Complaint volume
805 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Subaru Outback Complaints
805 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Subaru Outback, grouped by component category.
805 Total complaints
27 Crash reports
4 Fire reports
10 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are visibility/wiper, electrical system, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 27 crash reports, 4 fire reports, 10 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 488 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 21,422 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to visibility/wiper, electrical system, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Subaru Outback?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Subaru Outback
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Subaru Outback complaints?
27 Crash
4 Fire
10 Injury
0 Fatality
19 Towed
7 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Subaru Outback complaint categories?
VISIBILITY/WIPER 210
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 197
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 97
VISIBILITY 37
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23
STEERING 22
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 19
ENGINE 15
STRUCTURE 12
BACK OVER PREVENTION 10
805 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1) Battery drain issue when liftgate spuriously opens and completely drains battery resulting in an inoperable car. 2) This issue above and perhaps other unknown electrical issue(s) has resulted in a bad battery after only 3yrs (30K miles). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | My 3 year old outback is on its third battery. The first died when the car was 11 months old. Then in summer 2020 (car was 2 years old) I had to put in the 3rd battery. I installed an aftermarket battery since Subaru was closed at the time of the issue. Now this third battery is being inconsistent in starting or seeming as if there’s a dead battery. The battery, alternator, and starter, test as 100% functional. My dealership told me in a May 6th phone call that there was nothing wrong with my car, that I just needed a stronger battery. That would make the 4th battery in a 3 year old car. I was advised to purchase a charging jump pack and carry it with me every day. This is not a viable solution for a car that has to be jump started 1-2 times each day! Sometimes the issue is after long periods of driving, other times the car has been on short drives only. A local repair shop believes the issue is computer or fuse box related. My dealership disagrees. Yet I know that there are class action lawsuits against this model that read as if they are describing the issue with my own vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I have had considerable starting and battery trouble with my 2018 Subaru Outback... Shortly after purchasing the Outback, I had to get a jump start a couple of times, I thought it was my fault due to leaving a light on in the back of the cabin. When I took it in for the 1st oil change, I told the service manager. So since they knew me (It was my 4th Subaru), they checked the system cleaned the post, and I left. I was back 3 or 4 weeks later to get a new battery. I went back this week because I've had to buy jumper cables So I could jump my car off for the 6th or 7th time since I brought it in to get the new battery last year. I understand that there have been a large number of folks experiencing similar problems, and I thought it would be best to add my voice. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My Subaru Starlink Infotainment System has been inoperative since my local dealer attempted to install an update. The update is on back order. I was not informed that this system is no inoperative and if I were in a collision or other emergency the system would not be able to notify 911 dispatchers of my emergency or location. There are now warning lights to tell me the system is inop. I contacted Subaru of America and they provided me with a phone number to Starlink. They are not accepting responsibility. Starlink has refused to provide a refund. There was a class action lawsuit against Subaru that was filed in 2017. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | AUTOMOBILE WOULD NOT START IGNITION ON LIGHTS FLICKERED BATTERY WAS ON THE VERGE OF DYING HAD TO JUMP START IT TO GET GOING IN THE MORNING OF COURSE IT WAS STATIONARY IN THE GARAGE IN A VERY TOUGH LOCATION | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,202 |
| May 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE INTESTATE ON A COOL OVERCAST MORNING. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME AT THE TIME AND I WAS NOT NEAR ANY OVER PASSES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND FROM MY ROOF AND THEN THE GLASS FALLING ON THE ROOF. I WAS FREAKED OUT BY IT AND IT CAUSED ME TO SWERVE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME OR I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD AND STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR TO SEE THAT IN FACT MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. THERE WAS A BIG HOLE IN THE CENTER OF IT AND THE ENTIRE THING HAD CRACKS GOING THROUGH IT. AS IT WAS ON MY MORNING COMMUTE AND I HAD TO GET TO WORK, I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR AND DROVE TO WORK. ON THE REST OF THE DRIVE I COULD HEAR MORE OF THE SUN ROOF FALLING OFF. I CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THIS AND THEY WANT ME TO BRING IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE EARLIEST THEY HAVE AVAILABLE FOR ME TO COME IN IS 11 DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT. WHILE TALKING TO A PARTS PERSON ON THE PHONE, HE DID STATE THAT HE HAS HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE TO OTHER CARS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,500 |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | PURCHASED VEHICLE IN NEW CONDITION IN 2018. FROM THERE ON FORWARD, I'VE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO SYSTEM NOT WANTING TO WORK. THERE WAS NO SOUND OUTPUT. WE THOUGHT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE RADIO SATELLITE ITSELF, BUT OVERTIME THE REAL ISSUE WAS UNCOVERED. AFTER ONLY 6 MONTHS WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I'D LATER LEARN THE BATTERY DEPLETED PREMATURELY, AND ALL THE DEALER AUTO SHOP WOULD RECOMMEND IS BUYING A NEW BATTERY. THE RADIO WORKED JUST FINE AFTER EACH TIME I'VE PURCHASED AND REPLACED MY CAR BATTERY. NOW HAVING REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE FOR $197 EACH TIME, I'VE LEARNED THIS IS ONLY A BAND AID FIX THAT WOULD LAST 6-12 MONTHS. I HAVE SAVED MY RECEIPTS BUT DID NOT ATTACH THOSE AS THEY CONTAIN PERSONAL INFO. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY PREMATURELY DEAD. NO CRANK, NO START.10-03-2020 PARKED IN A LOT. JUMP STARTED. TOOK TO SUBARU DEALER , TECHNICIAN INSPECTED AND FOUND BATTERY FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED AND PASSED LOAD TEST. EXTREME AMOUNT OF CORROSION ON BATTERY TERMINAL REMOVED. A FEW DAYS LATER, DID NOT START, MORE CORROSION ON BATTERY TERMINAL. JUMP STARTED. TECHNICIAN INFORMED DRIVER TO TAKE ON LONG DRIVES TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. VEHICLE WITH 14,600 MILES. LONG DRIVES IN EXCESS OF 20 MINUTES TAKEN JUST TO CHARGE BATTERY. A FEW DAYS LATER BATTERY LEFT DRIVER AGAIN STRANDED , JUMP STARTED. NEW BATTERY PURCHASED FOR $178.04. | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,657 |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I HAVE A FAIRLY NEW OEM SUBARU BATTERY IN MY 2018 OUTBACK. IT CONTINUES TO DRAIN UNEXPECTEDLY. I KNOW ABOUT THE TAILGATE PROBLEM. ALSO, I TURN EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL (THAT'S POSSIBLE) OFF IN THE CAR WHEN IT'S GARAGED. THE BATTERY OFTEN FAILS TO START THE CAR WHEN IT'S UNUSED FOR A FEW DAYS ' EVEN AFTER PREVIOUSLY DRIVING LONG DISTANCES. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I WAS PARKING MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK PREMIUM NEXT TO MY HOUSE ON MY PARKING SPOT, MY FOOT WAS ON A BRAKE PEDAL, IT LEFT AROUND 50'' TO COMPLETE A PARKING, LIKE SUDDENLY MY CAR START MOVING FORWARD EVEN THAT I WAS STRONGLY PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, CAR WENT OVER CURB AND HIT A PALM TREE THAT IS NEXT TO MY PARKING SPOT. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. CAR FRONT BUMPER, GRILL, RADIATOR WAS DAMAGED. TODAY, MY CAR IS IN BODY SHOP. IT WAS VERY SCARE EXPERIENCE. FROM MY BACKGROUND I AM DRIVING 12 YEARS WITHOUT ANY CAR ACCIDENT. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 30,850 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE BATTERY PREMATURELY DRAINS WHEN DRIVEN FOR MULTIPLE SHORT TRIPS. IT ALSO DRAINS WHILE SITTING IF IT IS NOT FREQUENTLY DRIVEN FOR MEDIUM-LENGTH TRIPS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 39,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE OEM BATTERY WAS FAILING TO HOLD A CHARGE AND DIED ONE DAY AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. HAD TO HAVE A LOCAL TOW SERVICE COME AND JUMPSTART THE CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY NEEDED TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN WE HEARD A CRACK AND THE CRACK APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD IN A T FORMATION. THIS HAPPENED 12/2018. THE CRACK AT THIS TIME COVERS THE MAJORITY OF THE WINDSHIELD IN A T FORMATION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,136 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD, 28000 MILES AND THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE ALTERNATOR ONCE. THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN ON 4/26/21 AND WON'T HOLD A CHARGE AND SO I WILL BE TAKING IT IN AGAIN AND THEY WILL PROBABLY JUST REPLACE THE BATTERY AGAIN. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING ELSE WRONG. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | IN APRIL OF 2021 ALL OF A SUDDEN I NOTICED A SMALL CHIP. IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO SAFELITE, THEY TRIED TO REPAIR BUT A CRACK DEVELOPED. AFTER TWO DAYS THE CRACK GREW LARGER. SAFELITE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AT MY INSURANCE COMPANY'S EXPENSE. ONLY 29000 MILES ON THE CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 29,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I PURCHASED THIS 2018 OUTBACK IN LATE NOVEMBER OF 2020 WITH 27000 MILES ON IT. AFTER ONLY DRIVING IT ABOUT 1500 MILES THE BATTERY SUDDENLY DIED (MARCH 2021). AAA JUMPED IT BUT SAID IT WAS DEAD. I REPLACED IT IMMEDIATELY (WENT 1 MILE DOWN THE ROAD) AND THE SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS DEAD AS WELL. NO WARNING AT ALL. WAS WORKING FINE, PARKED AT A STORE, TEN MINUTES LATER WENT TO START IT AND THERE WAS NOTHING. I SPENT $170 GETTING A NEW BATTERY/INSTALLATION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 29,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY APPEARS TO HAVE PARASITIC DRAIN WHICH RESULTS IN INABILITY TO START THE VEHICLE IF NOT DRIVEN LONG DISTANCES REGULARLY. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER IN OCTOBER 2020 AND HAVE HAD TO JUMP IT OR CHARGE THE BATTERY AT LEAST 6 OR 8 TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION (CANNOT LEAVE AT AIRPORT FOR INSTANCE) AND I'VE HAD TO PURCHASE JUMPER CABLES AND WILL SOON PURCHASE A TRICKLE CHARGER AND A BATTERY BOOSTER TO USE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD TWICE, ALMOST 3 TIMES. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 44,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I AM ON MY 3RD CAR BATTERY. ONE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, ONE WAS PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET UNDER 31,000 MILES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | APPROXIMATELY 26 MONTHS (38K MILES) AFTER PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START. THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE A BAD BATTERY WHICH WAS THEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT TRIPS SHORTER THAN 45 MINUTES RESULT IN A NET LOSS OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN THE BATTERY AND IT WAS THEREFORE MY FAULT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 38,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A PARKING LOT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 44,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL BATTERY DIED AFTER ONLY 30 MONTHS OF USE. I TRIED TO START THE CAR ONE MORNING, AND IT WOULD NOT START. A NEW BATTERY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED DURING A PERIOD WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR SHORT TRIPS ONLY A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK, DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE OF OTHER REPORTS OF A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN SUBARUS THAT HAS CAUSED BATTERIES TO FAIL EARLIER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE FAILED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 23,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY CAR WAS PARKED UNDER A CAR PORT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE WINDSHIELD WAS FINE WHEN I PARKED IT. NO CRACKS. WOKE UP TO FIND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THIS CAR HAS HAD BATTERY DRAINAGE ISSUES SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2017. IT HAS ONLY 10,000 MILES ON IT AND AND IS ON IT'S 3RD BATTERY. THE CAR MUST BE JUMP-STARTED IN ORDER TO DRIVE IT. THE PROBLEM OCCURS IF I DRIVE THE CAR FOR A SHORT TRIP. IT ALSO OCCURS IF I TAKE LONGER TRIPS (I.E. 100 MILES) IN THAT THE BATTERY WILL BE DELETED IF I DO NOT DRIVE IT WITHIN 7 DAYS OR SO, I HAVE HAD THIS CAR JUMP-STARTED PROBABLY 20-30 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUALLY BLAMES ME FOR THE PROBLEM AND SAYS I SHOULD NOT EXPECT THE CAR TO START IF I DO NOT START IT EVERY DAY. MOST OF THE TIME, I HAVE TO BORROW MY MOTHER'S BUICK TO HAVE A WORKING CAR. BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS CONSTANTLY DYING, THE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT WORK AND HAVE TO BE RESET AFTER EACH BATTERY DRAINAGE. I OWNED A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK PRIOR TO TRADING UP TO THE 2018 MODEL. I HAVE THE EXACT DRIVING HABITS NOW AS I DID WITH THE 2014 MODEL. THE 2014 MODEL NEVER HAD ANY ISSUE STARTING. I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED BY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM I'M HAVING. I CANNOT FULLY EXPRESS HOW DEEPLY I HATE THIS CAR AND REGRET TRADING UP. IT IS NOT RELIABLE. I HAVE PURCHASED A NOCO BOOST PLUS TO START MY CAR EACH TIME SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CALL TOW SERVICES. THE BATTERY ON THIS CAR IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO START THE CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER INSUFFICIENT BATTERY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS MY LOW MILEAGE IS THE REASON MY CAR WON'T START, CLAIMING I DON'T DRIVE IT ENOUGH. THIS IS INFURIATING. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT IT HAS LOW MILEAGE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT START AND I CANNOT DRIVE IT, AND BORROWED MY MOTHER'S CAR FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY ISSUES ON THE SUBARU. THEY DO NOT CARE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | QUICK 3MI TRIP FOR FAST FOOD RUN. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START AFTER DRIVE-THRU, ENGINE OFF (TO SAVE GAS). VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN ALL INSTANCES. WEATHER WAS 50F, LIGHT RAIN. INCIDENCE ON 12/31/2020; 2/14/2021; 2/22/2021. RESOLUTION WAS SIMPLE JUMPSTART NOT LONGER THAN 10S CONNECTION FOR IGNITION TO WORK AGAIN. WITHOUT WHICH, CAR SIMPLY STALLED. SPECULATION FOR CAUSE OF DEAD BATTERY WAS LOW MILEAGE DRIVEN DAILY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 24,000 |