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
811 reports, newest first.
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.
Visibility, Apr 5, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NATE WADE SUBARU SALES (1207 S MAIN ST, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111, (888) 654-7340) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 29, 2021
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (2 LANE HIGHWAY) AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME, AND NO VEHICLE NEAR TO THROW UP A ROCK. I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I ONLY RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THESE WINDSHIELDS DO THIS ON THEIR OWN. DEFECTIVE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 28, 2021
IT HAPPENED IN AUGUST OF 2020. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT ON A CLEAR SUNNY DAY. IT WAS FAIRLY HOT OUTSIDE (A/C WAS RUNNING) AND I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR EATING WHEN I HEARD A POPPING/CRACKING SOUND. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PLASTIC SUSHI CONTAINER I WAS EATING OUT OF BREAKING, BUT THEN I SAW A CRACK HAD FORMED AT THE TOP OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD. IT CONTINUED RADIATE AND NOW IS A LONG CRACK RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD AND IS PARALLEL TO THE ROOF LINE.
Electrical system, Mar 26, 2021
BATTERY FAILED AT 9,000 MILES
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 24, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND WITHIN 3 DAYS RAN ACROSS MOST OF THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.
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
Visibility/wiper, Mar 22, 2021
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED DURING THE NIGHT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT RESIDENCE WHEN IT CRACKED. THE LOW TEMPERATURE WAS AT OR JUST BELOW ZERO DEGREES FARENHEIT.
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.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD SPIDERWEBBED WHEN IT WAS HIT WITH ROCK. AT FIRST IT CHIPPED AND THEN A COUPLE MINUTES LATER IT SPIDERWEBBED INTO A CRACK THAT IS ALMOST A FOOT LONG. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS COMING HOME FROM THANKSGIVING. I HAD TO REPLACE MY WINDSHIELD ON DECEMBER 5TH, 2020, WHICH WAS AROUND $1500 AND NOW I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THING AGAIN. BOTH INSTANCES I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 49 IN ARKANSAS. I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH TO JUST GET CHIPPED AND NOT IMMEDIATELY SPIDERWEB INTO SOMETHING BIGGER AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. IN THE 3 YEARS OF HAVING MY CAR THIS WILL HAVE TO BE THE SECOND WINDSHIELD I NEED TO REPLACE DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING AFTER IT GETS CHIPPED. I JUST DON'T THINK THE WINDSHIELD IS AS HIGH OF A QUALITY AS THE REST OF THE CAR.
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK STARTING AT THE VERY BOTTOM BELOW THE PLASTIC EDGE, WITH NOT APPARENT IMPACT SITE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 12, 2021
HELLO! SO I JUST GOT THIS SUBARU A FEW WEEKS AGO AND TODAY IN THE RIGHT SIDE LOOK LIKE THE TINNIEST ROCK IN THE WORLD HIT IT AND CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD. I'VE TALKED TO A FEW A MY BUDDY'S WHO OWN SUBARU'S AS WELL AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT Y'ALL BECAUSE THE NEW MODELS HAVE A VERY THIN WINDSHIELD AND Y'ALL WILL HAVE IT TAKEN CARE OF. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. CODY.
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 5, 2021
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED NEAR MIDDLE TOP OF WINDSHIELD, FROM EDGE ABOUT 6-8INCHES AND WITHIN THE FIELD OF VIEW OF THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS
Visibility/wiper, Feb 28, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD OF THIS 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FRACTURED THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. IN ALL THREE INSTANCES, THERE WAS NO KNOWN PROJECTILE THAT CAUSED IMPACTED THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE HAIRLINE CRACKS. THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO HAVE CRACKED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY DRIVEN ON PAVED ROADS AND HIGHWAYS, WITH NO UNUSUAL OR OFF-ROAD DRIVING PRECEDING THE INCIDENTS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2018 AND BOTH REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS WERE PURCHASED AT A LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP WITH SUBARU OEM GLASS. EACH REPLACEMENT HAS COST ROUGHLY $500 USD PLUS THE EYESIGHT RECALIBRATION COSTS. TOTAL REPLACEMENT COSTS HAVE TOTALED ROUGHLY $3,000 USD.
Electrical system, Feb 25, 2021
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Other or unspecified, Feb 24, 2021
REAR GATE MALFUNCTIONS SOMETIMES DOESN'T OPEN SOMETIMES DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY (THIS ALLOWS EXHAUST GASES TO BE DRAWN INTO THE VEHICLE) WHEN YOU DRIVE WITH THE GATE NOT COMPLETELY CLOSED. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASES.