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: visibility/wiper
233 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Aug 12, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 8/10/19 A VERY SMALL STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD IN THE LOWER LEFT CORNER. WITHIN 10 MINUTES A LARGE CRACK HAD FORMED FROM THE EXTREME LEFT EDGE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVER VISION SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. BY THE NEXT MORNING THE CRACK HAD EXTENDED TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A VERY SMALL CHIPPED AREA WHERE THE STONE HIT, BARELY VISIBLE. I EVEN HAD ZURICHSHIELD GLASS PROTECTION APPLIED TO PROTECT THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH WAS USELESS. ABOUT 21,200 MILES ON THE CAR. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A HONDA PILOT THAT WOULD HAVE PITS, EVEN A CRATER FROM STONES, BUT NEVER A CRACK. I'VE OWNED MANY CARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CRACK UNTIL NOW. VERY DISAPPOINTED A SMALL PELLET HITTING THE WINDSHIELD RESULTED IN A CRACK THAT WAS SO BIG THAT I HAD TO ENTIRELY REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. MY CAR IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD, AND A SMALL STONE COST ME OVER $500, PLUS THE COST OF A PROTECTANT PROGRAM THAT FAILED AS WELL. DEALER (WILLIAMS SUBARU) SAID IT WAS AN AUTO INSURANCE ISSUE, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, OR UNDER THE ZURICHSHIELD (FIXES UP TO 6 INCH CRACK- MINE NEVER QUIT GROWING), THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I'M CHECKING INTO GETTING A REFUND ON THE ZURICHSHIELD POLICY...
Visibility/wiper, Aug 5, 2019
WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO IMPACT ON THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS A POP AND A CRACK APPEARED AT THE BOTTOM ON THE DRIVER SIDE, THE CRACK HAS EVER SINCE GROWN ACROSS AND NOW REACHED THE PASSENGER SIDE.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKS FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON A NEW SUBARU. DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, WHILE IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE. NO ROCKS JUST A CRACK STARTING UNDER THE WIPER BLADE.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 16, 2019, crash
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK DRIVER SIDE BOTTOM CORNER, WITH NO CHIP OR REASON FOR THE CRACK
Visibility/wiper, Jul 5, 2019
A LARGE CRACK, LIKE THE SHAPE OF A QUESTION MARK, SPONTANEOUSLY APPEARED IN MY WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK STARTS BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER, UP ABOUT 7 INCHES AND CURVES BACK DOWN. CAR WAS MOVED OUT OF OUR GARAGE AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CRACK APPEARED!!!!!
Visibility/wiper, Jun 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY DEVELOPED A CRACK WHILE PARKED IN A CLOSED, PRIVATE GARAGE.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 11, 2019
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 1.5 YEARS. I REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD A WEEK AGO AND NOW HAVE ANOTHER CRACK!! THESE CRACKS WERE OBTAINED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. 2 WERE DUE TO ROCKS. THE OTHERS ARE UNKNOWN. I OWNED MY FORD ESCAPE FOR 10 YEARS AND HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED MAYBE 2 TIMES.
Visibility/wiper, May 30, 2019
FILED COMPLAINT WITH WRONG YEAR COMPLAINT #11210766 CORRECT YEAR IS 2018 CAMERA DISPLAY DO ES NOT ALWAYS DISPLAY THE REAR VIEW IMAGE WHILE BACKING UP. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS 5/25/2019.
Visibility/wiper, May 24, 2019
I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MPH WITH TRAFFIC WHEN A ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND CREATED TWO CHIPS. THESE ARE THE SECOND AND THIRD CHIPS IN THIS WINDOW SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN APRIL 2019.
Visibility/wiper, May 24, 2019
A ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND PRODUCED A SIGNIFICANT DIVOT AND CRACK WHILE THE DRIVER AHEAD OF ME AND I WERE TURNING FROM A STOP IN THE LEFT TURN LANE.
Visibility/wiper, May 21, 2019
CAN NOT SEE BACK UP CAMERA SCREEN IN DAYTIME WITH BRIGHT SUNLIGHT SHINING THROUGH WINDSHIELD
Visibility/wiper, Apr 24, 2019
NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR WILL NOT ADJUST FAR ENOUGH OUT TO COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATION FOR SIDE/REAR VISION LEAVING A BLIND SPOT. THE SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING HAS ELECTRONIC WARNING THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH THE MECHANICAL CAPACITY OF THE MIRROR. SAFETY ISSUE. NOT AN EVENT.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 7, 2019
I HAVE HAD 2 ROCK CHIP REPAIRS AND I WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WITHIN A SPAN OF 6 MONTHS. ALL THESE CRACKS WERE RIGHT ON THE LINE OF SIGHT. SINCE I AM DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I CANNOT STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. IT IS REALLY RISKY TO DRIVE WITH SUCH A DELICATE WINSHIELD. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CRACK IS LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE LIFE DAMAGE ? THE COST OF A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH RECALIBRATION IN 700$. IF I KEEP DOING THIS EVERY 2 MONTHS, IT WILL SURPASS THE AMOUNT I USED TO PURCHASE THE CAR?. IT HAS BEEN WIDELY SPOKEN THAT OUTBACK HAS A WINDSHIELD DEFECT. THOUGH THEY HAD SOME RECALLS IN 2015, EVEN THE NEWER VERSIONS LIKE MINE 2018, HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE OUTBACKS WINSHIELD CANNOT WITHSTAND EVEN SMALL STONES. YOU CAN LITERALLY HEAR THE IMPACT OF EVEN A RAINDROP FALLING ON THE GLASS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE GONE TO THE POINT OF MAKING SURE THAT MY WINDESIELF IS NOT CRACKED WHEN IT RAINS WITH HAIL AT TIMES. DOING SO MAKE ME STRESSFUL ABOUT MY SAFETY AS WELL AS FINANCIAL BURDEN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. IT CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS EXTERNAL IMPACT BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER CARS DRIVING ALONG SIDE THE HIGHWAY AND WERE EXPOSED TO THE SAME ROCK CHIPS FROM A TRUCK, ONLY MY OUTBACKS WINSHIELD CRACKED. 2 OF THE CRACKS WAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEREAS THE OTHER ONE WAS WHILE DRIVING NEAR MY HOME (A VERY VERY RARE SCENARIO). I HOPE THIS ISSUE IS NOTICES AS THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND SUBURU HAS SO FAR IGNORED ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND THE TAXPAYER ENDS UP PAYING THE COST OF THE VEHICLE FOR ITS REPAIRS DUE TO A DEFECT FROM SUBARU'S END
Visibility/wiper, Mar 8, 2019
IN LESS THAN A YEAR ON 2 OCCASIONS A SMALL ROCK CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 6, 2019
WHEN IT RAINS THE WATER DROPS DO NOT RUN OFF OF THE SIDE MIRRORS WE ARE UNABLE TO SEE. AT NIGHT THE DROPS OF WATER MAGNIFIES THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE CARS BEHIND US AND THIS BLINDS US. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WE HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN A MOTEL AS WE COULDN'T DRIVE. WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS, BUT NOTHING WORKS
Visibility/wiper, Feb 22, 2019
THE HEAD UNIT WENT BLACK AND THAT MEANS I DO NOT HAVE A BACK UP CAMERA. I LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE BACK UP CAMERA IS A MUST. I PURCHASED THIS UNIT BECAUSE IT HAVE A BIG BACK UP CAMERA AND ALL 2018 MODELS MUST HAVE BACK UP CAMERA. SUBARU FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE SAFETY COMPLIANCE.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 16, 2019
SECOND CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN ONE WEEK. FIRST ONE WAS REPLACED 2/8/18. BOTH TIMES TRAVELED AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEED 25-40 MPH ON LOCAL FWY IN LOS ANGELES, CA. SUNNY MILD, DRY CONDITIONS, NO WIND. SMALL PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD. COULDN'T SEE HIT, ONLY HEARD A SMALL CRACK SOUND. DAMAGED WINDSHIELD, FIRST TIME SMALL PEBBLE MARK GREW TO LONG CRACK. INITIAL IMPACT SIZE ABOUT 1.5 - 2 MM. ONE WEEK LATER ANOTHER PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD IN SLOW TRAFFIC,35 MPH, NO TRUCKS NEAR BY. SAME SIZE OF MARK. SUBARU REQUIRES THEIR WINDSHIELD REPAIR AT CUSTOMER COST OF $930. WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER ANY DEBRIS DAMAGE, BUT SMALL PEBBLES SHOULD NOT CAUSE THIS KIND OF DAMAGE AND COSTS. HAD A GRAND CHEROKEE 184K MILES AND NEVER A CRACK OR DING, NEVER ISSUE FOR OUR 2005 SAAB, OR ANY OREVIOUS VEHICLE. SHOULD NOT COST US $1860 MONTH ADDITIONAL TO MAINTAIN CAR, PLUS SAFETY ISSUE. ACCORDING TO SUBARU CORPORATE: DOES NOT RECOMMEND US TO DRIVE IT WITH I-SITE CAMERA WITH A DAMAGED WINDSHIELD. THEY SAY THAT THE GLASS IS THINNER/LIGHTER IN ORDER TO WORK WITH CAMERA AND BE MORE FUEL EFFICIENT/LIGHTER. CARS SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND NORMAL DRIVING AND ROAD CONDITIONS.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 2, 2019
I GOT INTO MY CAR, IT PARKED, CLOSED THE DOOR, HEARD SOMETHING FALL AND WHEN I CHECKED TO SEE WHAT THE NOISE WAS MY ENTIRE REAR WINDOW ON THE HATCH WAS SHATTERED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO FIX IT ON MY OWN, THEY ALSO SAID ANY OF THE WARRANTIES I PURCHASED ALSO DONT COVER IT. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT 4 PEOPLE ALSO CALLED THIS SAME WEEK WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAD A HATCH BACK CAR FOR 15+ YRS BEFORE PURCHASING THIS SUBARU AND THIS NEVER HAPPENED. JUDY DIDNT SEEM RIGHT.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 17, 2019
A TINY PEBBLE STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD ON THE INTERSTATE, BUT IT SUDDENLY GREW TO A CRACK APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES LONG. NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, AND MY CAR IS FAIRLY NEW ON THE ROAD (LESS THAN 8,000 MILES, BOUGHT IN JULY, 2018). DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT SUBARU STILL HAS NOT FIGURED OUT ITS NOTORIOUS WINDSHIELD-RELIABILITY PROBLEM THAT HAS FRUSTRATED SO MANY DRIVERS THROUGHOUT THE PAST 5 YEARS.
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!!!!!
Visibility/wiper, Dec 21, 2018
2 WINDSHIELD CRACKS IN LOWER PORTION OF WINDSHIELD DURING 1ST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. BOTH CRACKS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN ~35 MPH, ONCE DURING A 100 DEGF SUMMER DAY, AND THE OTHER DURING A 40 DEGF RAINY WINTER MORNING. INSPECTION OF CRACK AFTER STOPPING SHOWED POSSIBLE ORIGINATION FROM ~1MM CHIPS. DURING THE SUMMER, THE FIRST CHIP, LOCATED IN THE DE-ICER AREA, GREW RAPIDLY TO A CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD WITH A LOUD 'POP' SOUND AFTER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON HIGH USING DEFROSTER AIR MODE. SUBARU OF AMERICA (NOT THE DEALER) REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AND RECALIBRATED THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM AS A 'GOODWILL' REPAIR. DURING THE WINTER, ANOTHER CHIP BETWEEN THE VIN# DISPLAY WINDOW AND THE PERIMETER OF THE LOWER WINDSHIELD EXPLOSIVELY GREW TO A CRACK WHEN HEATED DEFROSTER AIR WAS ACTIVATED. REPAIR PENDING. MAIN CONCERN IS THE FRAGILE NATURE AND TEMPERATURE DEPENDANCE OF THIS GLASS TEMPER, ESPECIALLY NEAR WINDOW BOUNDARY CONDITIONS AND WHERE DEFROSTER AIR IS THE STRONGEST. OVER 20 YEARS OF DRIVING OTHER VEHICLES ON THE SAME ROUTE HAVE CAUSED LITTLE CHIPS ON OTHER WINDSHIELDS, BUT NEVER HAS A CHIP GROWN INTO A CRACK, WITH OR WITHOUT HOT OR COLD DEFROSTER AIR HITTING IT. I SUSPECT THAT THE THICKNESS AND TEMPER OF THE LATEST GENERATION OF OUTBACK CARLEX WINDSHIELDS WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE ISSUES SIMILAR TO TSB# 12-192-15R.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 17, 2018
MY WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED FOR THE 2ND TIME NOW IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. THE FIRST TIME IT CRACKED IT WAS BECAUSE OF A PEBBLE STRIKE FROM THE ROAD. EXTREMELY SMALL FRAGMENT STRUCK THE GLASS, MADE A POCK MARK, AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. TODAY, LESS THAN A MONTH LATER A NEW CRACK APPEARED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY STRIKE FROM AN OBJECT. SUBARU DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS STRUCK BUT FIND A CRACK ONLY WITHOUT ANY POINT ALONG IT OF AN IMPACT MAKES ME VERY VERY SUSPICIOUS. NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO SETTLE ON CHARGES AND SEND A CHECK BEFORE THE NEXT WINDSHIELD CAN BE APPLIED. MY WIFE AND I WERE CALMLY DRIVING ON COMPLETELY PAVED ROADS WHEN WE BOTH WATCHED THE CRACK APPEAR AND GROW DURING OUR DRIVE. :-( I HAVE DRIVEN FOR 50+ YEARS, AND OWNED 20+ CARS. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 10, 2018
REAR VIEW MIRROR TOO TIGHTLY ATTACHED TO FRONT WINDOW. EPOXY ATTACHING WINDOW GOT HOT IN SUN AND CRACKED ENTIRE WINDOW AND FELL OFF.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 26, 2018
DRIVING INTERSTATE, 65MPH, SMALL OBJECT THROWN FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT MY WINDSHIELD ON THE LEFT EDGE. SHORT CRACKS APPEARED IMMEDIATELY. TWO SPREAD ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AREA WITHIN DAYS. VEHICLE IS ONLY TWO MONTHS OLD.