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, Apr 24, 2021
I PURCHASED THIS 2018 OUTBACK IN LATE NOVEMBER OF 2020 WITH 27000 MILES ON IT. AFTER ONLY DRIVING IT ABOUT 1500 MILES THE BATTERY SUDDENLY DIED (MARCH 2021). AAA JUMPED IT BUT SAID IT WAS DEAD. I REPLACED IT IMMEDIATELY (WENT 1 MILE DOWN THE ROAD) AND THE SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS DEAD AS WELL. NO WARNING AT ALL. WAS WORKING FINE, PARKED AT A STORE, TEN MINUTES LATER WENT TO START IT AND THERE WAS NOTHING. I SPENT $170 GETTING A NEW BATTERY/INSTALLATION.
Electrical system, Apr 23, 2021
BATTERY APPEARS TO HAVE PARASITIC DRAIN WHICH RESULTS IN INABILITY TO START THE VEHICLE IF NOT DRIVEN LONG DISTANCES REGULARLY. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER IN OCTOBER 2020 AND HAVE HAD TO JUMP IT OR CHARGE THE BATTERY AT LEAST 6 OR 8 TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION (CANNOT LEAVE AT AIRPORT FOR INSTANCE) AND I'VE HAD TO PURCHASE JUMPER CABLES AND WILL SOON PURCHASE A TRICKLE CHARGER AND A BATTERY BOOSTER TO USE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED.
Electrical system, Apr 22, 2021
BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD TWICE, ALMOST 3 TIMES. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY.
Electrical system, Apr 21, 2021
I AM ON MY 3RD CAR BATTERY. ONE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, ONE WAS PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET UNDER 31,000 MILES.
Electrical system, Apr 20, 2021
APPROXIMATELY 26 MONTHS (38K MILES) AFTER PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START. THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE A BAD BATTERY WHICH WAS THEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT TRIPS SHORTER THAN 45 MINUTES RESULT IN A NET LOSS OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN THE BATTERY AND IT WAS THEREFORE MY FAULT.
Electrical system, Apr 19, 2021
THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL BATTERY DIED AFTER ONLY 30 MONTHS OF USE. I TRIED TO START THE CAR ONE MORNING, AND IT WOULD NOT START. A NEW BATTERY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED DURING A PERIOD WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR SHORT TRIPS ONLY A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK, DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE OF OTHER REPORTS OF A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN SUBARUS THAT HAS CAUSED BATTERIES TO FAIL EARLIER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE FAILED.
Electrical system, Apr 18, 2021
UNEXPLAINED BATTERY DRAIN AFTER SEVERAL SHORT TRIPS AND/OR AFTER CAR IS NOT DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS .
Electrical system, Apr 18, 2021
QUICK 3MI TRIP FOR FAST FOOD RUN. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START AFTER DRIVE-THRU, ENGINE OFF (TO SAVE GAS). VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN ALL INSTANCES. WEATHER WAS 50F, LIGHT RAIN. INCIDENCE ON 12/31/2020; 2/14/2021; 2/22/2021. RESOLUTION WAS SIMPLE JUMPSTART NOT LONGER THAN 10S CONNECTION FOR IGNITION TO WORK AGAIN. WITHOUT WHICH, CAR SIMPLY STALLED. SPECULATION FOR CAUSE OF DEAD BATTERY WAS LOW MILEAGE DRIVEN DAILY.
Electrical system, Apr 17, 2021
BATTERY REPLACEMENT AFTER LESS THAN 2 YEARS
Electrical system, Apr 17, 2021
TWICE IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS MY SUBARU OUTBACK HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITH A DEAD BATTERY. THE FIRST TIME I DROVE TO THE GROCERY AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AFTER I FINISHED SHOPPING. SECOND TIME I DROVE TO CHURCH AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD UPON LEAVING.
Electrical system, Apr 17, 2021
BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DISCHARGED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS IN A VERY REMOTE LOCATION AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO FIND SOMEONE WHO PROVIDED A JUMP. THE OTHER TWO TIMES WERE IN MY GARAGE. FOR ALL THREE OF THESE OCCASIONS I LOOKED FOR A CAUSE LIKE A LIGHT LEFT ON OR SOME OBVIOUS BATTERY DRAIN AND I FOUND NONE. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MYSTERY TO ME. I GREW UP IN AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS A MECHANIC IN THE US ARMY SO I'M NOT EXACTLY A NOVICE OR INEXPERIENCED ABOUT THESE SORTS OF ISSUES. ALL OF THESE EVENTS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED.
Electrical system, Apr 16, 2021
TTHE BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY ONE TIME UNDER WARRANTY. IT NOW INDICATES A WEAKNESS IN CRANKING POWER AFTER THE CAR SITS WITHOUT DRIVING FOR A FEW DAYS. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW AND MORE POWERFUL BATTERY.
Electrical system, Apr 16, 2021
MY SUBARU 2018 OUTBACK HAS HAD ONE EPISODE OF THE BATTERY DYING WHILE UNDER NORMAL USE WHILE STATIONARY. I HAD ONLY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON (NO GAS) FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES WHILE LISTENING TO MUSIC, USING THE BLUETOOTH PHONE FUNCTION FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, AND WITH THE FANS ON. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY UNABLE TO START THE CAR AFTER COMPLETING THESE ACTIVITIES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE BATTERY WAS LOW PRIOR WHILE DRIVING, AND NO ERRORS WERE ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING ANY ALTERNATOR OR BATTERY ISSUE. I HAD TO SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM STRANGERS TO GET MY CAR JUMP STARTED. THE ISSUE HAS NOT RECURRED BUT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO NOT PLACE STRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SINCE, FEARING BEING STRANDED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 16, 2021
BATTERIES DRAINED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. OLD BATTERY REPLACED WITH NEW ONE AND THE NEW ONE WAS DEAD 24 HOURS AFTER REPLACEMENT
Electrical system, Apr 16, 2021
DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THE BATTERY KEEPS GOING COMPLETELY DEAD, AFTER WE TURNED IF OFF, FOR THIS REASON THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE DCM OR SOMETHING THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT, THAN 2ND TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY THEY INSTALLED A NEW ONE, THAN THE 3RD TIME THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT WHY THE BATTERY WAS DRAINING THEY USED A PARASITIC DRAW TEST TO FIND OUT, BUT THEY JUST RECHARGED THE BATTERY AND GIVE US THE CAR BACK.
Electrical system, Apr 12, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING TO THE STORE AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, UPON RETURN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,660.
Electrical system, Apr 5, 2021
DEAD BATTERY ISSUES - IF DOORS OR LIFTGATE IS OPEN FOR EVEN SHORT AMOUNTS OF TIME THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. HAVE HAD TO HAD IT JUMPED 6 OR 7 TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO. THAT LEADS TO ISSUES WITH LIFTGATE AND PASSENGER WINDOWS, REQUIRING DEAL RESETS. ISSUE STARTED AT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES.
Steering, Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 31, 2021
WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE OUTBACK I HAD TO HAVE THE INFOTAINMENT HEAD UNIT REPLACED TWICE. I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE RADIO WILL COME ON BUT THERE IS NO SOUND, THE RADIO WILL TURN ON FULL BLAST AFTER A HANGING UP FROM A CALL, BACK UP CAMERA WILL BE BLACK UPON BACKING UP, SCREEN WILL FREEZE, STEERING WILL LOCK UP WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND AFTER MY 36K MILE MAINTENANCE NOW MY CAR IS MAKING A STRANGE HUMMING NOISE. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. SUBARU NEEDS TO PROVIDE MORE THAN A PUNY EXTENDED WARRENTY. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND THEY KNOW IT.
Electrical system, Mar 30, 2021
BATTERY ON CAR JUST GOES DEAD. PUT 3RD BATTERY IN CAR BEFORE IT WAS 3 YEARS OLD. SEVERAL TIMES, WE NOTICED THAT REAR HATCH MOTOR DOES NOT SHUT OFF - JUST KEEPS RUNNING. THEN IF YOU START CAR AGAIN & IMMEDIATELY TURN IT OFF - REAR HATCH MOTOR STOPS RUNNING. BEEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES & SENT LETTER TO SUBARU CUSTOMER ADVOCACY DEPT - THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE CAR HAS A PROBLEM. OFFERED TO PAY FOR EXTENDED LIFE BATTERY. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE OVERNIGHT - HAVING BEEN LOADED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT TO LEAVE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING ON VACATION - CAR WOULDN'T START AND BATTERY COULDN'T EVEN BE RECHARGED. ONE TIME BACKED CAR OUT OF GARAGE, TURNED IT OFF, THEN WHEN TRIED TO START IT 5 MINUTES LATER, BATTERY WAS DEAD. WE WERE ABLE TO RECHARGE IT, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE IT FAILED THE BATTERY TEST AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. VEHICLE DEEMED UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO US, AS YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT WILL START. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO GET TO ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEM - JUST PUT ANOTHER BATTERY IN CAR. CAR HAS 25,000 MILES AND WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 2/24/2021. ATTACHED ARE DETAILS FROM 2 DEALER VISITS AND LETTER TO CUSTOMER ADVOCACY DEPT. FIRST TIME BATTERY FAILED, WE REPLACED BATTERY BECAUSE IT WAS IMPACTING OUR VACATION. WE HAD EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT BATTERY ON 7/19 DEALER VISIT, AND BATTERY THEN DIED ON 10/19. SUBARU REFUNDED US THE COST OF THE BATTERY.
Electrical system, Mar 30, 2021
CHRONIC DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED 4-YEAR-OLD COMPLETELY DEAD BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY, WHICH WAS ALSO DEAD WITHIN 3 DAYS. RESEARCH SHOWS THERE IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH SUBARU BATTERY DRAIN, POSSIBLY WITH REGARD TO A FAULT WITH THE REAR LIFT GATE. HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE BUT WAS SENT TO VOICE MAIL AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK.
Electrical system, Mar 26, 2021
BATTERY FAILED AT 9,000 MILES
Electrical system, Mar 22, 2021
BATTERY FAILING TO START CAR, RECEIVED NEW BATTERY FROM SCHOMP SUBARU SUMMER 2019 AFTER REPEATED JUMP STARTS, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, CONTINUING WITH SAME PROBLEM AND TODAY I AM STUCK AT HOME WAITING FOR MY SCHUMACHER PORTABLE CHARGER TO RECHARGE.I AM ARAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL STOP WORKING.I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T DRIVE IT ENOUGH. I LEAVE THE CAR IDLING
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 18, 2021
THE BATTERY SEEMS TO DRAIN VERY QUICKLY AND WITHOUT APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER RECENTLY REPLACED THE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY BUT DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY IT HAS GONE BAD SO QUICKLY. I WAS STUCK A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH A SUDDENLY DEAD BATTERY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE DRAINING HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND I GO OFF THE WARRANTY IN ANOTHER MONTH. I HAVE READ THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR OUTBACK. THIS OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE.
Electrical system, Mar 18, 2021
BATTERY DOES NOT HOLD A CHARGE. HAVE TO JUMP BATTERY AFTER SHORT PERIODS OF NON-USE
Electrical system, Mar 17, 2021
PURCHASED A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK 5/03/18. AT 19,860 MILES ON 12/21/19 THE BATTERY DIED. I JUMPED IT, GOT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DID WHATEVER DIAGNOSTICS ON IT, RECHARGED IT AND HAD ME PICK IT UP. WHEN I WENT TO GET IT, IT WAS DEAD IN THE DEALERSHIP PARKING LOT. THEY THEN PUT IN NEW BATTERY. I WENT BACK DOWN TO PICK IT UP. ON 3/15/21, ONLY 13 MONTHS LATER, MY NEW BATTERY WAS ONCE AGAIN DEAD. I HAD BEEN IN MY DRIVEWAY PARKED FOR A WEEK OR POSSIBLY LESS. I PICKED IT UP 3/17/21 AFTER SUBARU HAD TO AGAIN REPLACE THE BATTERY. BOTTOM LINE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP TO CARRY JUMP CABLES BECAUSE IT WILL KEEP HAPPENING DUE TO THE ELECTRONICS! IT SEEMS I CAN ONLY UPLOAD 1 REPAIR INVOICE SO I UPLOADED THE MOST RECENT BATTERY REPLACEMENT INVOICE. I HAVE 2 OTHERS.