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 16, 2021
02/26/2021: CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER BEING STATIONARY. HAD TO GET ASSISTANCE TO HAVE BATTERY JUMPSTARTED SO I COULD GET HOME. 03/01/2021- CAR WOULDN'T START IN DRIVEWAY. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CONTACTED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET BATTERY TO CHARGE. HUSBAND PURCHASED A JUMP BOX AND GOT THE CAR TO START. HE DROVE IT TO LOCAL SUBARU AGENCY AND BATTERY WAS TESTED AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BATTERY WAS REPLACED AS IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY FROM ORIGINAL BATTERY BEING REPLACED IN 12/2019. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS DATE (12/2019 AND 02/03/2020).
Electrical system, Mar 16, 2021
THE BATTERY IS DRAINING AND HAS LEFT US STRANDED ONCE. THE DEALER SHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY ONCE WITH THE SAME SUBARU OEM BATTERY, BUT THE DRAINING PERSISTS.
Electrical system, Mar 16, 2021
AT 27K MILES, MY CAR WAS GETTING SLOW TO START. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT ALMOST 30K AND THEY HAD TO CHARGE MY BATTERY FOR 1.5 HOURS. TWO WEEKS LATER, MY CAR WAS BEEPING AND I HAD TO PULL INTO A SHOP WHO SAID THE CHARGE OF MY BATTERY WAS TOO LOW TO DETECT. I HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY.
Electrical system, Mar 16, 2021
BATTERY CONTINUES TO DIE. BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD CHARGE. CAR HAS LESS THAN 11000 MILES ON IT.
Electrical system, Feb 25, 2021
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Electrical system, Feb 22, 2021
VEHICLE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. BATTERY KEEPS DYING WITHOUT KNOWN CAUSE. NOTHING LEFT ON. I'VE HAD 2 NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS AND THEY KEEP DYING WITHOUT EXPLANATION. SOMETIMES FINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEN IT DIES EVERY 2-3 DAYS. NOTHING IS LEFT ON. CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT NEEDED!!!
Electrical system, Feb 15, 2021
CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE 2018. PERIDICALLY OVER THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THE BATTERY WOULD DIE AND THE CAR WOULD REQUIRE A JUMP TO START. SINCE THE ONSET OF THE COVID PANDEMIC - WITH THE CAR LEFT UNUSED (IN A GARAGE) FOR MORE EXTENDED PERIODS - THE BATTERY DIES FREQUENTLY, EACH TIME REQUIRING A JUMP TO START. NOW, IF THE CAR IS NOT STARTED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 1-2 DAYS THE BATTERY WILL BE DEAD.
Electrical system, Feb 14, 2021
I STARTED MY CAR WHEN I WAS 0 DEGREES OUTSIDE. IT STARTED BUT AFTER DRIVING 15 MINUTES I SHUT IT OFF. STARTED IT 10 MINUTES LATER AND THE BATTERY WAS NEARLY DEAD. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME IN LIMP MODE. THIS IS THE 2ND BATTERY IN MY 2018 SUBARU AND THE CAR IS ONLY 2.5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 54,000 MILES. THE BATTERY IN THESE CARS ARE KNOW TO DIE QUICKLY AND SUBARU WON'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
Electrical system, Feb 4, 2021
AFTER JUST UNDER 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE BATTERY WAS A BIT WEAK WHEN STARTING. SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE, I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR IT'S 60K MILE CHECK UP. HE FOUND THE BATTERY WAS WEAK AND REPLACED IT. SINCE THEN, I AN STILL HAVING THE LOW BATTERY ISSUE. IF I DO NOT START THE VEHICLE IN 2.5 DAYS, THE BATTERY IS TOO WEEK TO PERFORM.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 25, 2021
PURCHASED THE AUTOMOBILE WITH ABOUT 7,200 MILES ON IT WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY. BATTERY FAILED AT 8,000 MILES. WE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW PREMIUM BATTERY FROM AAA.. NEW BATTERY WORKED FOR 8 MONTHS THEN DRAINED OVERNIGHT. AAA RECHARGED IT AND SAID ALTERNATOR WORKED. WHEN DRIVEN OR BACKED UP AFTER RECHARGING, AUTOMOBILE BEEPED CONSTANTLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE AND STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION. BEEPING STOPPED WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED, BUT STARTED AGAIN WHEN VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD OR BACKED UP. LEFT WITH SUBARU DEALER OVERNIGHT. BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED THIS MORNING WHEN SERVICE TECHNICIAN TRIED TO START IT. SERVICE TECH SAID THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. PER MY INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. SUBARU SHOULD FIX IT, BUT SEEMS TO BE DRAGGING THEIR HEELS ON THIS ISSUE. OUR SUBARU IS UNSAFE AND NOT DRIVEABLE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STATIONARY WHEN THE BATTERY DRAINED. THE BEEPING OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND CITY STREET. IT RESTARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE RESUMED MOTION. THE BEEPING CONTINUED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING WHILE IN MOTION. IT STOPPED WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED. STEERING DID NOT FEEL NORMAL. IT WAS A LITTLE SLUGGISH AND LESS PRECISE THAN NORMAL.
Electrical system, Jan 25, 2021
WE HAVE HAD REPEATED ISSUES WITH THE CAR DYING, THE BATTERY BEING TOTALLY DEAD, AND BEING STRANDED BECAUSE OF IT. IN MAY 2018, 3 MONTHS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE BRAND NEW CAR, THE CAR'S ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS THERE FOR AWHILE, AND ULTIMATELY WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A BAD BATTERY, AND THEY REPLACED THE FUSE BOX. THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS FOR WHAT OCCURRED. THEN IN JULY 2019 AT 23,000 MILES, THE CAR CONTINUED TO HESITATE TO START. THE DEALER TESTED THE BATTERY, IT FAILED, AND IT WAS REPLACED, AGAIN. ON JANUARY 19, 2021, AT 45,000 MILES, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WE WERE STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WERE ON BUT THE CAR'S ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. AGAIN, THE DEALER SAID THE BATTERY WAS THE CAUSE AND REPLACED IT. WHEN I INQUIRED HOW LIKELY WOULD IT BE THAT WE GOT A BAD BATTERY THIS MANY TIMES, WE WERE TOLD IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. AGAIN, WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO WAY TO DIAGNOSE WHY THE BATTERY CONTINUES TO FAIL. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON WITH THE VEHICLE; THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. AT OTHER POINTS IN TIME, THE VEHICLE'S ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK, WOULD NOT TURN ON OR OFF, AND CARPLAY WOULD NOT BE RECOGNIZED. THIS HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS NEVER BEEN DIAGNOSED. WE ARE AWARE FROM INTERNET RESEARCH THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, AS IT SEEMS OWNERS OF 2017-2020 OUTBACKS AND SUBARUS HAVE HAD THESE SAME ISSUES, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A BAD BATTERY EACH TIME.
Electrical system, Jan 25, 2021
BATTERY DISCHARGED AFTER MAP LIGHT LEFT ON OVERNIGHT AND IT IS SUPPOSED TO TURN OFF AFTER 20 MINUTES. VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE LIGHT BEING LEFT ON AND IS DRIVEN EVERY DAY.
Electrical system, Jan 20, 2021
BATTERY DIED 2 TIMES WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF PURCHASE (BOUGHT USED, NOV 2020) FIRST TIME WITH LIGHT LEFT ON OVERNIGHT AND SECOND TIME AFTER NOT DRIVING FOR LESS THAN 1 WEEK
Electrical system, Jan 12, 2021
ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAIL. REPEATEDLY THE WINDOWS WONT WORK, BLUE TOOTH GOES DOWN. BUT MORE CONCERNING WHEN SITTING WAITING IN A PARKING LOT THE WHOLE CAR WILL SHUT OFF. NOT A SIGN OF LIFE. CANT TURN CAR ON, NO RADIO NO LIGHTS, NO USE OF KEY FOB - NOTHING. CAR CAN BE JUMPED AND BACK IN ACTION. HAD THE EGI CONTROL REPLACED AND OTHER PARTS. BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY - AGAIN WHILE WAITING IN PARKING LOT - WHICH WE DO A LOT OF IN THE PANDEMIC - NO WINDOWS OPERATED , REAR LIFE DID NOT WORK AND THEN SUDDENLY THE WHOLE CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN. HAD TO HAVE DEALER COME JUMP CAR AND BACK TO SHOP
Electrical system, Jan 11, 2021
PREMATURE DYING OF BATTERY AT AROUND ONLY 20,000MILES. WE SUSPECT FLAWS OF THE BATTERY OR ELECTRIC ISSUES. WE DID FIND LAWSUIT ON 2016-2020 SUBARU OUTBACK ON THIS MATTER.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 10, 2021
THE BATTERY KEEPS DYING FOR NO REASON. THR FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS IN OCTOBER 2020. WE JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT. IT DIED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH ONE FROM AN AUTO PARTS STORE. APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS LATER IN DECEMBER 2020 IT DID THE SAME THING. WE WENT TO START IT UP AND IT WOULDN'T START. WE JUMPED IT AND DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. WENT OUT THE NEXT DAY AND IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY SO I PAID FOR A REPLACEMENT. EXACTLY A MONTH LATER, JANUARY 2021, I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AND THE BATTERY IS AGAIN DEAD. I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK.
Electrical system, Dec 21, 2020
BATTERY DISCHARGES AFTER CAR SITS FOR A FEW DAYS OR AFTER SHORT TRIPS. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED EVEN THOUGH I REPLACED THE BATTERY. HIGHLY ANNOYING. HAVE PURCHASED A PORTABLE JUMP STARTER SO I DON'T GET STRANDED. I HAVE USED THE JUMP STARTER TO START THE CAR AT HOME AND WHILE AWAY FROM HOME.
Electrical system, Dec 20, 2020
THE BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING WHEN NOT USED AND THEN THE CAR REFUSES TO START AND I NEED TO GET JUMP START. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF THE CAR NEEDS TO BE MOVED URGENTLY
Electrical system, Dec 19, 2020
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO WEEKS THAT OUR VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START. A WEEK AGO IT LEFT US STRANDED AT A WALMART, AND TODAY IN OUR DRIVEWAY...THERE ISN'T ANY ELECTRICAL DEVICE IN THE CAR THAT WILL ENERGIZE. THE CAR WON'T EVEN RESPOND TO THE VEHICLE KEY FOB. WE CAN'T FIND ANY RECALLS ON OUR VEHICLE...BUT WE NOTICE YOU HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS (401) WITH MANY BEING ELECTRICAL ISSUES ' FAILURES. THIS VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY DURING BOTH OF THE DESCRIBED ISSUES. I THINK THIS TIME TOTAL BATTERY FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. PLEASE NOTE THERE WEREN'T ANY INDICATORS WARNINGS THAT THE BATTERY WAS GOING TO FAIL. THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD, WITH JUST UNDER 18,000 MILES NEVER DRIVEN ANYWHERE IN SNOW AREAS WHILE DEICERS WERE IN USE. WILL BE CONTACTING SUBARU THIS AM FOR ASSISTANCE
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 28, 2020
BATTERY CONSISTENTLY DRAINS AND CAR WILL NOT START. BATTERY IS NEW, REPLACED IN 2020. CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR LESS THAN 12 HOURS WHEN IT WILL NOT START. CAR HAS BEEN JUMPED, TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATE "NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT", THEN WITHIN 1-4 DAYS USUALLY HAPPENS AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE 10/03/2020.
Electrical system, Nov 19, 2020
BATTERY DOES NOT CHARGE AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT EVERY 200-300 MILES.
Electrical system, Nov 13, 2020
PHANTOM LIFTGATE OPENING. THE LIFTGATE OPENS BY ITSELF WITH THE VEHICLE LOCKED, DRAINING THE BATTERY, AND DOES NOT SOUND AN ALARM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AT RANDOM TIMES OF THE DAY, WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. SUBARU HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT IT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OPPORTUNISTIC THEFTS FROM BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT SINCE LOCKING THE VEHICLE SEEMS UNRELIABLE.
Electrical system, Nov 12, 2020
THE BATTERY HAS DIED RANDOMLY OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. WE FINALLY REPLACED IT AFTER BEING FED UP WITH BEING STRANDED IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. MOST RECENTLY, IT DIED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK. BOTH TIMES I DROVE TO WORK, PARKED AND 2 HOURS LATER, THE CAR HAD TO BE JUMPED TO START. I TOOK THE CAR TO SUBARU AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $250 TO INSERT THE SAME BATTERY.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 8, 2020
BATTERY DIES PREMATURELY, IF VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN FOR A FEW DAYS, OR IF PARKED AND REAR HATCH IS OPENED AND CLOSED A FEW TIMES. DEAD BATTERY LEFT ME STRANDED FIVE TIMES SINCE 3/5/2019. BATTERY TESTED WELL AT DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES, SO WAS NOT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL IT FAILED A DRAW TEST.
Electrical system, Oct 24, 2020
2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, ONLY 10,500 MILES, BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING, AND FINALLY WOULD NOT CRANK THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED 10-24-2020 (SAT.) DEALER WHITE BEAR SUBARU WOULD NOT ANSWER HIS PHONE IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. CALLED SUBARU ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY WOULD NOT TOW TO A SUBARU DEALER, ONLY A NEARBY INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. I REJECTED THAT, AND SINCE IT WAS THE WEEKEND, I HAD TO PURCHASE A NAPA AFTERMARKET BATTERY, EVEN THOUGH SUBARU WARRANTY WAS STILL IN EFFECT. COST ME OVER $160,00.