2018 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 811 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 27 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 19 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpJul 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.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 21V587000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, rearview mirrors/devicesDec 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."
Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
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.
Campaign 18V935000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, softwareNov 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 18V773000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
265 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Mar 18, 2019
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.
Electrical system, Mar 2, 2019
THE ENTIRE "INFOTAINMENT" SYSTEM, CENTRAL DISPLAY CONSOLE, AND CONTROL PANEL DOES NOT WORK. IT WILL NOT TURN ON. THE SCREEN IS BLACK. NOTHING WORKS. THE REAR VIEW CAMERA SAFETY SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. THE RADIO, BLUETOOTH, AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. THIS SYMPTOM IS CONSTANT. IT OCCURS WHEN STATIONARY, IN MOTION, IN CITY, HIGHWAY, TURNING - ALWAYS. IN REVERSE THE REARVIEW CAMERA DOES NOT DISPLAY AN IMAGE. THE HANDS FREE CALLING SYSTEM/BLUETOOTH DOES NOT WORK - AGAIN, THIS ISSUE IS CONSTANT REGARDLESS OF CONDITIONS.
Electrical system, Feb 25, 2019
THE CENTRAL DISPLAY CONSOLE WHERE BACKUP CAMERA IS WENT TO BLACK SUDDENLY AND WILL NOT TURN ON. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. HERE IS A LINK TO MANY OTHER 2018 2019 SUBARU OWNERS REPORTING SAME ISSUE HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T75428_DS961674
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 24, 2019
BLUETOOTH WILL RANDOMLY DISCONNECT. SOMETIMES IT LASTS A FEW MINUTES, SOMETIMES A COUPLE HOURS. UNABLE TO RE-CONNECT ONCE IT DOES, SO WE HAVE TO MESS WITH SETTINGS WHILE DRIVING TO SWITCH TO AUX CABLE, RADIO, ETC OR PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR COMPLETELY. WE HAVE VERIFIED THE ISSUE WITH 6 DIFFERENT DEVICES. NONE OF THE DEVICES DEMONSTRATE THE SAME ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER BLUETOOTH DEVICES (WE USE A SPEAKER FOR HOURS ON END IN THE HOUSE WITH NO ISSUES). COMBINE THAT WITH THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN BEING INCREDIBLY SLOW, THIS IS A FRUSTRATING ISSUE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 22, 2019
THE SCREEN HAS GONE BLACK AND SIDE LIGHTS BLINK, UNABLE TO USE ANY ITEM CONTROLLED BY THE SCREEN. APPEARS THE WARNING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE STOPPING TOO CLOSELY IS NOT WORKING AS WELL.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 16, 2019
OUR OUTBACK STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AT AROUND 3000 MILES. CURRENTLY (AT 9000 MILES) THE CAR STILL DOES THAT. IT FEELS AS IF THERE IS STRONG SIDE WIND PUSHING THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO STARTED MAKING KNOCKING SOUNDS WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WHILE AT STOP OR MOVING SLOWLY. WE ARE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR AN INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE SECOND MAJOR ISSUE IS THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR. THE TIRE PRESSURE THAT IT DISPLAYS DOES NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL ONE MEASURED WITH SEVERAL EXTERNAL INSTRUMENTS (CONSTANTLY 2 PSI LOWER ON ALL FOUR WHEELS). ADDITIONALLY, THE MONITOR SOMETIMES SWITCHES THE FRONT TIRE PRESSURE WITH THE REAR ONES, I.E. THE MONITOR DISPLAYS THE FRONT TIRE PRESSURE AS IF IT IS THE REAR TIRE PRESSURE. VERY CONFUSING!
Fuel/propulsion system, Electrical system, Jan 14, 2019
I WAS DRIVING AND THE FUEL INDICATOR INDICATED 70 MILES TO GO LAST TIME I SAW IT. I ONLY HAD TO DRIVE 10 MILES HOME AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED, THANKFULLY ON A LOCAL ROAD. SOME WARNING LIGHTS STARTED APPEARING AND I COULDNT MAKE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I TRIED TO RESTART A FEW TIMES UNTIL I DECIDED IT HAD TO BE FUEL. WE PUSHED CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD AND WENT TO GAS STATION TO GET GAS. CAME BACK WITH GAS, REFILLED AND CAR STARTED AND WENT HOME. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT, ALTHOUGHT I COULDNT EXPLAIN WHY THE LAST TIME A SAW THE FUEL GAUGE SAID 70 MILES AND I WAS JUST GOING HOME, NOT EVEN 10 MILES TO GET THERE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 12, 2019
INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WENT BLACK ON DECEMBER 17, 2018. RADIO, NAVIGATION SYSTEM, BLUETOOTH AND REAR CAMERA ARE ALL INOPERABLE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jan 11, 2019
WTZ85 - SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. (SUBARU) IS RECALLING 2018 MODEL YEAR LEGACY, OUTBACK, AND BRZ VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A CERTAIN COMBINATION OF HEAD UNIT HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF NONCOMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD TYPE: RECALL | SERVICE CAMPAIGN: WTZ85 | NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 18V-000000 OPEN RECALL DATE: JANUARY 02, 2019 DESCRIPTION 18 LEG/OUT/BRZ V3 HEAD UNIT REPROGRAM SAFETY RISK DUE TO A SOFTWARE ISSUE, THE HEAD UNIT MEMORY RETRIEVAL AND ASSEMBLY TIME MAY EXCEED THE DESIGNED TIME TO BEGIN THE BOOT-UP CYCLE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE HEAD UNIT DISPLAY WILL NOT BOOT, CAUSING THE SCREEN TO REMAIN BLANK. IN THIS CONDITION, WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE, THE REARVIEW IMAGE MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED. THE FAILURE TO DISPLAY THE REARVIEW IMAGE CREATES A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 111 ' 'REAR VISIBILITY,' INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THERE ARE 1000'S OF THESE ON BACKORDER CAUSING US TO DRIVE AROUND IN UNSAFE VEHICLES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN REPLACMENT UNITS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING A LOANER CAR IN THE MEANTIME. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A COMPANY THAT PRIDES THEMSELVES ON THEIR SAFETY!!!!!
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 10, 2019
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS FAULTY. I HAVE NO BACK UP CAMERA, BLUETOOTH, RADIO, CAN NOT PROGRAM CLOCK. SUBARU DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX OTHER THAN TO REPLACE HEAD UNIT. I HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE DEC 14TH FOR THIS REPLACEMENT UNIT. WHILE AT DEALER I ASKED FOR A LOANER AND WAS DENIED. SUBARU SAID THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WHICH IS NOT TRUE SINCE THEIR BIGGEST SAFETY FEATURE ISNT ACCESSIBLE
Fuel/propulsion system, Electrical system, Jan 9, 2019
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHILE FUEL RANGE INDICATED ON DASH JUST HIT 30 MILES TO EMPTY AND CAR RAN OUT OF GAS. WAS NEVER INFORMED BY SUBARU OF ANY RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Jan 5, 2019
DISPLAY PANEL SHUT DOWN, COMPLETELY DARK, DISABLED ARE RADIO, GPS, NAVIGATION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE BACK UP CAMERA. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITS THEY ARE SEEING QUITE A FEW OF THESE AND A NEW RADIO TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WILL TAKE 3 MONTHS TO ARRIVE, NO GUARANTEE THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. SO I WILL BE WITHOUT A BACKUP CAMERA, DEEMED CRITICAL ENOUGH THAT IT IS MANDATED ON ALL NEW CARS FOR ONE QUARTER OF THE YEAR. I ALSO ASSUME IF NOT FIXED BY MY NEXT STATE SAFETY INSPECTION I WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE THE CAR. SO FAR I HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING FROM SUBARU.THIS LOOKS A PRETTY BIG SAFETY ISSUE BEING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.
Electrical system, Dec 30, 2018
I HAVE OWNED TWO OUTBACKS A 2016 AND 2018 AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM OF FRONT WINDOWS WILL WORK AND THEN FOR WHAT EVER REASON I WILL ROLL WINDOW UP WITH POWER SWITCH AND WIND WILL AUTOMATICALLY ROLL HALF WAY DOWN AND STAY THERE IF I TRY TO ROLL IT UP AGAIN IT DOES THE SAME THING .UNTIL I PULL OVER STOP CAR AND RESET THE SWITCH THE WAY THE DEALERSHIP SHOWED ME TO DO ,THIS ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES SO I AM LEFT WITH MY WINDOW HALF WAY DOWN.THIS IS UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS RAINING AND MY WIFE IS TRYING TO PAY ATTENTION TO DRIVING WITH KIDS IN THE CAR .NOT TO MENTION LEAVING HER CAR WITH THE WINDOW DOWN UNSECECURED FOR SOMEONE TO GET IN HER CAR AND HIDE TO HARM HER ,MOST OF THE TIMES SHE CANNOT GET WINDOW TO RESET. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE,ONE DEALERSHIP HAS CLAIMED THAT IT IS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX BUT THEY ARE UP NORTH I AM FAR SOUTH.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 28, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AT NIGHT, THE FUEL RANGE DROPPED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED, BUT NO ONE ANSWERED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE FOR ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE DARKNESS. THE CONTACT CALLED TRIPLE A AND WAS PROVIDED SOME FUEL TO DRIVE HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V773000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GROOVE SUBARU (720-279-9409, LOCATED AT 5300 S BROADWAY, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT NO ONE ANSWERED THE PHONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,500. ..*BF*JB *DT
Electrical system, Dec 28, 2018
IN 2018 A NEW LAW WENT INTO EFFECT REQUIRING ALL NEW CARS CONE WITH REAR BACKUP CAMERAS. THE SUBARU STARLINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM THAT IS ON ALL NEW SUBARUS ARE DEFECTIVE, BUGGY, AND SUBARU HAS NO PERMANENT FIX. IT RENDERS THE REAR CAMERA UNOPERABLE, REPLACEMENTS ARE ON BACKORDER AND SUBARU MAKES OWNERS CONTINUE TO DRIVE THEIR CARD WHEN IT IS UNSAFE AND NOT FOLLOWING THE NEW LAW FOR 2018 CARS. I WANT SUBARU TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND PROVIDE AFFECTED OWNERS WITH LOANER CARS WHILE WAITING FOR A FIX/REPLACEMENT.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Dec 28, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V773000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER (SUBARU OF SANTA CRUZ, 4100 AUTO PLAZA DRIVE, CAPITOLA, CA 95010) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 28, 2018
I DROVE TO A NEARBY TOWN, INDICATOR SAID 40 MILES TO GO BEFORE EMPTY. PARKED. RESTARTED THE CAR AFTER HALF AN HOUR. MOST OF CENTER DISPLAY FUNCTIONS WERE DEAD. IT DID SHOW BACK-UP VIEW, BUT NO RADIO, NO MAP. DROVE TOWARD HOME AND GAS STATION. AFTER TWENTY MILES, ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY, ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED RACING AS THOUGH IT HAD DOWN SHIFTED, I BRAKED AND HEADED FOR THE SHOULDER. NO TURN SIGNALS, NO INDICATORS, NO EMERGENCY FLASHERS - IT SEEMED THAT THE COMPUTER CRASHED WHEN I RAN OUT OF GAS. AFTER ADDING GAS AND RESTARTING, ALL WAS NORMAL EXCEPT THE THE RADIO MEMORY HAD BEEN WIPED.
Fuel/propulsion system, Electrical system, Dec 27, 2018
DASHBOARD TOLD ME I HAD 20 MILES WORTH OF FUEL LEFT WHEN SUDDENLY THE INDICATOR CHANGED TO A DASH AND THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS. OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY, THANKFULLY IN THE SLOW LANE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 22, 2018
ENTIRE CENTER RADIO CLUSTER HAS FAILED. CAR WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE AND GOT INTO THE CAR AND STARTED CAR AND ENTIRE UNIT WAS BLACK. THIS IMPACTS RADIO, HANDS FREE CELLULAR PHONE USE, NAVIGATION, BACK UP CAMERA AND WARNING SYSTEM, VEHICLE NOTIFICATIONS, STAR LINK PROGRAM. THIS MAY SOUND JUST LIKE A MINOR THING BUT THIS HAS SIGNIFICANT SAFE OPERATION IMPACTS IN REGARDS TO TRAFFIC AND DRIVING, CELL PHONE USE AND NAVIGATION OF THE VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Dec 18, 2018
HARMAN-KARDON AUDIO UNIT FAILURE AT 8,000 MILES. RESULTS IN LOSS A BASIC BACK UP CAMERA FUNCTION. EXTENSIVE SAFETY FEATURES ON THIS VEHICLE-BASIC BACK UP CAMERA NOT WORKING.
Fuel/propulsion system, Electrical system, Dec 5, 2018
RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN GAUGE SHOWED 40 MILES LEFT - CAR LOCKED UP ON A 70MPH FREEWAY - REPORTED TO SUBARU ALMOST A YEAR AGO AND RECENTLY SAW WHERE A RECALL HAD BEEN INITIATED BUT CALLED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS WILL BE RESOLVED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE KNOW ABOUT IT FOR A YEAR - WHY IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE NHTSA IS FORCING THEM TO FIX
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 3, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 40 MILES REMAINING, BUT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.
Electrical system, Nov 20, 2018
I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENTIRE DISPLAY WENT BLANK! THIS RENDERS ALL ELECTRONIC FEATURES CONTROLLED BY THE SCREEN INOPERABLE AND ALSO VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW MANDATING BACKUP CAMERAS ON 2018 OR NEWER CARS. THOUGH TECHNICALLY MY VEHICLE IS STILL EQUIPPED WITH IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE DISPLAY IS COMPLETELY DEAD. THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THE PART IS BACKORDERED FOR AT LEAST A MONTH, IN THE MEANTIME I WILL DRIVING A CAR WITHOUT AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE.
Electrical system, Nov 15, 2018
8- INCH TOUCH SCREEN SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BLANK. AS A RESULT, THE BACKUP CAMERA DOES NOT FUNCTION. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME, THE UNIT WAS REPLACED AFTER A ONE WEEK WAIT FOR THE PART TO BE DELIVERED. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS,THIS UNIT WENT OUT. SUBARU 'A MONTH WAIT FOR NEW UNIT DUE TO REPAIR DEMANDS.'
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 15, 2018
2018 SUBARU OUTBACK: PER DEALER: ORIGINAL BATTERY "BAD" & REPLACED BY DEALER AFTER IT FAILED (UNABLE TO START & WON'T HOLD CHARGE) AFTER 10,500 MILES AT 9 MO. BATTERY ALSO FAILED IN OUR PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2015 OUTBACK AFTER ONLY 3 WEEKS, & IN A 2015 SUBARU LEGACY AFTER 35 MONTHS. THE 2018 OUTBACK'S TOUCH SCREEN (& BACK-UP CAMERA SCREEN, ETC) HAS ALSO STOPPED WORKING TWICE, AT ABOUT 2 MONTHS (WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY) & AGAIN AT 3 MONTHS, BOTH TIMES SUDDENLY, THE SCREEN GOING BLACK FOR A MINUTE OR LONGER, & THEN TURNING WHITE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE RESUMING THE NORMAL SCREEN CONFIGURATION & APPEARANCE.