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, Back over prevention, Nov 2, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING, THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING AND THE BACK-UP CAMERA DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (STEVE MOYER SUBARU, 201 S CENTRE AVE, LEESPORT, PA 19533, (888) 696-0345) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLLED THE ELECTRONIC AND SAFETY SYSTEMS MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS OCCURRING WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE COMPONENT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED AND THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES WERE REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,285. *TT *TR*JB
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 9, 2018
** 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK ** THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES** DRIVING CAR WHEN CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ENGINE TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS - SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE LOW FUEL WARNING SYSTEM TURNS ON AT 1/4 TANK OF GAS. THIS 3RD TIME ALMOST GOT ME KILLED TRAVELING AT 45MPG WHEN IT HAPPENED TODAY INSIDE A MAJOR INTERSECTION. SOFTWARE / SENSOR FOR THE LOW FUEL SYSTEM? SOMETHING IS VERY SERIOUSLY WRONG. 1. IS THIS CAR SAFE TO DRIVE WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS? 2. HAS THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM? 3. IS THERE A RECALL OR FIX ?
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 5, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MCCURLEY INTEGRITY SUBARU (LOCATED AT 9620 SANDIFUR PKWY, PASCO, WA 99301, (509) 412-7100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED 20 MILES TO EMPTY, THE FUEL TANK WAS ACTUALLY EMPTY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS WORKING ON A REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT*JB
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 1, 2018
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2018 OUTBACK. I WAS DRIVING IT GOING ABOUT 25 MPH ON ROAD BY MY HOUSE AND IT SHUT DOWN OUT OF NOWHERE, DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, GAS PEDAL WOULDN'T WORK, THE ONLY WAY I GOT IT TO GO WAS SHUTTING IT OFF COMPLETELY AND RESTARTING IT. THEY CAR HAS 3500 MILES, I DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 8/25 AND THEY HAVE HAD IT SINCE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP SAYING IT WAS THE CAUSE OF IT SHUTTING DOWN ON ME. I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK ON 9/21 AND DROVE IT FOR 180 MILES, THIS TIME AT 65 MPH THE CAR SHUTDOWN AGAIN WHILE I WAS TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE ON A 2 LANE ROAD, POWER STEERING LOST AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON DASHBOARD LIKE IT HAD SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. VERY SIMILAR TO THE FIRST TIME BUT I WAS DRIVING MUCH FASTER THIS TIME.AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS THE CAR JUST KIND OF STARTED UP BY ITSELF WITHOUT ME HAVING TO PUSH THE START BUTTON I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD POSSIBLY GET ME KILLED OR SOMEONE ELSE KILLED WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. SUBARU SERVICE FACILITY HAS NO CLUE WHATS GOING ON SINCE THE CAR IS NOT THROWING CODES. I HAVE STARTED THE LEMON LAW PROCESS BUT SUBARU IS NOT BEING VERY HELPFUL THUS FAR. ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SEAT NOT SENSING IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND NOT ENABLING THE AIRBAGS. THIS PROBLEM CAME UP ON THE SCAN ON 8/25 ANALYSIS. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE, NOTHING IN THE CAR TOLD ME PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS NOT WORKING. SUBARU REPLACED THE SEAT BUT I AM STILL CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM IS GOING ON SINCE I HAVE NO WAY TO TELL IF IT WORKS OR NOT.
Electrical system, Aug 28, 2018
THE RADIO HEAD UNIT WILL RANDOMLY NOT CONNECT TO APPLE CAR PLAY. IT WILL ALSO GET STUCK ON A FM RADIO STATION AND NOT RESPOND TO ANYTHING UNTIL THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND THERE IS NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VOLUME OR ANYTHING. I HAVE BEEN FOR SOFTWARE UPDATES.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 24, 2018
VEHICLE DEVELOPED DRIP FROM TRANSMISSION APPROXIMATELY MID JUNE 2018. TOOK TO DEALER & UNABLE TO FIND SOURCE AFTER 11 DAYS IN SHOP. THEY PUT DYE IN AND I DROVE UNTIL 7-30-18 WHEN DRIP RETURNED. CAR IN SHOP 6 DAYS FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR RETURNED 8-9-18. 11 DAYS LATER 8-21-18 MAJOR OIL LEAK & VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AS OF 8-24-18 THEY ARE STILL ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE LEAK. WILL HAVE TO PULL ENGINE. MAY NOT GET CAR BACK DURING AUGUST. OUTBACK HAS LESS THAN 15000 MILES. HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU REQUESTED LEMON LAW AS THE VEHICLE HAS NEARLY 40 CUMULATIVE DAYS IN THE SHOP SINCE PURCHASED 8-16-18. OUTBACK HAS ALSO HAD 2 NEW RADIOS AND MULTIPLE SOFTWARE UPDATES FOR NUMEROUS RADIO ISSUES.
Steering, Wheels, Seats, Electrical system, Aug 16, 2018
I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED A 3.6L AND THIS IS MY FIRST 3.6L 6 CYLINDER 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK! AM DISAPPOINTED WITH FEW PROBLEMS: THE FRONT SEATING IS NOT COMFORTABLE AND NOT SUPPORTIVE AT ALL, ESPECIAL IN HARD TURNS THE SEATS WILL NOT HOLD YOU IN PLACE, THE SEAT BED IS TO SHORT AND DOES NOT SUPPORT LONG LEGS IF YOU ARE OVER 5 FEET TALL. FOR SOME REASON THIS IS MY 3RD SUBARU 2ND OUTBACK THAT HAS WHEEL ALIGNMENT PROBLEM RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX!!! I ALWAYS SEEM TO BE PULLING THE STEERING-WHEEL/VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND MY STEERING IS ALWAYS ON A 15-20 DEGREE OFF AND IF I DON'T STEER AND PULL TO THE RIGHT THE VEHICLE DRIFTS WAY TO THE LEFT LANE AND THIS DANGERS AND A MAJOR PROBLEM. ALSO WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS WITH SPEED OVER 60 THE VEHICLE VIBRATES I TOOK IT IN FOR 4 TIRE WHEEL BALANCING AND I HOPE THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, MIND YOU THIS IS A NEW CAR. 2018 OUTBACK HAS A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND SPEEDS OVER 60 THE VEHICLE DRIFTS OR SWAYS DANGEROUSLY LEFT AND RIGHT OUT OF CONTROL AS IF SOMETHING IS PUSHING OR PUSHING THE VEHICLE LEFT AND RIGHT, I DON'T KNOW IF THE HIGHWAY VIBRATION WITH SPEEDS EXCEEDING 60 IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SWAY OR ITS A WHEEL BALANCING PROBLEM. PREVIOUSLY OWNED SUBARU'S 2011 OUTBACK, 2011 LEGACY, 2014 OUTBACK, 2018 OUTBACK WITH ONLY 290 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WITH A FULL GAS TANK I DROVE IT TILL IT DISPLAYED AND THE GAS LIGHT IS ON THAT I ONLY HAVE 40 MILES TO GO BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF GAS SO I DROVE IT TO BE PRECISE ANOTHER 12 MILES THEN STATED THAT I ONLY HAVE 30 MILES TO EMPTY AND PARKED IT WHILE I WENT TO WORK , 6 HOURS LATER TO GO HOME AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, UNFORTUNATELY I RAN OUT OF GAS! I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS A GLITCH OR ITS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM BUT I WILL KEEP MY EYES ON IT.
Electrical system, Aug 12, 2018
SOFT KEYS FOR RADIO PROGRAMMING GO TO INITIALIZING AND STAY THERE RATHER THAN SHOW THE SIRIUSXM CHANNEL THAT WAS SET IN MEMORY. HEAD UNIT IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT AT NIGHT IT DOES DIM BUT THERE ARE WHITE SECTIONS THAT SHOULD BE INVERTED AT NIGHT THIS MAKES IT DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. RADIO BOOTS UP TO A WHITE SCREEN NOW AND NOTHING WORKS. RADIO WAS REPLACED ON 5/31/18 AND AT THAT TIME IT HAD ADDITIONAL ISSUES BUT ALL APPEAR TO BE RETURNING. ALL OF THE ISSUES APPEAR AT START UP.
Electrical system, May 29, 2018
I HAVE 6000 MILES ON MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK AND RODENTS ATE THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN MY ENGINE WHICH CAUSED ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE CAR AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I FOUND OUT MY WIRES ARE SOY BASED WHICH ATTRACTED THE RODENTS.I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY DASHBOARD INDICATORS LIT UP INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND HAD THE WIRING REPAIRED. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SUBARU TO REPLACE ALL MY WIRING WITH NON-SOY BASED WIRING AT NO COST TO ME IMMEDIATELY AND GIVE ME A LOANER CAR WITHOUT SOY BASED WIRING UNTIL MY CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL CARS ON THE ROAD ARE HAZARD FREE.
Electrical system, May 21, 2018
WHEN I TURN ON THE HAZARD EMERGENCY FLASHING LIGHTS ON WHILE PARKED AND ENGINE OFF AND I LOCK THE CAR , BOTH KEYLESS REMOTES STOP WORKING WHEN I TRY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS TO ENTER. TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS CAR NEED TO USE THE MANUAL KEY, ALARM HORN GOES OFF AND THEN PUSH THE ENGINE START BUTTON AND ALL SEEMS TO WORK FINE AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.
Electrical system, May 4, 2018
REAR TAIL GATE OPENS WITHOUT ACTIVATION AT 35 MPH WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE A VIDEO BUT IT IS TOO BIG TO SEND. MY WIFE AND I WERE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AFTER JUST PURCHASING FLOWERS AND PLANTS AT A LOCAL NURSERY WHEN THE TAILGATE JUST STARTED TO OPEN ALL BY ITSELF SPILLING SOME OF THE PLANTS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TAILGATE LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION AT ABOUT TWO FEET IN THE OPEN POSITION.
Electrical system, Feb 21, 2018
8" NAVIGATION/DISPLAY FROZEN. NO BACK-UP CAMERA WHEN IN REVERSE. DOES NOT RESPOND TO INPUTS EITHER ON THE DISPLAY OR FROM STEERING WHEEL. "POWER" SWITCH DID NOT POWER DOWN THE UNIT. STOPPING THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING DID NOT RESET THE UNIT. STOPPING THE ENGINE, OPEN AND CLOSE THE DRIVERS DOOR AND RESTARTING DID NOT RESET THE UNIT. REMAINED INOPERATIVE DURING MORNING COMMUTE (30 MIN). CENTER CONSOLE REMAINED ON AFTER EXITING AND LOCKING THE CAR. AFTER 9 HOURS THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. AFTER A JUMP-START, THE UNIT DID RESET AND SEEMS TO BE WORKING NORMALLY. THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO POWER-DOWN (REBOOT) THE NAVIGATION/RADIO DISPLAY WITHOUT HAVING TO STOP THE CAR AND RESTART THE ENGINE.
Electrical system, Nov 7, 2017
ON OCCASION, AND WHILE IN MOTION, THE HEAD UNIT (NAVIGATION DISPLAY, RADIO, ETC), IN OUR 2018 OUTBACK LIMITED W/ EYESIGHT, WILL FREEZE UP AND NO HARD OR SOFT BUTTONS WILL REACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. I MUST SHUT CAR DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE A "REBOOT" TAKES PLACE. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON SUBARUOUTBACK.COM.
Electrical system, Nov 6, 2017
AFTER PUTTING ON HAZARD SWITCH AND LEAVING VEHICLE, I CAME BACK TO VEHICLE AND THE KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT FUNCTION. SYSTEM DID NOT SEEM TO RECOGNIZE MY SMARTKEY AS THE DOOR HANDLE SENSOR DID NOT OPERATE. I TRIED THE BUTTONS ON THE SMARTLY FOB AND THEY TOO DID NOT FUNCTION. ALSO TRIED THE MOBILE REMOTE APP AND THAT TOO FAILED. I HAD TO USE THE MECHANICAL KEY TO ENTER VEHICLE. OF COURSE THE SECURITY HORN GOES OFF, BUT STRANGELY I WAS ABLE TO START VEHICLE SO SYSTEM WAS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE MY SMARTKEY AFTER ENTRY. PROBLEM SEEMS TO ONLY OCCUR AFTER A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD. IF I PUT ON THE HAZARDS AND COME BACK IN A COUPLE MINUTES, SYSTEM WORKS NORMALLY. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR AROUND THE FIVE TO 10 MINUTE TIME FRAME.
Electrical system, Oct 31, 2017
THE CAR IS PARKED. THE FLASHERS ARE ACTIVATED. THE CAR IS THEN LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH THE KEY FOB. AFTER RETURNING TO THE CAR A SHORT TIME LATER (MAYBE 5 MINUTES OR SO) THE KEY FOB IS TOTALLY UNUSABLE. LOCK, UNLOCK, REAR HATCH OR PANIC DO NOT WORK. MUST THEN USE THE KEY IN THE DOOR LOCK, TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. THEN, OF COURSE, THE ALARM SOUNDS UNTIL YOU CAN PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION TO SILENCE THE ALARM. THERE APPEARS TO BE A TIME OUT PROBLEM BECAUSE THE KEY FOB CAN UNLOCK THE CAR WITH THE HAZARD FLASHERS ON, RIGHT AFTER LOCKING THE CAR BUT THIS PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN LEFT FOR A SHORT TIME. I HAVE GIVEN THIS PROBLEM TO SUBARU HEADQUARTERS AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER OF 1-27586772057. IN AN EMERGENCY WHEN THE FLASHERS ARE ACTIVATED, IF THE CAR IS LOCKED AND UPON RETURNING A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE KEY FOB WON'T UNLOCK THE CAR, THERE COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION OR SOMEONE (ESPECIALLY AN OLDER PERSON) MIGHT PANIC AND NOT THINK CLEARLY WHAT TO DO NEXT. I AM ABLE TO REPEAT THIS PROBLEM AT ANY TIME SINCE IT HAPPENED. I TRIED BOTH KEY FOBS WITH THE SAME RESULT.