UsedScore

2018 Subaru Outback: Use caution

Owners filed 637 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Outback in its first five years on the road, about 351 for every 100,000 sold: 1.9× the rate of a typical Outback year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the electrical system (33% of complaints, median 15,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.9×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Outback year
Rank
12th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
637
first five years; 351 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
3
campaigns
5th generation, 2015–2019 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited

Photo: 2019 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited · MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Electrical33% · 207 complaints · median 15,000 miles
  2. Visibility39% · 251 complaints · median 23,000 miles
  3. Fuel and propulsion6% · 36 complaints · median 6,000 miles
  4. Steering5% · 31 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  5. Engine4% · 25 complaints · median 6,000 miles
  6. Speed control3% · 16 complaints · median 8,000 miles
  7. Brakes2% · 12 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  8. Air bags1% · 5 complaints
  9. Driver assistance2% · 15 complaints · median 12,000 miles
  10. Powertrain2% · 10 complaints · median 7,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Many owners of this Outback report the battery repeatedly dying or draining, sometimes stranding them, along with an infotainment screen that freezes and knocks out the backup camera. Repairs often involve battery swaps or head-unit replacements that owners say don't fully resolve the issue.

Warning signs:
Owners often notice a dead or clicking battery after sitting overnight or a few days, or a frozen/black touchscreen with no radio, navigation, or backup camera image.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently replaced the battery, sometimes multiple times, tested for parasitic drain with inconclusive results, reprogrammed or replaced the head unit, and in some cases told owners no problem was found.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 30,000 miles, among 140 complaints that give it

“Battery in my 2018 outback continues to be dead when I go to start it after sitting overnight”

“Display panel shut down, completely dark, disabled are radio, GPS, navigation and most importantly the back up camera”

Fuel and propulsion

Owners frequently describe running out of gas or having the engine suddenly stall even though the fuel gauge showed a notable amount of range left, sometimes while driving in traffic or on highways. Many mention a related recall, but several say dealers had no parts or fix available at the time.

Warning signs:
Many owners noticed the gauge showing 20 to 70 miles remaining right before the engine lost power, with some also mentioning stalling at low speeds, hesitation, or a strong gasoline smell from a leaking fuel line.
What shops did:
Some dealers said parts for the recall repair were unavailable, told owners to keep the tank full or reset trip odometers, or could not duplicate the stalling; a few fuel line ruptures were repaired under warranty.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 15,000 miles, among 30 complaints that give it

“After twenty miles, on cruise control at 70mph on highway, engine suddenly started racing as though it had down shifted”

“Saw the fuel supply line spraying the entire engine compartment with gas mist/droplets in a full blown shower”

Visibility

Owners describe windshields that crack unusually easily, often from a tiny pebble or with no impact at all, and that repeatedly recur even after replacement. Many report costly out-of-pocket repairs and recalibration of the EyeSight camera system, with dealers frequently denying warranty coverage.

Warning signs:
Owners report hearing a pop or crack sound while driving, then seeing a small chip or star that rapidly spreads into a long crack within minutes, hours, or overnight.
What shops did:
Many owners had the windshield replaced (often at their own or insurance's cost) with required EyeSight camera recalibration; dealers often said it wasn't covered under warranty.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 35,000 miles, among 198 complaints that give it

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (3)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 21V587000July 2021175,968 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    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.

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

    Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V935000December 201871,190 vehicles

    Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices

    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."

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

    Fix: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V773000November 2018228,648 vehicles

    Electrical system: software · 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.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Subaru sent NHTSA 432 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2018 Outback. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • SubaruNet Announcement (C · August 2026This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
  • 15-308-23R · August 2026This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to…
  • 15-304-22R · August 2026This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.
  • Article Locator · August 2026Techtips newsletter locator index.
  • 15-333-25R · August 2026This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.
  • 16-156-25R · June 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
  • 02-195-26 · June 2026This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) for certain vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines.
  • 10-105-25R · March 2026This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.

All 2018 Outback bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2018 Subaru Outback reliable?
Owners filed 637 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Outback in its first five years on the road, about 351 for every 100,000 sold: 1.9× the rate of a typical Outback year. That's above average, so use caution. Ratings compare Outback years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2018 Outback problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the electrical system (33%), visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (39%) and the fuel or propulsion system (6%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2018 Subaru Outback been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Subaru Outback, the most recent in July 2021 (fuel system, gasoline). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. The 2018 Subaru Outback on NHTSA.gov · How we rate