IllustrationBATTERY DOES NOT CHARGE AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT EVERY 200-300 MILES.
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
What owners actually said
811 reportsPHANTOM LIFTGATE OPENING. THE LIFTGATE OPENS BY ITSELF WITH THE VEHICLE LOCKED, DRAINING THE BATTERY, AND DOES NOT SOUND AN ALARM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AT RANDOM TIMES OF THE DAY, WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. SUBARU HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT IT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OP…
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PHANTOM LIFTGATE OPENING. THE LIFTGATE OPENS BY ITSELF WITH THE VEHICLE LOCKED, DRAINING THE BATTERY, AND DOES NOT SOUND AN ALARM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AT RANDOM TIMES OF THE DAY, WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. SUBARU HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT IT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OPPORTUNISTIC THEFTS FROM BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT SINCE LOCKING THE VEHICLE SEEMS UNRELIABLE.
THE BATTERY HAS DIED RANDOMLY OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. WE FINALLY REPLACED IT AFTER BEING FED UP WITH BEING STRANDED IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. MOST RECENTLY, IT DIED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK. BOTH TIMES I DROVE TO WORK, PARKED AND 2 HOURS LATER, THE CAR HAD TO BE JUMPED TO START. I TOOK THE CAR TO SUBARU AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $25…
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THE BATTERY HAS DIED RANDOMLY OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. WE FINALLY REPLACED IT AFTER BEING FED UP WITH BEING STRANDED IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. MOST RECENTLY, IT DIED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK. BOTH TIMES I DROVE TO WORK, PARKED AND 2 HOURS LATER, THE CAR HAD TO BE JUMPED TO START. I TOOK THE CAR TO SUBARU AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $250 TO INSERT THE SAME BATTERY.
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.
IN THE FIRST 1.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD TWICE. IT CRACKED THE FIRST TIME WHILE STATIONARY IN OUR DRIVEWAY IN THE COLD AND WAS REPLACED A FEW MONTHS LATER. ONE WEEK AFTER IT WAS REPLACED IT CRACKED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH NO VEHICLES WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE CAR. I'VE READ AND HEARD …
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IN THE FIRST 1.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD TWICE. IT CRACKED THE FIRST TIME WHILE STATIONARY IN OUR DRIVEWAY IN THE COLD AND WAS REPLACED A FEW MONTHS LATER. ONE WEEK AFTER IT WAS REPLACED IT CRACKED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH NO VEHICLES WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE CAR. I'VE READ AND HEARD FROM OTHER OWNERS THIS PROBLEM IS ONE THAT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE OUTBACKS OF THIS MODEL YEAR.
BATTERY DIES PREMATURELY, IF VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN FOR A FEW DAYS, OR IF PARKED AND REAR HATCH IS OPENED AND CLOSED A FEW TIMES. DEAD BATTERY LEFT ME STRANDED FIVE TIMES SINCE 3/5/2019. BATTERY TESTED WELL AT DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES, SO WAS NOT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL IT FAILED A DRAW TEST.
WINDSHIELD JUST STARTING CRACKING FOR NO REASON.
2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, ONLY 10,500 MILES, BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING, AND FINALLY WOULD NOT CRANK THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED 10-24-2020 (SAT.) DEALER WHITE BEAR SUBARU WOULD NOT ANSWER HIS PHONE IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. CALLED SUBARU ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY WOULD NOT TOW TO A SUBARU DEALER, ONLY A NEARBY INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. I…
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2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, ONLY 10,500 MILES, BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING, AND FINALLY WOULD NOT CRANK THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED 10-24-2020 (SAT.) DEALER WHITE BEAR SUBARU WOULD NOT ANSWER HIS PHONE IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. CALLED SUBARU ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY WOULD NOT TOW TO A SUBARU DEALER, ONLY A NEARBY INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. I REJECTED THAT, AND SINCE IT WAS THE WEEKEND, I HAD TO PURCHASE A NAPA AFTERMARKET BATTERY, EVEN THOUGH SUBARU WARRANTY WAS STILL IN EFFECT. COST ME OVER $160,00.
CAR LIGHTS CAME ON AFTER SITTING NOT RUNNING. WENT TO START THE CAR, BUT NOT ENOUGH POWER TO START IT. BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. THE NEXT DAY, THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD TO JUMP START IT SO I COULD GO BUY A NEW BATTERY.
BATTERY DIED MANY TIMES. CAR IS JUST UNDER 3 YEARS OLD, WITH 18,000 MILES STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER SAID THE CAR MUST BE LEFT THAT THEY NEEDED TO TEST. THE CCA RATING IS 300 SOMETHING. A FRIEND IN COLORADO HAS A 2019 FORESTER WITH A CCA OF 620! VERY SIMILAR ENGINE, BOTH MODELS ARE TOURING. COULD IT BE THAT VEHICLES IN LESS C…
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BATTERY DIED MANY TIMES. CAR IS JUST UNDER 3 YEARS OLD, WITH 18,000 MILES STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER SAID THE CAR MUST BE LEFT THAT THEY NEEDED TO TEST. THE CCA RATING IS 300 SOMETHING. A FRIEND IN COLORADO HAS A 2019 FORESTER WITH A CCA OF 620! VERY SIMILAR ENGINE, BOTH MODELS ARE TOURING. COULD IT BE THAT VEHICLES IN LESS COLDER AREAS ARE FITTED WITH INADEQUATE BATTERY CCA SO SUBARU CAN SAVE A FEW DOLLARS? ALSO THE RAB LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HOW IS THAT OK? THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN HAS FROZEN MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEN IT DID THE VOLUME OF THE RADIO COULD NOT BE LOWERED..I WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED, (RADIO WAS LOUD) THEN STARTED DRIVING AND COULDN'T LOWER IT.. PLEASE NOTE: THESE ELECTRICAL ISSUES OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT TIMES ... I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY'RE RELATED
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.