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.
Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2019
BATTERY ACID HAS LEAKED FROM BATTERY AND ALL OVER BRACKETS AND BOLTS. BATTERY HAS LOW CHARGE VOLTAGE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2019
RADIO AND MAPS WENT TO A BLACK SCREEN SEVERAL TIMES AT 5K MILES. IT WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR UPDATE. STILL HAD ISSUES, BUT NOT AS MANY. THEN THE LIGHTING WENT OUT ON THE RADIO BUTTONS. REPLACED MAIN HEAD WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY W/A 100 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PUT IN GEAR, DRIVERS WINDOW CONTROL PANEL DOES NOT WORK FOR ANY WINDOWS IN THE CAR OTHER THAN THE DRIVERS WINDOW. HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES AFTER 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE. IT IDLES HIGH AND DOES NOT SMOOTHLY GLIDE INTO GEAR. WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY A SMALL ROCK. IT WAS REPLACED AND TWO WEEKS LATER IT CRACKED AGAIN.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 30, 2019
I HAVE EXPERIENCE CASE OF MULTIPLE SPONTANEOUS CRACKED WINDSHIELDS.
Other or unspecified, Oct 29, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2018 OUTBACK CRACKED WITHIN THE FIRST 150 MILES OF OWNERSHIP.THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IS A POSSIBILITY BUT WAS NOT THE CASE. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT. I DROVE THE OUTBACK BACK TO MY HOUSE AND PARKED IT FOR A WEEK WHILE I DROVE MY OTHER CAR. WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE MY OUTBACK AFTER A WEEK OF IT JUST SITTING STILL I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD A BIG CRACK IN IT. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IN THE YEAR AND A SIX MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR I AM ON THE 4TH WINDSHIELD INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ONE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
I HAVE OWNED MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK FOR 8 MONTHS. THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED IN THE SAME SPOT TWICE ALREADY. IT STARTS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND EXTENDS ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I NEVER HEARD A ROCK HITTING, NOR WAS THERE A DING IN THE WINDSHIELD. I GOT IT FIXED THE FIRST TIME AND WITHIN A WEEK IT CRACKED IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT. IT WAS PARKED BOTH TIMES WE NOTICED THE CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 AT ABOUT 1 PM MST I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON ARIZONA ROUTE 89, JUST NORTH OF THE RT 64 INTERSECTION. I WAS ON A DIVIDED SECTION OF PAVED HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT NO MORE THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AHEAD OF ME AND NONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A POP IN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD AND A CRACK APPEARED ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY UP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN I STOPPED LATER TO EXAMINE THE WINDSHIELD I COULD SEE NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING STRIKING THE GLASS. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PAVEMENT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE CRACK EXPANDED HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE WINDOW. I HAD THE WINDOW REPLACED AT THE GREELEY SUBARU DEALER ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27.
Seats, Oct 28, 2019
THE DRIVER'S SEAT CONTINUOUSLY SQUEAKS WHILE DRIVING. SUBARU DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW SEAT BOTTOM. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES AND YEARS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED LESS THEN 2 MONTHS FROM PURCHASE.. FOR NO REASON ..ASSISTED DRIVING DEACTIVATED... STEREO AND GPS SYSTEM ALSO NEED ED TO BE REPLACED... REAR DOOR MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED... STEREO AND GPS SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED... STILL HAD PROBLEMS.. FINALLY REPLACED SYSTEM...
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, A SMALL PEBBLE WAS KICKED UP FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF US AND BOUNCED OFF OUR WINDSHIELD. IT LEFT A TINY CHIP THE SIZE OF A PINHEAD. WE REPORTED IT IMMEDIATELY AND TOOK IT FOR REPAIR WITHIN TWO HOURS OF THE INCIDENT AT SAFE LITE. TWO DAYS LATER, THERE WAS A GIANT CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF NEARLY $1000, $500 OUT OF POCKET.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS AND SHATTERS FOR NO REASON. I HAVE NOW REPLACED TWO WINDSHIELDS AND THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK, EVEN THOUGH NO IMPACTS WITH FLYING DEBRIS OCCURRED. MANY OUTBACK OWNERS REPORT SIMILAR THINGS HAPPENING. THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE WINDSHIELD THAT CAUSE THEM TO BE FRAGILE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
VEHICLES WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WHILE STATIONARY. DURING A ROAD TRIP WITH SEVERAL PASSENGERS, WE MADE A PIT STOP AND WHEN WE GOT BACK IN THE CAR A PASSENGER NOTED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED WHEN IT HAD NOT BEEN PRIOR TO THE STOP.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY GOING ROUGHLY 30 MPH. THE CAR WAS PASSING KICKED UP A SMALL ROCK WHICH HIT MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE OUTER LAYER OF GLASS TO GET CHIPPED AND CRACK. THE ORIGINAL CRACK WAS 7 INCHES LONG BUT THE AFTERNOON IN THE SUN CAUSED THE CRACK TO PROPAGATED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD SPANNING 3/4 OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE GLASS ENDED UP COSTING 1200 TO BE REPLACED AND HAVE THE EYESIGHT RE CALIBRATED. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND HAD LESS THAN 12000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD BROKE.
Electrical system, Oct 28, 2019
THE HEAD UNIT IN THE SOUND SYSTEM/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BROKE RESULTING IN NO BACKUP CAMERA/ MUSIC/ APPLE CAR PLAY/ ETC. FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD AND THE UNIT WAS BACKORDERED AT THE TIME RESULTING NO USE OF THE HEAD UNIT FOR 2 MONTHS.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD ON MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT IN MY GARAGE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
A SMALL CRACK APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING AND RAPIDLY EVOLVED INTO A VERY LARGE CRACK THAT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON, WHILE DRIVING ON CLEAN AND CLEAR HIGHWAY. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD, BUT A HUGE CRACK APPEARED. I'M REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I'VE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON 2017 - 2019 SUBARU OUTBACKS, AND I WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF MINE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ONE DAY HEARD A CRACK. PARKED THE CAR AND AFTER A FEW HOURS NOTICED A SMALL HAIRLINE CRACK. THAT STARTED FROM THE MIDDLE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF OF ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
I WAS DRIVING AND HIT A POTHOLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. I HEARD A LOUD POP OR CRACK AND THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO THE TIRE OR WHEEL BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY LOUD. BUT AFTER CONTINUING TO DRIVE SLOWLY FOR ANOTHER BLOCK, IT WAS APPARENT THE TIRE WASN'T DAMAGED NOR DID THE CAR SYSTEMS INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN I HIT THE POTHOLE. I CONTINUED DRIVING AND COMPLETED MY ERRANDS. I DID LOOK AT THE TIRE WHEN I PARKED FOR MY ERRAND BUT DIDN'T SEE ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE, WHEEL OR BODY. I THEN DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN OUR GARAGE AS USUAL. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER ISSUES, PROBLEMS OR HEAR ANY NOISES. THE DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD WAS READILY VISIBLE THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I CAME OUT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD HAD STARTED UNDER THE SEAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND HAD TRAVELED UP APPROXIMATELY 8-12 INCHES. IT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AND IS NOW ALMOST BOTTOM TO TOP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AT THE TIME OUR CAR HAD JUST PASSED THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD. HOWEVER, I DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH THE DEALER WHERE WE LEASED THE CAR WHEN DOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THIS DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE OVER SEVERAL MONTHS AS I TRIED TO WORK WITH THEM ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD POTENTIALLY BEING DEFECTIVE SINCE IT WAS JUST THE ACTION OF DRIVING THROUGH THE POTHOLE THAT CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. THEY AGREED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE BUT ULTIMATELY DENIED THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. THE TIME BETWEEN THE EVENT AND NOW WAS DUE TO ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER. THE WINDSHIELD IS STILL NOT FIXED BUT I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AFTER THIS LAST ROUND OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 2 TIMES IN FIRST 20 MONTHS WE OWNED IT. WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND DRIVER-ASSIST (EYESIGHT) SYSTEM RECALIBRATED TO OPERATE SAFELY. HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2018, AND MAY 2019
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKS DRIVING 64MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON. JUST SPIDER CRACKED.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE IN MOTION, AFFECTED VISIBILITY SO I HAD IT REPLACED.
Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED A SECOND TIME JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE NEW WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. THE PEBBLE THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD WASN'T LARGE ON EITHER OCCASION. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES A LARGE FEE TO CALIBRATE THE EYE SIGHT FEATURE AND THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE AT A DEALERSHIP SO WE CAN'T GET A BETTER/STRONGER WINDSHIELD ANYWHERE ELSE NOR PURCHASE A COMPETITIVELY PRICED ONE. IT FEELS LIKE SUBARU IS MAKING GOOD MONEY OFF OF DEFECTIVE WEAK WINDSHIELDS. IN MY PREVIOUS CAR, A MAZDA 3, I DROVE FOR 12 YEARS WITHOUT A SINGLE CRACK. IN A NEW SUBARU, IT'S HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. BOTH TIMES I WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS BETWEEN 65-70 MPH. BOTH ROCKS WHERE SMALL. THE FIRST TIME WAS BETWEEN CITIES DRIVING BACK FROM LUBBOCK TO DALLAS WHEN A TRUCK SLOWED TO THE RIGHT FOR ME TO PASS. THE 2ND TIME WAS WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THE TOLLWAY IN A MIDDLE LANE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
I RECEIVED A SINGLE MINUTE HIT FROM AN 18-WHEELER WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AND NOW THAT GROWN WITHIN A MONTH TO COVERING THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD LIKE AN ART DRAWING MY FEAR IS DRIVER ASSIST CAMERA MAY BE AFFECTED PUTTING OTHERS AND ME IN ACCIDENT DANGER
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WE'RE ON OUR 3RD WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELDS CRACKED FOR NO REASON. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
AROUND JANUARY THIS YEAR MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED AS SOON AS I GOT OUT FROM THE GARAGE(64 DREGREES) TO THE DRIVEWAY(39 DEGREES). I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR RUN A BALL AROUND THE GLASS CRACK AND SUDDENLY STOPPED AND FORCEFULLY PUSHED AGAINST THE PEN AGAINST THE GLASS AND SAID THAT WAS AN IMPACT. I LOOKED AT THE AREA OF THE GLASS IMPACT BUT ALL I SAW WAS THE DENT THAT THE PEN LEFT. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE GLASS DUE TO AN IMPACT AND REFERRED TO MY AUTO INSURANCE. I PUT A CLAIM AND PAID MY $500 DEDUCTIBLE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. IN RETROSPECTIVE I KNEW IT WAS NO IMPACT AND WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY DID NOT HAVE THE INTENTION ON HELPING ME.