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 reports
31,000 miles · Jul 29, 2019
Visibility
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 NO…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #11240403
13,000 miles · Jul 28, 2019
Visibility/wiper
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.
NHTSA ODI #11240186
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2019
Unknown Or Other
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.
NHTSA ODI #11235028
12,000 miles · Jul 19, 2019
Steering
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
NHTSA ODI #11233433
Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2019
Visibility/wiperCrash
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK DRIVER SIDE BOTTOM CORNER, WITH NO CHIP OR REASON FOR THE CRACK
NHTSA ODI #11232216
6,000 miles · Jul 14, 2019
Unknown Or Other
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 R…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #11231800
11,500 miles · Jul 10, 2019
Power Train
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 T…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #11230827
19,000 miles · Jul 9, 2019
Structure
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.
NHTSA ODI #11230593
13,500 miles · Jul 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper
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!!!!!
NHTSA ODI #11229695
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2019
Visibility/wiper
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY DEVELOPED A CRACK WHILE PARKED IN A CLOSED, PRIVATE GARAGE.
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.
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.
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 ↗
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