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: other or unspecified
160 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 23, 2018
30 MILES LEFT AS INDICATED ON FUEL TANK, CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN LEFT SIDE OF HIGHWAY, MY FAMILY WERE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL SITUATION. A GOOD SAMARITAN HELPED US MOVE OUR CAR OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD OUT OF HARMS WAY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN SUBARU AND DO NOT TRUST THAT IT HAS THE BEST 'SAFETY' FEATURES IF IT IS THIS INACCURATE IN INFORMING ME OF MILEAGE! I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK WHAT WORSE OUTCOME COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY. THANK GOD WE ARE ALL OK. DO BETTER SUBARU, FOR THE LIVES OF YOUR CUSTOMERS DRIVING YOUR VEHICLES AND THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
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.
Other or unspecified, Nov 12, 2018
THE RADIO DISPLAY HEAD UNIT FAILED. THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA AND AND WARNING SIGNALS ARE INOPERABLE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE SYSTEMS FOR THREE WEEKS AND SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN NOT PROVIDE A DATE WHEN THIS REPAIR CAN BE MADE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THEY AID IN BACKING UP THE VEHICLE IN PARKING LOTS AT NIGHT WHEN VISIBILITY IS POOR.
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.
Other or unspecified, Aug 9, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN MY BRIDGESTONE TIRE, MODEL DUELER H/P SPORT AS, BLEW-OUT ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE. THE TIRE HAD ONLY 800 MILES ON IT.
Other or unspecified, May 14, 2018
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE GLASS WAS NOT DAMAGED PREVIOUSLY. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING. I BELIEVE THAT THE GLASS WAS DEFECTIVE OR THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE THICKNESS OF THE GLASS/CAR STRUCTURAL STRESS.
Other or unspecified, May 13, 2018, crash
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT FAILED TO PROVIDE AN ALERT OF THE VEHICLE APPROACHING ON THE STREET, COLLISION FOLLOWED. SECURITY CAMERA VIDEO OF THE ACCIDENT IS AVAILABLE HOWEVER SIZE EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM SPECIFIED FOR THE UPLOAD.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Feb 24, 2018
A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW. THE CRACK IS ABOUT 7 INCHES IN LENGTH, RUNNING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW - WHERE IT MEETS THE RUBBER GASKET OF THE DOOR - UP AND TO THE RIGHT. IT OBSCURES THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR. THIS CRACK APPEARED SUDDENLY ON 2/21/18. PRIOR TO THIS, WE NOTICED A BUBBLING OR WARPING OF THE WINDOW IN THE TOP LEFT AREA THAT DISTORTED THE VIEW - THIS HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ON THE NHTSA SITE.
Other or unspecified, Jan 27, 2018
I PURCHASED MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK ON DEC. 29, 2017. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO SHOW A CRACK CREEPING UP FROM THE UPPER RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. MIND YOU, THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY. I NEVER WITNESSED THE WINDSHIELD SUSTAIN ANY IMPACT THAT WOULD CAUSE SUCH A CRACK. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS LODGED WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AUTHORITY, DESCRIBING THE SUBARU WINDSHIELD DEFECT ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, ON OCCASION AND WHILE IN MOTION, THE HEAD UNIT (NAVIGATION DISPLAY, RADIO, ETC.) IN MY 2018 OUTBACK LIMITED W/EYESIGHT, WILL FREEZE UP AND NO HARD OR SOFT BUTTONS WILL REACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. I HAD TO SHUT MY CAR DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE A "REBOOT" TOOK PLACE.
Other or unspecified, Jan 10, 2018
STARLINK RADIO IN TOURING MODEL WITH 8"SCREEN UNRELIABLE. HAD ISSUES WITH TOUCHSCREEN FREEZING AND CD LOADING ERROR FROM PURCHASE DATE IN AUGUST TO DEC. 18, 2017. DEALER TRIED TO PERFORM SOFTWARE UPDATE AND FRIED RADIO. RADIO WAS REPLACED. ISSUES WORSE WITH NEW RADIO. TOOK 2500 MILE TRIP AND HAD COMPLETE FAILURE OF RADIO, NAVIGATION, BLUETOOTH, BACKUP CAMERA. LETTING CAR SIT CLEARED SOME ERRORS BUT LATER SIMILAR PROBLEMS REOCCURRED. ALSO HAVE ISSUE WITH DOORS DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR OR UNLOCKING WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK. THE RADIO CONTROLS THESE SETTINGS AND ALL DOORS ARE TO UNLOCK WHEN SHIFTED TO REVERSE OR DRIVE AND UNLOCK WHEN SHIFTED TO PARK. SOMETIMES NO DOORS LOCK WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. SOMETIMES ONLY THE FRONT DOORS UNLOCK WHEN SHIFTING TO PARK SOMETIMES NO DOORS UNLOCK WHEN SHIFTING TO PARK. DURING ONE PERIOD WHEN RADIO WAS OUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE DRIVERS DOOR WAS OPENED AND CLOSED 3 TIMES. ISSUE WITH LOSS OF RADIO AND OTHER COMPONENTS OCCURS WHEN STARTING THE CAR. IT HAS NEVER OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT DOORS NOT LOCKING AND UNLOCKING SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SUBARU APPEARS TO KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT DEALERS HAVE HAVE LITTLE INFORMATION AND SUBARU HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE ISSUES BUT NUMEROUS POSTS IN SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM INDICATE NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS WITH THE 8" SCREEN ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES.