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, Jul 29, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE REFERRED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000.
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.
Other or unspecified, Jul 26, 2019
THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONS, IT CRACKLES, STATIC INTERFERENCE, OTHER STATIONS INTERFERE WITH CURRENT STATION. THIS OCCURS DURING ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ALL DIFFERENT ROADS AND WHETHER CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES.
Steering, Jul 19, 2019
WHEN DRIVING AT 43 MILES OR ABOVE THE STEERING HAS A FEEL OF THAT YOU HIT A GUST OF WIND OR YOU HIT A PATCH OF ICE ON HIGHWAY THE CAR DOES NOT FEEL STABLE
Visibility/wiper, Jul 16, 2019, crash
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK DRIVER SIDE BOTTOM CORNER, WITH NO CHIP OR REASON FOR THE CRACK
Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2019
WINDSHIELD SEVERELY STRESS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 10 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY DEALER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE REPLACED. WINDSHIELD CONTRACTOR TOLD ME THAT SUBARU IS USING THINNER GLASS NOW THAT STRESSES VERY EASILY. HE HAD JUST REPLACED THE SAME THE DAY BEFORE MINE. I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD FROM STRESS BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY, BUT I DID NOTICE A SMALL CRACK AND THEN IT WENT SIDEWAYS ACROSS FROM DRIVER TO PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDOW.
Power train, Jul 10, 2019
THE PROPRIETARY SUBARU LINEARTRONIC CVT ON MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DELIVERY IN JUNE 2018. IT SHUDDERS, LURCHES, BALKS AND CREATES NEAR STALL CONDITIONS ON BOTH ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE SUBARU DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FOUR + TIMES SINCE JUNE 2018. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE AND NOW SUBARU OF AMERICA TELLS ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND KNOW THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED TO NHTSA AS WELL.
Structure, Jul 9, 2019
DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK USING KEY IN KEY HOLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FROM ALL THE ONLINE COMMENTS AND IS ON ALL SUBARU MODELS. BEING LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR FOR SAFETY OR WEATHER CONDITIONS CAN PUT ONE'S LIFE IN EXTREME DANGER. ARE IS STATIONARY. DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK USING KEY IN DOOR.
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.
Other or unspecified, Jun 18, 2019
REAR LIFTGATE OPERATES INTERMITTENT AND WHEN OPEN INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT CLOSE; I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE LIFTGATE NOT FULLY CLOSED OR LATCHED. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN SERVICE SEVEN TIMES.
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.
Structure, Jun 6, 2019
REAR LIFT GATE MALFUNCTIONING. WILL NOT OPEN AUTOMATICALLY AFTER APPX 18'. ABLE TO MANUALLY OPEN WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, AUTO CLOSURE WORKING.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 2, 2019
WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY UPON STARTING MY 2018 OUTBACK I SMELLED STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE SPRAYING THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH GAS MIST/DROPLETS IN A FULL BLOWN SHOWER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF,VISUALLY INSPECTED THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE AND SAW THAT IT HAD RUPTURED NEAR THE ENGINE PLENUM INTAKE, APPROXIMATE SIZE 1/8"1/4" (PHOTO ATTACHED). CAR HAS LESS THAN 2900 MILES ON IT. POTENTIALLY VIBRATION FROM BRACKET MOUNT/INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS USED FOR FUEL SUPPLY LINE. FUEL SUPPLY LINE APPEARS TO BE POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC INSIDE NON-REINFORCED RUBBER OUTER SHELL. HOSE USES FRICTION CLAMPS TO ATTACH TO FIREWALL AND ENGINE PLENUM.
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.
Steering, May 29, 2019
THE STEERING WHEEL OF THIS CAR RANDOMLY TAKES OVER, FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON, AT HIGH SPEEDS (OVER 45 MPH). I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. DRIVING THIS CAR HAS BEEN TERRIFYING! WHILE PASSING A TRACTOR TRAILER, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED ME TOWARDS THE TRUCK 3 TIMES!!! I THOUGHT I WOULD BE KILLED! THIS IS A LOANER CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, COLONIAL SUBARU, IN COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA, TO TELL THEM THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE IT OUT OF LANE ASSIST MODE. THIS, HOWEVER, DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. THE CAR RANDOMLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT, WHEN LANE DRIFTING ISN'T AN ISSUE. WHY ISN'T SOMETHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? I SEE THERE ARE ALREADY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS WITH THE 2019 VEHICLE MODEL.
Other or unspecified, May 28, 2019
WHILE PARKED IN THE SUN AND WITH A SUNSHADE INSTALLED INSIDE, WE RETURNED TO OUR CAR AND REMOVED THE SUNSHIELD AND NOTICED A NEW WINDSHIELD CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. SITTING STILL. THIS CAR HAS THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD THE WINDSHIELD IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND INSURANCE AND SUBARU SAY NOT COVERED. CAR HAS JUST TURNED 12,000 MILES AND IS ALWAYS GARAGED AT HOME. SUBARU HAS DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS AND MY DEALERSHIP SAYS SO.
Other or unspecified, May 25, 2019
THE STEERING WITH LANE DEPARTURE WARNING WILL SOMETIMES JERK THE CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AS IF SELF CORRECTING, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS WELL WITHIN THE LANE. AT TIMES THE CAR ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS HYDROPLANING ON DRY GROUND WITH LITTLE STEERING FEEDBACK. PURCHASED USED WITH A CARFAX REPORT INDICATING NO PROBLEMS. IT IS A VERY SCARY FEELING ON DRY SURFACES TO GET NO STEERING FEEDBACK OR HAVE THE CAR SELF CORRECT THE EVEN WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. AT 20,000 MILES HAD AN ALIGNMENT PERFORMED, DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ONLINE THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FOR THIS OCCURRENCE WITH NO VIABLE SOLUTIONS. OUR FAMILY ALWAYS WANTED A SUBARU FOR SAFETY, BUT THIS FEELS VERY DANGEROUS. WHEN THE LANE DEPARTURE SELF CORRECTS THERE IS LITTLE STEERING FEEDBACK AND THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE GUIDING ITSELF AND STEERING DURING THESE TIMES SEEMS VERY LOOSE.
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
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, May 20, 2019
IN DEC 2018 THE FUEL LINE OF MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN CHEWED THROUGH BY A RODENT AND WAS LEAKING IN THE CAR. TOTAL DAMAGE WAS OVER $2000. IN MAY 2019 ANOTHER $3500 DAMAGE WAS DISCOVERED FROM A RODENT CHEWING ON ELECTRICAL HARNESSES IN THE DASH. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS BECAUSE SUBARU IS NOW USING SOY-BASED INSULATION FOR FUEL LINES, WIRING, AND ELECTRICAL HARNESSES. RODENTS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE SOY BECAUSE THEY THINK IT IS FOOD. IN BOTH CASES MY DAMAGE WAS DISCOVERED WHILE TRYING TO START THE CAR WHILE IT IS PARKED. BUT WHAT IF I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND A CHEWED WIRE CAME LOOSE THAT SHORTED SOMETHING OUT AND IMPACTED MY ABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR? OR WHAT IF THE FUEL LINE BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSED THE CAR TO SUDDENLY STALL? MANUFACTURERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE MATERIALS (E.G. SOY) THAT ACTUALLY ATTRACT RODENTS. IF ANYTHING, THEY SHOULD BE USING MATERIALS THAT DETER RODENTS. FUEL LINES AND ELECTRICAL HARNESSES ARE CRITICAL TO THE SAFE OPERATION OF A CAR AND THESE SYSTEMS ARE NEEDLESSLY BEING PUT AT RISK BY USING SOY TO PRODUCE THEM. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLING FOR SUBARU BECAUSE PART OF THEIR IMAGE ENCOURAGES THEIR OWNERS TO EXPLORE "THE GREAT OUTDOORS." WHAT HAPPENS WHY I GO CAMPING AND PARK MY CAR IN THE WOODS AND CHIPMUNKS CHEW THROUGH MY COMPONENTS AND STRAND ME IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE? OR, WORSE, A CRITICAL SYSTEM ON THE CAR FAILS AS I'M DRIVING HOME AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH. THE USE OF SOY-BASED COMPONENTS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. OR, IF IT IS, OEMS SHOULD COVER RODENT DAMAGE TO THESE SYSTEMS UNDER WARRANTY. AT THE VERY LEAST, OEMS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE THE USE OF SOY IN THE CAR BEFORE A VEHICLE IS PURCHASED. I HAD NO IDEA SOY-BASED PRODUCTS WERE USED IN THIS CAR. HAD I KNOWN, I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT. FYI... SUBARU DENIES USING SOY PRODUCTS.
Other or unspecified, May 20, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE MARCH 2018 AND THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TWO WERE THE RESULT OF ROCKS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD - THE THIRD WAS JUST A SMALL CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD. .I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 45 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK - THIS WINDHIELD CRACKS CONSTANTLY. - THE PRODUCT SHOULD BE RECALLED
Electrical system, May 15, 2019
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WOULD NOT BOOT UP AT START. LOSS OF NAVIGATION, BACKUP CAMERA, HANDS FREE PHONE, SIRIUS RADIO.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Wheels, May 14, 2019, fire
SMOKE ELECTRICAL SHORT ISSUE IN DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. DIAGNOSED BY SUBARU MECHANIC TO BE A SHORT IN THE APPROACH LIGHT MODULE. SIGNIFICANT SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM MIRROR WITH BURN MARKS ON BOTTOM INSIDE MIDDLE OF MIRROR. THE CAR HAD JUST CAME TO REST IN A HOSPITAL PARKING DECK. CAR WAS REMOVED FROM DECK IN ORDER TO PREVENT FIRE HAZARD. NOTE - A 10 AMP FUSE DID BLOW WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE OF THE TPMS (TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM) AND THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK SYSTEM.