IllustrationWINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN PARKED IN DRIVEWAY
2018 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Outback years
Owner complaints for the 2018 Subaru Outback are substantially higher than the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
3130–25K
13625–50K
2850–75K
875–100K
2100–150K
1150K+
488 reports with mileage · 323 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 265 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports4 fire reports10 injury reports
Visibility/wiper complaints
233 reportsWINDSHIELD CRACKED ACROSS THE LOWER HALF FOR NO REASON. I WAS JUST DRIVING AND IT MADE A LOUD POP AND CRACKED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE REPLACE THE ORIGINAL WINDOW ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THIS ONE JUST CRACKED.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH A SMALL PEBBLE MADE CONTACT WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE GLASS WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. ALSO, THE FRONT GLASS WINDSHIELD HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL CRACKS PREVIOUSLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH A SMALL PEBBLE MADE CONTACT WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE GLASS WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. ALSO, THE FRONT GLASS WINDSHIELD HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL CRACKS PREVIOUSLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED
THE WINDSHIELD ON THIS CAR HAS CHIPPED 10+ TIMES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PIECE OF GLASS CHIP SO MANY TIMES.
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I DROVE OVER A BUMP. THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A LONG CRACK STARTING AT THE LEFT EDGE. THE CRACK CONTINUES UP AND TO THE RIGHT CROSSING IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S VIEW AREA.
OUTBACK 2018 WINDSHIELD STARTED SHOWING CRACKS WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 1 HOUR IN HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY SAW THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING . IN 15 MINS, THE CRACK GOT BIGGER AND IT WAS VERY TENSED CONDITION SINCE I HAD MY WIFE , NEW BORN BABY AND OLD PARENTS IN THE CAR. I PARKED THE CAR AND CALLED MY INSURANCE T…
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OUTBACK 2018 WINDSHIELD STARTED SHOWING CRACKS WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 1 HOUR IN HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY SAW THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING . IN 15 MINS, THE CRACK GOT BIGGER AND IT WAS VERY TENSED CONDITION SINCE I HAD MY WIFE , NEW BORN BABY AND OLD PARENTS IN THE CAR. I PARKED THE CAR AND CALLED MY INSURANCE TO CHECK ABOUT THE CONDITION . I HAD SPEND MY NEW YEAR DAY ON HIGHWAY DISCUSSING THE ISSUE. IT WAS A DISTRESSFUL DAY.
MULTIPLE CHIPS INVOLVING THE WINDSHIELD, WITHOUT OBVIOUS REASON
WE HAVE HAD 3 CRACKED WINDSHIELDS SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE ON 3/31/18. WE HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED BY THE DEALER EACH TIME AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1100-1200 EACH TIME. EACH TIME WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY.
Official recalls
321V587000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.