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2018 Subaru Legacy

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Subaru Legacy do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

54 reports with mileage · 63 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

117 reports
12,700 miles · Dec 17, 2018
Unknown Or Other

SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT FOR POTENTIAL ROCK DAMAGE.SUNROOF WAS COVERED SO MOST OF THE GLASS WAS CONTAINED ON THE COVER. THE GLASS WAS BOWED OUTWARD AS IF THERE MAY BE TOO MUCH STRESS FORCED UP ON THE GLASS.

NHTSA ODI #11161977

11,500 miles · Dec 13, 2018
Steering

THE CAR VEERS RIGHT OR LEFT IRRADICALLY AS IF A GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE CAR OR LARGE TRUCK PASSED BY. THIS IS VERY TROUBLING SINCE IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO DRIFT OFF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11161255

7,600 miles · Dec 6, 2018
Electrical System

CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED. KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM ALLOWED DOORS TO BE OPENED. UPON SITTING IN DRIVERS SEAT, BEFORE ANY ATTEMPT TO START CAR, A MESSAGE ON DASH SAID "REMOTE KEY DEACTIVATED". AFTER THAT, NOTHING WORKED, NO FURTHER MESSAGES, COULD NOT LOCK DOORS, COULD NOT START CAR, NOTHING FUNCTIONED. FINALLY HAD CAR TOWED TO DE…

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CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED. KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM ALLOWED DOORS TO BE OPENED. UPON SITTING IN DRIVERS SEAT, BEFORE ANY ATTEMPT TO START CAR, A MESSAGE ON DASH SAID "REMOTE KEY DEACTIVATED". AFTER THAT, NOTHING WORKED, NO FURTHER MESSAGES, COULD NOT LOCK DOORS, COULD NOT START CAR, NOTHING FUNCTIONED. FINALLY HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, CASEY SUBARU, NEWPORT NEWS, VA. LATE NEXT MORNING, DEALER CALLED TO SAY CAR WAS READY FOR PICKUP. THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM, BOTH REMOTE KEYS FUNCTIONED WELL, NO PROBLEM CODES FOUND. CAR OPERATED WELL ON MY DRIVE HOME, <5 MILES. HOWEVER, I HAVE A REAL CONCERN OF GETTING STRANDED IN FUTURE.

NHTSA ODI #11156620

3,000 miles · Sep 5, 2018
Steering

AT SPEEDS ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING HAS SUDDENLY, ERRATICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING PULLED THE CAR TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AS IF HIT BY A LARGE GUST OF WIND (WHEN THERE IS NO WIND OR PASSING TRUCK). IT IS AS IF THE STEERING IS OUT OF CONTROL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE CAR HAS 3,000 MILES AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5-8 …

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AT SPEEDS ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING HAS SUDDENLY, ERRATICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING PULLED THE CAR TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AS IF HIT BY A LARGE GUST OF WIND (WHEN THERE IS NO WIND OR PASSING TRUCK). IT IS AS IF THE STEERING IS OUT OF CONTROL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE CAR HAS 3,000 MILES AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5-8 TIMES. I NOTICE THERE IS ALSO AN IDENTICAL COMPLAINT FOR 2018 SUBARU OUTBACKS. THIS LAST HAPPENED TODAY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI #11124669

4,700 miles · Jul 3, 2018
Structure

VEHICLE MAKING A LOUD METALLIC RATTLING NOISE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-45 MPH. SUBARU HAS MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO LOCATE AND REMEDY THE NOISE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AFTER MORE THAN 4 TIMES. CONCERNED THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE ISSUE CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED OR REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI #11105421

69 miles · Mar 8, 2018
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU LEGACY FEB. 28, 2018. AFTER ONLY 70 MILES THE WARNING LIGHT FOR SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTION APPEARED ON A STARLINK SYSTEM AND DASH. AFTER IMMEDIATELY TAKING IT IN AT THE LOCAL CAR DEALER, SERVICE AGENTS CLAIMED THAT A "RODENT" HAS CAUSED THE DAMAGE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, WE HAVE DISCOVERED A NAT…

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PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU LEGACY FEB. 28, 2018. AFTER ONLY 70 MILES THE WARNING LIGHT FOR SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTION APPEARED ON A STARLINK SYSTEM AND DASH. AFTER IMMEDIATELY TAKING IT IN AT THE LOCAL CAR DEALER, SERVICE AGENTS CLAIMED THAT A "RODENT" HAS CAUSED THE DAMAGE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, WE HAVE DISCOVERED A NATIONAL CIVIL SUIT AGAINST SUBARU. APPARENTLY THEY ARE USING BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS ON THE WIRING OF MANY NEW CARS THAT ATTRACTS SQUIRRELS AND MICE. WE HAVE LIVED AT OUR CURRENT RESIDENCE FOR OVER 35 YEARS WITH NUMEROUS CARS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER REPORTS ON JULY 10,2017, REPORTED THAT THEY HAVE UNCOVERED VARIOUS TECHNICAL BULLETINS FROM FORD, GM, HONDA, TOYOTA, AS WELL AS SUBARU CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. DEALER, AT THE MOMENT, REFUSES TO FIX IT WITHOUT EXTENSIVE COST TO US. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR--DRIVING IT WOULD NOT ONLY BE UNSAFE BUT ILLEGAL SINCE THE AIR BAG AS WELL AS THE SEAT BELTS SHOW A MALFUNCTION. FIXING IT MAY NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM ON PERMANENT BASIS.

NHTSA ODI #11076906

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

OUR RECENT PURCHASE OF A 2018 SUBARU LEGACY HAS LEFT US WITH A VERY UNHAPPY REALIZATION. WE HAVE A SUBARU OUTBACK AND LIKE THE CAR BUT VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CRUISE. WE DID NOT REALIZE THE CRUISE CONTROL ADVANCES 1 OR 5 MPH RATHER THAN THE CONVENTIONAL CRUISE OF 1 MPH. WE HAVE FOUND THIS FEATURE TO BE NOT ONLY ON SUBARU BUT MANY …

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OUR RECENT PURCHASE OF A 2018 SUBARU LEGACY HAS LEFT US WITH A VERY UNHAPPY REALIZATION. WE HAVE A SUBARU OUTBACK AND LIKE THE CAR BUT VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CRUISE. WE DID NOT REALIZE THE CRUISE CONTROL ADVANCES 1 OR 5 MPH RATHER THAN THE CONVENTIONAL CRUISE OF 1 MPH. WE HAVE FOUND THIS FEATURE TO BE NOT ONLY ON SUBARU BUT MANY OTHER MAKES OF VEHICLES. FROM RESEARCHING ONLINE AND TALKING TO OTHERS HAVE FOUND WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT DO NOT LIKE IT AND FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A REASON TO ADVANCE 5 MPH RATHER THAN 1 MPH. WHEN USING THIS TYPE OF CRUISE IT IS NECESSARY TO WATCH THE SPEEDOMETER, RATHER THAN PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ROAD, TO GET TO THE ANTICIPATED SPEED AND THEN QUICKLY SET AND HOPE YOU LOCKED-IN THE DESIRED SPEED. IF THE DESIRED SPEED IS NOT REACHED THE FIRST TIME THEN IT IS PUSHING THE CRUISE AND HOLDING IT, HOPING THAT IT ONLY ADVANCED 1 MPH RATHER THAN 5 MPH, OTHERWISE IT IS CANCELING AND TRYING AGAIN. WE CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THIS AND WERE TOLD THAT IF THERE ARE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THEY WOULD CONSIDER A SOFTWARE UPDATE. IT WAS ALSO EXPLAINED THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IF WE WERE TOLD THIS BEFORE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. WE LOOKED AT THE WEBSITES FOR THE SAFEST VEHICLES AND SUBARU IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST BUT THIS TYPE OF CRUISE CONTROL TAKES AWAY THE SAFETY; EVERYONE IS PREACHING TO REDUCE DISTRACTIONS WHEN DRIVING BUT TAKING AWAY THE CONVENTIONAL CRUISE CONTROL AND IMPLEMENTING SUCH A DISTRACTION DEFEATS THE PURPOSE. WE HOPE THIS COMPLAINT LEADS BACK TO VEHICLES HAVING CONVENTIONAL CRUISE CONTROL AS THE STANDARD EQUIPMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11048499

Official recalls

3

21V587000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Jul 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

18V935000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices

Dec 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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.

Remedy: 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.

18V773000 · Electrical System:software; Fuel System, Gasoline

Nov 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.