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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | UNEXPLAINED BATTERY DRAIN AFTER SEVERAL SHORT TRIPS AND/OR AFTER CAR IS NOT DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS . | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DISCHARGED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS IN A VERY REMOTE LOCATION AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO FIND SOMEONE WHO PROVIDED A JUMP. THE OTHER TWO TIMES WERE IN MY GARAGE. FOR ALL THREE OF THESE OCCASIONS I LOOKED FOR A CAUSE LIKE A LIGHT LEFT ON OR SOME OBVIOUS BATTERY DRAIN AND I FOUND NONE. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MYSTERY TO ME. I GREW UP IN AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS A MECHANIC IN THE US ARMY SO I'M NOT EXACTLY A NOVICE OR INEXPERIENCED ABOUT THESE SORTS OF ISSUES. ALL OF THESE EVENTS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TWICE IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS MY SUBARU OUTBACK HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITH A DEAD BATTERY. THE FIRST TIME I DROVE TO THE GROCERY AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AFTER I FINISHED SHOPPING. SECOND TIME I DROVE TO CHURCH AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD UPON LEAVING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 19,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY REPLACEMENT AFTER LESS THAN 2 YEARS | Crash: No Fire: No | 46,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TTHE BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY ONE TIME UNDER WARRANTY. IT NOW INDICATES A WEAKNESS IN CRANKING POWER AFTER THE CAR SITS WITHOUT DRIVING FOR A FEW DAYS. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW AND MORE POWERFUL BATTERY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,500 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | MY SUBARU 2018 OUTBACK HAS HAD ONE EPISODE OF THE BATTERY DYING WHILE UNDER NORMAL USE WHILE STATIONARY. I HAD ONLY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON (NO GAS) FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES WHILE LISTENING TO MUSIC, USING THE BLUETOOTH PHONE FUNCTION FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, AND WITH THE FANS ON. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY UNABLE TO START THE CAR AFTER COMPLETING THESE ACTIVITIES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE BATTERY WAS LOW PRIOR WHILE DRIVING, AND NO ERRORS WERE ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING ANY ALTERNATOR OR BATTERY ISSUE. I HAD TO SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM STRANGERS TO GET MY CAR JUMP STARTED. THE ISSUE HAS NOT RECURRED BUT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO NOT PLACE STRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SINCE, FEARING BEING STRANDED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 49,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THE BATTERY KEEPS GOING COMPLETELY DEAD, AFTER WE TURNED IF OFF, FOR THIS REASON THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE DCM OR SOMETHING THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT, THAN 2ND TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY THEY INSTALLED A NEW ONE, THAN THE 3RD TIME THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT WHY THE BATTERY WAS DRAINING THEY USED A PARASITIC DRAW TEST TO FIND OUT, BUT THEY JUST RECHARGED THE BATTERY AND GIVE US THE CAR BACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 24,164 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | BATTERIES DRAINED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. OLD BATTERY REPLACED WITH NEW ONE AND THE NEW ONE WAS DEAD 24 HOURS AFTER REPLACEMENT | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE | DIDN'T HAVE ANY CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK, PARKED, AND WENT INSIDE FOR 8 FOR MY SHIFT. AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN I CAME OUT TO THE CAR AND GOT IN TO GO THERE WAS A SINGLE LONG CURVING CRACK THAT WAS OVER 12 INCHES LONG. DIDN'T SEE ANY IMPACT MARKS OR OTHER REASON THAT IT MAY HAVE CRACKED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 50,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD MADE A POPPING SOUND AND THEN SPIDER CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NOT NEAR OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WHEN THE CRACK HAPPENED, NO FLYING DEBRIS. WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON A FREEWAY ON NO CALIFORNIA. THE CRACK STARTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD THEN MADE A SECOND POPPING NOISE AS THE PASSENGER WATCHED THE CRACK SPREAD. THERE IS NO INDENTATION FROM A ROCK CHIP. JUST THE CRACK ACROSS A SMOOTH WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,500 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING TO THE STORE AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, UPON RETURN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,660. | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,660 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A SMALL ROCK IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A SMALL CRACK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED AT A WINDSHIELD REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER METROWEST SUBARU (948 WORCESTER ST, NATICK, MA 01760, (508) 651-2000) AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK HAD FORMED HORIZONTALLY ON THE UPPER DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT CALLED TOM WOOD SUBARU (3300 E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240, (317) 805-7775) AND WAS INFORMED BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE PLASTIC IN BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD GLASS WOULD PREVENT MAJOR FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN REFERRED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I AM CURRENTLY ON MY SECOND WINDSHIELD AFTER HAVING THE FIRST REPLACED FOR CRACKING. THE REPLACEMENT NOW HAS UPWARDS OF 100 PITS OR CHIPS AND LOOKS WELL ON ITS WAY TO CRACKING AGAIN. I HAVE VISITED THE DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU WILL NOT ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF COVERING THIS UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THERE SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE OF WINDSHIELD FAILURE. THE CHIPS AND PITS HAVE COME FROM NORMAL USE WHILE DRIVING AND THE WINDSHIELD HAS NOT BEEN STRUCK BY ROCKS OR ANY LARGER OBJECTS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 50,000 |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | IN A RURAL TOWN I WAS DRIVING 30MPH. WEATHER WAS OVERCAST 60 DEGREES WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS. I WAS MOVING STRAIGHT. ROAD WAS WELL PAVED. NO CLOSE CAR IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. CAR MAY HAVE APPROACHED FROM OTHER DIRECTION... UNSURE. HEARD A EXPLOSIVE SOUND FROM ROOF, FOLLOWED BY TINKLING OF DEBRE FALLING OFF CAR. THE SOUND WAS SIMILAR TO FROZEN SNOW OR ICE COMING OFF THE ROOF OF A CAR IN WINTER. I STOPPED THE CAR AND FOUND SUNROOF HAD A HOLE SIZE OF LARGE CANTELOPE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 80,800 |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE SUNROOF "EXPLODED" WITH A LOAD NOISE AND RAINED PIECES OF GLASS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. NO ROCK OR OTHER PROJECTILE WAS SEEN COMING TOWARD THE CAR. IT SEEMED SPONTANEOUS. SPEED WAS 65 MPH. ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND WELL PAVED. NO VEHICLE WAS IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN RUN THROUGH AN AUTOMATIC TOUCHLESS CARWASH ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED LOU FUSZ SUBARU ST. LOUIS (900 N LINDBERGH BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED A $500.00 CREDIT FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER DECLINED AND THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A GLASS REPAIR COMPANY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | DEAD BATTERY ISSUES - IF DOORS OR LIFTGATE IS OPEN FOR EVEN SHORT AMOUNTS OF TIME THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. HAVE HAD TO HAD IT JUMPED 6 OR 7 TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO. THAT LEADS TO ISSUES WITH LIFTGATE AND PASSENGER WINDOWS, REQUIRING DEAL RESETS. ISSUE STARTED AT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,000 |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | NAVIGATION SYSTEM GIVES WRONG DIRECTIONS AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET IN ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT. ACCURATE VOICE COMMAND IS NEEDED FOR SAFETY WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND REALIZE I AM LOST AND NEED TO FIND OUT WHEN TO BEGIN TO MOVE OVER AND TO EXIT IT IS UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND MY VERY CLEAR SPEECH. | Crash: No Fire: No | 30 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NATE WADE SUBARU SALES (1207 S MAIN ST, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111, (888) 654-7340) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 60,000 |
| Mar 2021 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE OUTBACK I HAD TO HAVE THE INFOTAINMENT HEAD UNIT REPLACED TWICE. I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE RADIO WILL COME ON BUT THERE IS NO SOUND, THE RADIO WILL TURN ON FULL BLAST AFTER A HANGING UP FROM A CALL, BACK UP CAMERA WILL BE BLACK UPON BACKING UP, SCREEN WILL FREEZE, STEERING WILL LOCK UP WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND AFTER MY 36K MILE MAINTENANCE NOW MY CAR IS MAKING A STRANGE HUMMING NOISE. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. SUBARU NEEDS TO PROVIDE MORE THAN A PUNY EXTENDED WARRENTY. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND THEY KNOW IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 600 |
| Mar 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY ON CAR JUST GOES DEAD. PUT 3RD BATTERY IN CAR BEFORE IT WAS 3 YEARS OLD. SEVERAL TIMES, WE NOTICED THAT REAR HATCH MOTOR DOES NOT SHUT OFF - JUST KEEPS RUNNING. THEN IF YOU START CAR AGAIN & IMMEDIATELY TURN IT OFF - REAR HATCH MOTOR STOPS RUNNING. BEEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES & SENT LETTER TO SUBARU CUSTOMER ADVOCACY DEPT - THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE CAR HAS A PROBLEM. OFFERED TO PAY FOR EXTENDED LIFE BATTERY. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE OVERNIGHT - HAVING BEEN LOADED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT TO LEAVE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING ON VACATION - CAR WOULDN'T START AND BATTERY COULDN'T EVEN BE RECHARGED. ONE TIME BACKED CAR OUT OF GARAGE, TURNED IT OFF, THEN WHEN TRIED TO START IT 5 MINUTES LATER, BATTERY WAS DEAD. WE WERE ABLE TO RECHARGE IT, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE IT FAILED THE BATTERY TEST AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. VEHICLE DEEMED UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO US, AS YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT WILL START. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO GET TO ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEM - JUST PUT ANOTHER BATTERY IN CAR. CAR HAS 25,000 MILES AND WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 2/24/2021. ATTACHED ARE DETAILS FROM 2 DEALER VISITS AND LETTER TO CUSTOMER ADVOCACY DEPT. FIRST TIME BATTERY FAILED, WE REPLACED BATTERY BECAUSE IT WAS IMPACTING OUR VACATION. WE HAD EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT BATTERY ON 7/19 DEALER VISIT, AND BATTERY THEN DIED ON 10/19. SUBARU REFUNDED US THE COST OF THE BATTERY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,836 |
| Mar 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | CHRONIC DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED 4-YEAR-OLD COMPLETELY DEAD BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY, WHICH WAS ALSO DEAD WITHIN 3 DAYS. RESEARCH SHOWS THERE IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH SUBARU BATTERY DRAIN, POSSIBLY WITH REGARD TO A FAULT WITH THE REAR LIFT GATE. HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE BUT WAS SENT TO VOICE MAIL AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (2 LANE HIGHWAY) AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME, AND NO VEHICLE NEAR TO THROW UP A ROCK. I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I ONLY RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THESE WINDSHIELDS DO THIS ON THEIR OWN. DEFECTIVE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 30,104 |