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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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
8,000 miles · Nov 29, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 I WAS DRIVING MY SUBARU OUTBACK THROUGH BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK. I WAS LEAVING THE CHISOS MOUNTAINS BASIN WITHIN THE PARK WHEN IT BEGAN LIGHTLY RAINING. I PRESSED THE X-MODE BUTTON HOPING IT WOULD INCREASE MY TRACTION ON THE WINDING ROADS. AS THE CAR WAS COMING DOWN FAIRLY STEEP DECLINE, I NOTICED THAT I …

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ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 I WAS DRIVING MY SUBARU OUTBACK THROUGH BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK. I WAS LEAVING THE CHISOS MOUNTAINS BASIN WITHIN THE PARK WHEN IT BEGAN LIGHTLY RAINING. I PRESSED THE X-MODE BUTTON HOPING IT WOULD INCREASE MY TRACTION ON THE WINDING ROADS. AS THE CAR WAS COMING DOWN FAIRLY STEEP DECLINE, I NOTICED THAT I WAS GAINING SPEED AND X-MODE HAD TURNED ITSELF OFF. I CAME AROUND A CURVE A LITTLE FAST AND FELT THAT IT TOOK MORE EFFORT THAN I'D EXPECTED TO SLOW THE CAR. AT THAT POINT, THE ROAD LEVELED OUT AND THE RAIN HAD STOPPED, BUT MY SPEED WAS STILL ACCELERATING. I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED. I DECIDED TO PULL OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION IN HOPES THAT WOULD RESET THE ENGINE. AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO, I STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN, PUT IT INTO DRIVE, AND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. AFTER IT REACHED APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH (WHICH WAS THE SPEED LIMIT) ON ITS OWN I PULLED OVER AGAIN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MY FIANCE SUGGESTED PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THINKING THAT COULD RESET WHATEVER MALFUNCTION THERE WAS IN DRIVE. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND AGAIN, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. IT WENT FROM 0 MPH TO 40 MPH IN NEUTRAL. IT GAINED SPEED IN A STEADY AND CONSISTENT PACE, ABOUT 1 MPH EVERY 1.5 SECONDS. MY FIANCE CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA, HOPING THEY COULD TELL US ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY RECOMMENDED WE GET IT CHECKED OUT AT A DEALERSHIP AND THAT THE CLOSEST SUBARU DEALERSHIP WAS MORE THAN 200 MILES AWAY. WHILE HE WAS ON THE PHONE, THE CAR BEGAN DECELERATING WITHOUT HAVING TOUCHED THE GAS OR BRAKE PEDALS. AFTER THAT, IT BEGAN DRIVING NORMALLY AND I DIDN'T EXPERIENCE ANY FURTHER ISSUES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA ODI #11154699

4,500 miles · Nov 28, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

OUR SYSTEM SHOWED 40 MILES TO EMPTY. LUCKILY WE WERE IN A TURN LANE COMING UP TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE CAR SHUT OFF/STOPPED RUNNING. TRAFFIC HAD TO GO AROUND US TO TURN AT THE LIGHT. SOMEONE STOPPED AND GAVE US 5 GALLONS OF GAS. WE WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND GO TO A SERVICE STATION AND FILL UP.

NHTSA ODI #11154612

4,450 miles · Nov 23, 2018
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

30 MILES LEFT AS INDICATED ON FUEL TANK, CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN LEFT SIDE OF HIGHWAY, MY FAMILY WERE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL SITUATION. A GOOD SAMARITAN HELPED US MOVE OUR CAR OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD OUT OF HARMS WAY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN SUBARU …

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30 MILES LEFT AS INDICATED ON FUEL TANK, CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN LEFT SIDE OF HIGHWAY, MY FAMILY WERE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL SITUATION. A GOOD SAMARITAN HELPED US MOVE OUR CAR OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD OUT OF HARMS WAY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN SUBARU AND DO NOT TRUST THAT IT HAS THE BEST 'SAFETY' FEATURES IF IT IS THIS INACCURATE IN INFORMING ME OF MILEAGE! I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK WHAT WORSE OUTCOME COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY. THANK GOD WE ARE ALL OK. DO BETTER SUBARU, FOR THE LIVES OF YOUR CUSTOMERS DRIVING YOUR VEHICLES AND THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

NHTSA ODI #11153418

8,000 miles · Nov 20, 2018
Electrical System

I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENTIRE DISPLAY WENT BLANK! THIS RENDERS ALL ELECTRONIC FEATURES CONTROLLED BY THE SCREEN INOPERABLE AND ALSO VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW MANDATING BACKUP CAMERAS ON 2018 OR NEWER CARS. THOUGH TECHNICALLY MY VEHICLE IS STILL EQUIPPED WITH IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE DISPLAY IS COMPLETELY DEAD. THIS IS SUCH A …

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I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENTIRE DISPLAY WENT BLANK! THIS RENDERS ALL ELECTRONIC FEATURES CONTROLLED BY THE SCREEN INOPERABLE AND ALSO VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW MANDATING BACKUP CAMERAS ON 2018 OR NEWER CARS. THOUGH TECHNICALLY MY VEHICLE IS STILL EQUIPPED WITH IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE DISPLAY IS COMPLETELY DEAD. THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THE PART IS BACKORDERED FOR AT LEAST A MONTH, IN THE MEANTIME I WILL DRIVING A CAR WITHOUT AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE.

NHTSA ODI #11152962

11,000 miles · Nov 15, 2018
Electrical System

8- INCH TOUCH SCREEN SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BLANK. AS A RESULT, THE BACKUP CAMERA DOES NOT FUNCTION. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME, THE UNIT WAS REPLACED AFTER A ONE WEEK WAIT FOR THE PART TO BE DELIVERED. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS,THIS UNIT WENT OUT. SUBARU 'A MONTH WAIT FOR NEW UNIT DUE TO REPAIR DEMANDS.'

NHTSA ODI #11151841

10,500 miles · Nov 15, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

2018 SUBARU OUTBACK: PER DEALER: ORIGINAL BATTERY "BAD" & REPLACED BY DEALER AFTER IT FAILED (UNABLE TO START & WON'T HOLD CHARGE) AFTER 10,500 MILES AT 9 MO. BATTERY ALSO FAILED IN OUR PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2015 OUTBACK AFTER ONLY 3 WEEKS, & IN A 2015 SUBARU LEGACY AFTER 35 MONTHS. THE 2018 OUTBACK'S TOUCH SCREEN (& BACK-UP CAMERA …

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2018 SUBARU OUTBACK: PER DEALER: ORIGINAL BATTERY "BAD" & REPLACED BY DEALER AFTER IT FAILED (UNABLE TO START & WON'T HOLD CHARGE) AFTER 10,500 MILES AT 9 MO. BATTERY ALSO FAILED IN OUR PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2015 OUTBACK AFTER ONLY 3 WEEKS, & IN A 2015 SUBARU LEGACY AFTER 35 MONTHS. THE 2018 OUTBACK'S TOUCH SCREEN (& BACK-UP CAMERA SCREEN, ETC) HAS ALSO STOPPED WORKING TWICE, AT ABOUT 2 MONTHS (WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY) & AGAIN AT 3 MONTHS, BOTH TIMES SUDDENLY, THE SCREEN GOING BLACK FOR A MINUTE OR LONGER, & THEN TURNING WHITE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE RESUMING THE NORMAL SCREEN CONFIGURATION & APPEARANCE.

NHTSA ODI #11151647

5,500 miles · Nov 14, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS IN A LOWER GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCGOVERN SUBARU (203 LAFAYETTE RD, NORTH HAMPTON, NH 03862, (603) 964-9303) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS IN A LOWER GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCGOVERN SUBARU (203 LAFAYETTE RD, NORTH HAMPTON, NH 03862, (603) 964-9303) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500.

NHTSA ODI #11151561

7,800 miles · Nov 12, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THE RADIO DISPLAY HEAD UNIT FAILED. THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA AND AND WARNING SIGNALS ARE INOPERABLE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE SYSTEMS FOR THREE WEEKS AND SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN NOT PROVIDE A DATE WHEN THIS REPAIR CAN BE MADE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THEY AID IN BACKING UP THE VEHICLE IN PARKING LOTS AT NIGHT WHEN VISIBILI…

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THE RADIO DISPLAY HEAD UNIT FAILED. THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA AND AND WARNING SIGNALS ARE INOPERABLE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE SYSTEMS FOR THREE WEEKS AND SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN NOT PROVIDE A DATE WHEN THIS REPAIR CAN BE MADE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THEY AID IN BACKING UP THE VEHICLE IN PARKING LOTS AT NIGHT WHEN VISIBILITY IS POOR.

NHTSA ODI #11151019

666 miles · Nov 7, 2018
EnginePower Train

VEHICLE IN MOTION APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH IN REGULAR STREET DRIVING. THE CAR HAS FELT AS IF THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO STALL OR AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SEIZING UP. THIS OCCURRED A FEW TIMES. A BIT UNNERVING BECAUSE IT HAPPENED WITH MOVING TRAFFIC BEHIND, IN FRONT AND TO THE SIDES.

NHTSA ODI #11149974

200 miles · Nov 7, 2018
SteeringSuspension

I HAVE HAD STEERING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE DAY ONE, THE DEALER TOLD ME I HAD TO GET USE TO IT. CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE HYDROPLANING-NO CONTROL THEN STEERING WOULD COME BACK. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO DEALER AND THEY MADE ADJUSTS TO THE ALIGNMENT AND DOESN'T PULL TO RIGHT AS BAD. B…

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I HAVE HAD STEERING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE DAY ONE, THE DEALER TOLD ME I HAD TO GET USE TO IT. CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE HYDROPLANING-NO CONTROL THEN STEERING WOULD COME BACK. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO DEALER AND THEY MADE ADJUSTS TO THE ALIGNMENT AND DOESN'T PULL TO RIGHT AS BAD. BUT THE FEELING OF HYDROPLANING STILL EXISTS AND THE DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM .THEY TELL ME ITS WITHIN SUBARU'S SPECIFICATIONS THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR SINCE DATE OF SERVICE 3-12-18

NHTSA ODI #11149896

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.

Go deeper into Subaru Outback problems