles · Mar 16, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING UP FROM A STOP SIGN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS NO POWER AND YOU HAVE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THE CAR TO RESPOND. SOMETIMES THIS OCCURS AT LOW SPEED GOING LEFT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS NO POWER AND YOU HAVE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR A COUPLE OF TIMES TO G…

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FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING UP FROM A STOP SIGN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS NO POWER AND YOU HAVE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THE CAR TO RESPOND. SOMETIMES THIS OCCURS AT LOW SPEED GOING LEFT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS NO POWER AND YOU HAVE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET IT TO RESPOND. THE ENGINE NEVER STALLS OUT. ON THE EXPRESSWAY IT DROPPED OUT OF CRUSE TWICE. I PULLED UP TO A STOP SIGN TO CROSS INTO TRAFFIC AND IT HAD POWER AT FIRST AND THEN NO POWER. I WAS THEN IN A PANIC MODE PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND FINALLY IT RESPONDED. THIS IS WHY I THINK IT IS SERIOUS.

NHTSA ODI #11187279

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