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.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 27, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A ROCK OF PIECE OF GRAVEL HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD APPROXIMATELY 1/8" FROM THE TOP EDGE OF THE GLASS IMMEDIATELY RESULTING IN A CRACK WHICH WITHIN HOURS SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD.
Steering, Dec 27, 2019
MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK DOES NOT HAVE STEERING ASSIST AND WAS PURCHASED NEW. AT ALL SPEEDS, THE STEERING FEELS VERY LOOSE WHEN TRAVELING RESULTING IN A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE ROAD/WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT IS HYDROPLANING OR WIND IS FORCING IT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DESPITE DRIVING ON DRY ROADS IN CALM WEATHER. THE STEERING IS ERRATIC AND IS ESPECIALLY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN OR SNOW COVERED ROADS. ON SNOWY ROADS, THE CAR DRIFTS AND FEELS LIKE IT IS UNCONTROLLABLY STARTING TO SLIDE RESULTING IN AN OVER CORRECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM IS TERRIFYING AND THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF HOW SUBARU ADVERTISES THE CAR PERFORMANCE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER AS IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY ONLY SAID IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT WHICH WE JUST HAD DONE THE PREVIOUS WEEK. SUBARU HAS HAD STEERING PROBLEMS BEFORE AND I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM. IM SURPRISED THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL SINCE THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN DRIVING ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 26, 2019
A SMALL ROCK OR PIECE OF GRAVEL HIT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD APPROXIMATELY 3" FROM THE TOP EDGE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY A 12" LONG CRACK DEVELOPED AND HAS CONTINUED TO SPREAD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 16 MONTHS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 24, 2019
SUDDEN CRACKING OF THE WINDSHIELD. NO ROCKS OR PEBBLES HIT THE WINDSHIELD. IN THE MORNING I ENTERED MY VEHICLE (THAT WAS STATIONARY ALL NIGHT) AND NOTICED A 2 INCH CRACK THAT DIDN'T EXIST THE DAY BEFORE. BY AFTERNOON, THE CRACK GREW TO ALMOST HALF THE WINDSHIELD AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. GLASS CLAIM WAS PLACED VIA GEICO WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Dec 24, 2019
CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO REASON. ALSO, RADIO IS CONTINUALLY DEFUNCT.
Other or unspecified, Dec 24, 2019
OUR 2018 OUTBACK ALMOST KILLED MY HUSBAND. HE WAS GETTING INTO THE CAR (IT WAS RUNNING) AND JUST OPENED THE DOOR, WHEN THE CAR ROLLED BACK. HE WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE GARAGE FRAME AND FORTUNATELY THE HE WAS ABLE TO ROLL INTO THE GARAGE. HE HIT SO HARD AND LANDED ON THE SIDE OF HIS MOUNTAIN BIKE (WAS INSIDE THE DOOR) THAT IT PUNCHED A HOLE THROUGH THE WALL. I CAME OUT TO FIND HIM LAYING ON THE GROUND IN THE GARAGE AND THE CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY JUST OUTSIDE THE GARAGE. THERE IS A NATURAL SLOPE AND IT WAS STOPPED WHERE IT LEVELS OFF. THE DOOR ENDED UP BEING CAUGHT ON THE FRAME OF THE GARAGE AND OPENED ALL THE WAY AND THEN SOME BEFORE SLAMMING BACK. THE DOOR IS NOT FUNCTIONAL AND IT DAMAGED THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL AS WELL AS THE DRIVER DOOR. THIS IS MY 3RD OUTBACK AND I AM BEYOND HORRIFIED OF THIS CAR! WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM IT SINCE WE HAVE HAD IT AND I AM READY TO GET RID OF THIS ONE! DO NOT BUY THIS YEAR! THERE WAS A RECALL ON AN EARLIER YEAR OUTBACK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AS THEY WERE DOING THE SAME THING, ROLLING WHEN IN PARK. THIS CAR COULD HAVE KILLED HIM AND HE IS FORTUNATE HE WAS ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM THE CAR AND THE FRAME. I CALLED SUBARU THIS MORNING AND HAVE A CASE SO WE SHALL SEE IF I HAVE TO GET LEGAL INVOLVED OR NOT.
Other or unspecified, Dec 23, 2019
THE WINDSCREEN CRACKED ABOUT TWO INCHES. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM THE TOP DOWN IN A STRAIGHT LINE. NO OTHER VEHICLES NEAR ME. I DID NOT NOTICE THAT ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSCREEN. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY SIXTY MILES PER HOUR EASTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 270 JUST EAST OF INTERSTATE 70. ABOUT 7:30 IN THE MORNING.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 23, 2019
A CRACK IN WINDSHIELD JUST APPEARED AND STARTED TO SPREAD SO WE TOOK IT TO MARK'S MOBILE GLASS IN JEFFERSON CITY, MO TO GET REPLACED.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 23, 2019
IN AUGUST 2019 DRIVING AT ABOUT 40MPH ON A SAMLL COUNTRY ROAD A VERY SMALL PIECE OF GRAVEL STUCK WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN 20 MINUTES IT EXPANDED TO A CRACK OVER 18 INCHES LONG. JUST FIVE MONTHS LATER ON DECEMBER 22 DRIVING AT ABOUT 65MPH ON INTERSTATE 5 ANOTHER SMALL STONE STRUCK WIND SHIELD AND WITHIN 30 MINUTES A CRACK FORMED ALMOST 14 INCHES. BOTH WINDSHIELDS WERE SUBARU OEM PARTS.
Electrical system, Dec 22, 2019
INFORMATION SYSTEMS FAIL TO REBOOTING. BACKUP CAMERA FAILS ETC
Other or unspecified, Dec 17, 2019
MY GAS GAUGE SAYS I HAVE 95 MILES BEFORE INEED GAS HOWEVER MY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AT THAT TIME TELL ME TO GET GAS RIGHT AWAY
Electrical system, Dec 15, 2019
I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE AND THE BATTERY IS STILL DEAD IF I DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 3 DAYS. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PARASITIC DRAIN. I DON'T HAVE AN OPTIONS OR ACCESSORIES INSTALLED THAT DID COME WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED.
Steering, Suspension, Wheels, Dec 15, 2019
BOUGHT VEHICLE USED ONE OWNER NO PREVIOUS OCCURANCES, 8000 MILES RECORDED. GRADUALLY, A RUMBLING SOUND COMES FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN TURNING WHEEL ON FLAT DIRT DRIVEWAY PREDOMINANTELY. CONCURRENT NOISE FROM DASH. AT 10,000 MILES THE CAR NOW MAKES RUMBLING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE TRAVELING IN STRAIGHT LINE ON GOOD PAVEMENT (INAUDIBLE AT HIGH SPEEDS) SAME FRONT RIGHT LOCATION, DASH WAS REPAIRED REPLACING SPEAKER GRILLS AND STILL MAKES RATTLING NOISE AFTER FIXING. RUMBLING NOISE FROM DRIVERS LEFT FRONT AREA CHECKED BY DEALER AND REPORTED NOTHING LOOKED WRONG. NOISE CONTINUES FROM DASHBOARD. RUMBLING NOISE FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE LEFT WHEEL/DASH AREA CONTINUES MORE OFTEN AND SEEMS TO BE INAUDIBLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS - RUMBLING NOISE UPON TURNING WHEEL AND GOING STRAIGHT ON PAVEMENT AS WELL AS ON FLAT GRADED DIRT DRIVEWAY. SUBARU DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STATES THAT HIS FIELD MANAGER HAS CONCURRED THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED ELSEWHERE AND CANNOT BE FIXED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. TAKING BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK EVERYTHING MORE THOROUGHALLY, IF THEY CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, WILL TAKE TO DEALERSHIP IN ANOTHER TOWN TO CHECK, IF THEY CANNOT FIND PROBLEM WIILL EITHER SUE USING THE LEMON LAW, OR TRADE IN FOR ANOTHER MAKE OF VEHICLE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 12, 2019
IN A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 1 YEAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE WINDSHIELDS CRACKING FROM NORMAL DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR OVER 55 YEARS IN SEVERAL VEHICLES AND HAVE BEEN HIT BY ROAD DEBRIS OR ROCKS NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS WILL NORMALLY LEAVE A PIT OR STAR WHICH CAN BE REPAIRED, I NEVER HAVE HAD A VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD CRACK, ALL THE WAY ACROSS WHEN SIMPLY DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT. NOT ONCE, BUT THREE TIMES IN A 5 MONTH PERIOD. I FEEL THESE WINDSHIELDS ARE NOT SAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO BE IN. IF THEY CRACK WITH A PEBBLE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. THE FIRST WINDSHIELD CRACKED COMING BACK FROM THE GRAND CANYON VISIT. THE SECOND TIME, NEW REPLACEMENT WINDOW FROM SUBURU, CRACKED FROM LITTLE OR UNKNOWN STRIKE 2 MONTHS LATER. SUBURU REPLACED THAT WINDOW AT THEIR COST. 2 MONTHS LATER DURING JULY HEAT, A SMALL ROCK PICKED OFF THE ROAD AND THE WINDOW CRACKED IN A BACKWARD C SHAPE. SUBURU DENIES ANY LIABILITY FROM ROAD HAZARDS, AND WILL NOT CONSIDER THEY HAVE LESS QUALITY PRODUCT AS IT WAS APPROVED. READING SEVERAL BLOGS AND ONLINE COMMENTS ALERTED ME THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON AND THEY HAD PAST ISSUES WITH THEIR WINDSHIELDS. WHO CAN I SPEAK TO?
Steering, Dec 9, 2019
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. HAS HAPPENED ON STRAIGHT ROADS AND ON CURVED EXITS. SPEEDS FROM 30-60MPH. DRY PAVEMENT, NO SAND/MUD/OTHER HAZARDS. HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN TIMES TOTAL. LANE ASSIST IS TURNED OFF.
Engine, Dec 6, 2019
SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN BRAND NEW, A HALF GALLON OF COOLANT HAS NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO THE CAR ON A MONTHLY BASIS. NO LEAKS HAVE BEEN DETECTED. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY STRONG ODOR OF BURNING COOLANT. DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE 2.5L ENGINE, SO THERE IS NOTHING TO REPAIR, JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THE COOLANT LEVEL. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA, AND RECEIVED A SIMILAR RESPONSE. BOTH THE DEALER AND SUBARU STATE IT IS UNKNOWN HOW TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE AS THEY CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM CAUSING THE LOSS OF COOLANT. DEALER JUST KEEPS TOPPING OFF THE SYSTEM, AND STATING THAT THEY STILL HAVE NO SOLUTION.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 4, 2019
SMALL ROCK HIT WINDSHIELD AND IT CAUSED A HUGE CRACK IN MARCH 2019 AND THEN AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 2019. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT SHOULD HAVE CAUSE NO DAMAGE OR JUST A LITTLE CHIP, NOT HUGE CRACKS. THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE WEAK.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 30, 2019
I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW IN MARCH OF 2018. AFTER ONLY 1 YEAR THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I DID NOT SEE WHERE THE INITIAL CHIP WAS AND CAME OUT TO MY CAR ONE MORNING AND SAW THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY CRACKED. I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW EXPENSIVE THE RECALIBRATION WAS SO I FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM. I STILL HAD TO PAY AROUND $300 TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE AGAIN, RECALIBRATION COSTS AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT FOR SOME REASON. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW I GOT OFF LIGHT AS HAVING IT DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP WAS QUOTED TO ME AS COSTING $850. IT IS NOW ONLY 7 MONTHS LATER AND MY WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS AGAIN. I DIDN'T SEE THE CHIP AT FIRST UNTIL IT HAD BEGUN TO CRACK A TINY AMOUNT. AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY IT SPREAD ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. BECAUSE I SAW IT EARLY I PLANNED TO GET IT FIXED THE NEXT DAY TO HOPEFULLY AVOID ANOTHER FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS OF EXPENSE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT SPREAD ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT IRREPARABLE WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF MY FINDING IT. AGAIN, THIS WAS WITH ME DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH WITH NO HEAT ON BECAUSE IT'S COLD OUTSIDE AND I KNOW HOT AND COLD MAKE IT WORSE. I HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK LIKE THIS AND MORE THAN ONCE WITHIN A 1 YEAR TIME FRAME. THESE WINDSHIELDS SEEM TO BE MADE VERY CHEAPLY AT THE EXPENSE OF SAFETY. I CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE ANOTHER INSURANCE CLAIM OR PAY THIS OUT OF POCKET. I TOOK EVERY PRECAUTION AS A DRIVER AND THIS STILL HAPPENED. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SUBARU AND MAY SELL THIS ONE IF THIS KEEPS HAPPENING BECAUSE I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS ALL OF THE TIME AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 22, 2019
I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD 3 TIMES ALREADY. TINY ROCKS ARE CAUSING LARGE CRACKS LIKE I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE IN OTHER VEHICLES. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
Visibility, Nov 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE CENTER ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 14, 2019
WINDSCREEN IS EASILY CRACKED BY ANY PEBBLES THAT KNICK THR SHIELD. FIRST TIME THE SCREEN WAS HIT BY A PEBBLE FROM A MOVING VEHICLE AND THE CRACK SPREAD ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE SCREEN. HAD TO REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER SUBARU GLASS. NOT EVEN 2 WEEKS IN ANOTHER PEBBLE HITS AND CHIPS..THEN A COUPLE WEEKS LATER AGAIN, ANOTHER PEBBLE CRACKS THE SCREEN. ANYTHING THAT HITS THE GLASS SEEMS TO PUT KNICKS AND CRACKS. OTHER CARS WE'VE OWNED HAVE BEEN HIT HARDER AND NOT HAD ANY DAMAGE. NOT SURE WHAT THESE SUBARU GLASS SCREENS ARE MADE OF, BUT I ASSUME THE MOST DELICATE OF MATERIALS NOT SUITED FOR WINDSHIELD USE. ALL TIMES HIT WITH ROCKS FROM MOVING VEHICLES WHILE MY CAR WAS ALSO IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 10, 2019
CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IN MORNING AND WINDSHIELD WAS FINE. FEW HOURS LATER THERE WAS A TWO FOOT CRACK FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TO THE MID POINT OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 6, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, STARTING AT THE BOTTOM MIDDLE, AND SPREADING UP AND THEN IN ALL DIRECTIONS. THERE IS NO POINT OF IMPACT AND THE CRACK STARTED WHILE PARKED INT THE DRIVEWAY, AWAY FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
Other or unspecified, Nov 5, 2019
I HAD OWNED MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY WHEN MY WINDSHIELD WAS HIT WITH A SMALL ROCK. IT CAUSED A SMALL CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. I USUALLY CAN GET TO TOWN AND HAVE THESE FILLED WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED IN MY OTHER VEHICLE. BY THE TIME I DROVE THE 20 MILES TO TOWN TO GET IT FILLED IT HAD RAN AND CRACKED THE WHOLE MIDDLE SECTION OF MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS SHOCKED THAT IT HAD COMPLETELY RUINED THE WINDSHIELD. I CALLED MY DEALER WHO INFORMED ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT $600 TO $700 TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. AND ABOUT 500 TO CALIBRATE THE EYESIGHT ON THE CAR. AGAIN I WAS SHOCKED. HE THEN REFERRED ME TO A WINDSHIELD COMPANY IN MY AREA TO REPLACE IT AT A $350 COST TO ME. I DID NOT TAKE ANY PICTURES AS I DID NOT REALIZE THIS WAS GOING TO BE A THING WITH THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD OVER 8 CHIPS FIXED IN THE WINDSHIELD. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I TRAVEL IT GETS HIT. WHICH IS STRANGE BECAUSE MY OTHER VEHICLE VERY SELDOM GETS HIT. I TRY NOT TO DRIVE BEHIND VEHICLES AS IT SEEMS MY WINDSHIELD IS IN AN ANGLE THAT IS HIT IF ANYTHING COMES UP OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS FRUSTRATING AND EXPENSIVE AND MESSES WITH MY EYESIGHT ON THE CAR.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 3, 2019
I HEARD THE NOISE OF A PEBBLE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER, A CRACK APPEARED VERTICALLY FROM THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. LATER, THE CRACK BECAME A "T" AND GREW HORIZONTALLY. THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WAS ON, THE CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW TO ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF. THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THIS POINT.