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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I STARTED MY CAR WHEN I WAS 0 DEGREES OUTSIDE. IT STARTED BUT AFTER DRIVING 15 MINUTES I SHUT IT OFF. STARTED IT 10 MINUTES LATER AND THE BATTERY WAS NEARLY DEAD. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME IN LIMP MODE. THIS IS THE 2ND BATTERY IN MY 2018 SUBARU AND THE CAR IS ONLY 2.5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 54,000 MILES. THE BATTERY IN THESE CARS ARE KNOW TO DIE QUICKLY AND SUBARU WON'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 54,000 |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER AN UNKNOWN OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WAS ALSO CRACKED. THE TECHNICIAN RETURNED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY THE PLASTIC TRIM USED FOR THE WINDSHIELD SUPPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS BEING REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS RIDING IN THE VEHICLE AFTER LEARNING THAT THE PLASTIC TRIM WAS ABLE TO CRACK THE WINDSHIELD. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS NOT A PARTICULARLY HOT OR COLD DAY. SHE HEARD A CRACKING SOUND, WHEN SHE STOPPED SHE NOTICED A 3 INCH CRACK IN HER WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE WINDSHIELD AND ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. OVER THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK GREW AND GREW IN SEVERAL DIRECTIONS. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON JAN 21, 2021 AND ASKED THEM ABOUT REPLACEMENT AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY DID NOT REPLACE WINDSHIELDS. IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE SO I HAD TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. THE COST WAS $1279.83. | Crash: No Fire: No | 41,950 |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK CONTINUED TO EXPAND. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 37,000 |
| Feb 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | AFTER JUST UNDER 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE BATTERY WAS A BIT WEAK WHEN STARTING. SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE, I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR IT'S 60K MILE CHECK UP. HE FOUND THE BATTERY WAS WEAK AND REPLACED IT. SINCE THEN, I AN STILL HAVING THE LOW BATTERY ISSUE. IF I DO NOT START THE VEHICLE IN 2.5 DAYS, THE BATTERY IS TOO WEEK TO PERFORM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 60,000 |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACK APPEARED IN RIGHT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD FOR NO REASON AS OUTBACK HAD BEEN SITTING PARKED THE DRIVEWAY FOR 5 DAYS. IT IS ABOUT 6' LONG FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THEN TURNS RIGHT OR DOWNWARD ABOUT 3'. | Crash: No Fire: No | 26,000 |
| Feb 2021 | STRUCTURE | MOONROOF EXPLODED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 39,000 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED. IT WAS NOT HIT BY A ROCK OR ROAD DEBRIS, NOR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT/CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CRUISING ON A WELL-MAINTAINED ROAD FREE OF DEBRIS AND POTHOLES. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OR AROUND MY VEHICLE. SPEED WAS ABOUT 45 MPH. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARU CARS, AND SEEMS THAT THERE ARE OUT THERE INITIATIVES FOR A LAWSUIT AGAINST SUBARU. | Crash: No Fire: No | 41,700 |
| Jan 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND FELT THE CAR ACCELERATE WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE A PANIC ATTACK, I QUICKLY RELEASED THE PEDAL BEFORE REAPPLYING PRESSURE AND IT SELF CORRECTED LUCKY JUST BEFORE LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPEN BEFORE BUT I ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVED THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN MY FAULT, THIS TIME I WAS 100% SURE IT WAS MY BRAKES. I HAVE ALSO BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH BEING ABLE PRESS DOWN ON MY BRAKE PEDAL DUE TO IT BECOMING VERY STIFF. I WAS SO WORRIED I DECIDE TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAD AND IT WAS NOT JUST ME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 27,000 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | FOR THE SECOND IN TIME LESS THAN A YEAR THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED AS A RESULT OF MINOR ROAD DEBRIS. THE FIRST TIME SUBARU COVERED THE REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE RECENTLY CONTACTED THEM ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND I AM AWAITING A RESOLUTION. I AM AWARE OF THE PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST SUBARU REGARDING DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. AND I CAN SAY FROM EXPERIENCE IT IS COMPLETELY VALID. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WITH SUCH A FRAGILE WINDSHIELD. IT IS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS. PLEASE CONTACT IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,418 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DRIVING VEHICLE SLOWLY OVER SPEED BUMP LEAVING AIR FORCE BASE. HEARD POPPING SOUND AT WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE. DAY LATER HAD A LARGE CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. CRACK STARTED UNDER WINDSHIELD WIPER ON PASSENGER SIDE. SUBARU DEALERSHIP ADVISED WINDSHIELD CRACK NOT UNDER 3 YEAR/36000 MILE WARRANTY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 32,000 |
| Jan 2021 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | PURCHASED THE AUTOMOBILE WITH ABOUT 7,200 MILES ON IT WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY. BATTERY FAILED AT 8,000 MILES. WE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW PREMIUM BATTERY FROM AAA.. NEW BATTERY WORKED FOR 8 MONTHS THEN DRAINED OVERNIGHT. AAA RECHARGED IT AND SAID ALTERNATOR WORKED. WHEN DRIVEN OR BACKED UP AFTER RECHARGING, AUTOMOBILE BEEPED CONSTANTLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE AND STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION. BEEPING STOPPED WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED, BUT STARTED AGAIN WHEN VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD OR BACKED UP. LEFT WITH SUBARU DEALER OVERNIGHT. BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED THIS MORNING WHEN SERVICE TECHNICIAN TRIED TO START IT. SERVICE TECH SAID THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. PER MY INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. SUBARU SHOULD FIX IT, BUT SEEMS TO BE DRAGGING THEIR HEELS ON THIS ISSUE. OUR SUBARU IS UNSAFE AND NOT DRIVEABLE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STATIONARY WHEN THE BATTERY DRAINED. THE BEEPING OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND CITY STREET. IT RESTARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE RESUMED MOTION. THE BEEPING CONTINUED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING WHILE IN MOTION. IT STOPPED WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED. STEERING DID NOT FEEL NORMAL. IT WAS A LITTLE SLUGGISH AND LESS PRECISE THAN NORMAL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,200 |
| Jan 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | WE HAVE HAD REPEATED ISSUES WITH THE CAR DYING, THE BATTERY BEING TOTALLY DEAD, AND BEING STRANDED BECAUSE OF IT. IN MAY 2018, 3 MONTHS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE BRAND NEW CAR, THE CAR'S ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS THERE FOR AWHILE, AND ULTIMATELY WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A BAD BATTERY, AND THEY REPLACED THE FUSE BOX. THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS FOR WHAT OCCURRED. THEN IN JULY 2019 AT 23,000 MILES, THE CAR CONTINUED TO HESITATE TO START. THE DEALER TESTED THE BATTERY, IT FAILED, AND IT WAS REPLACED, AGAIN. ON JANUARY 19, 2021, AT 45,000 MILES, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WE WERE STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WERE ON BUT THE CAR'S ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. AGAIN, THE DEALER SAID THE BATTERY WAS THE CAUSE AND REPLACED IT. WHEN I INQUIRED HOW LIKELY WOULD IT BE THAT WE GOT A BAD BATTERY THIS MANY TIMES, WE WERE TOLD IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. AGAIN, WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO WAY TO DIAGNOSE WHY THE BATTERY CONTINUES TO FAIL. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON WITH THE VEHICLE; THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. AT OTHER POINTS IN TIME, THE VEHICLE'S ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK, WOULD NOT TURN ON OR OFF, AND CARPLAY WOULD NOT BE RECOGNIZED. THIS HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS NEVER BEEN DIAGNOSED. WE ARE AWARE FROM INTERNET RESEARCH THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, AS IT SEEMS OWNERS OF 2017-2020 OUTBACKS AND SUBARUS HAVE HAD THESE SAME ISSUES, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A BAD BATTERY EACH TIME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 45,000 |
| Jan 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY DISCHARGED AFTER MAP LIGHT LEFT ON OVERNIGHT AND IT IS SUPPOSED TO TURN OFF AFTER 20 MINUTES. VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE LIGHT BEING LEFT ON AND IS DRIVEN EVERY DAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY DIED 2 TIMES WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF PURCHASE (BOUGHT USED, NOV 2020) FIRST TIME WITH LIGHT LEFT ON OVERNIGHT AND SECOND TIME AFTER NOT DRIVING FOR LESS THAN 1 WEEK | Crash: No Fire: No | 66,000 |
| Jan 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAIL. REPEATEDLY THE WINDOWS WONT WORK, BLUE TOOTH GOES DOWN. BUT MORE CONCERNING WHEN SITTING WAITING IN A PARKING LOT THE WHOLE CAR WILL SHUT OFF. NOT A SIGN OF LIFE. CANT TURN CAR ON, NO RADIO NO LIGHTS, NO USE OF KEY FOB - NOTHING. CAR CAN BE JUMPED AND BACK IN ACTION. HAD THE EGI CONTROL REPLACED AND OTHER PARTS. BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY - AGAIN WHILE WAITING IN PARKING LOT - WHICH WE DO A LOT OF IN THE PANDEMIC - NO WINDOWS OPERATED , REAR LIFE DID NOT WORK AND THEN SUDDENLY THE WHOLE CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN. HAD TO HAVE DEALER COME JUMP CAR AND BACK TO SHOP | Crash: No Fire: No | 33,000 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHE NOTICED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER SUBARU (1592 NJ-38, LUMBERTON, NJ 08048, (609)267-4000) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 37,000 |
| Jan 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | PREMATURE DYING OF BATTERY AT AROUND ONLY 20,000MILES. WE SUSPECT FLAWS OF THE BATTERY OR ELECTRIC ISSUES. WE DID FIND LAWSUIT ON 2016-2020 SUBARU OUTBACK ON THIS MATTER. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Jan 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE BATTERY KEEPS DYING FOR NO REASON. THR FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS IN OCTOBER 2020. WE JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT. IT DIED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH ONE FROM AN AUTO PARTS STORE. APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS LATER IN DECEMBER 2020 IT DID THE SAME THING. WE WENT TO START IT UP AND IT WOULDN'T START. WE JUMPED IT AND DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. WENT OUT THE NEXT DAY AND IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY SO I PAID FOR A REPLACEMENT. EXACTLY A MONTH LATER, JANUARY 2021, I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AND THE BATTERY IS AGAIN DEAD. I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SCREEN FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA, PERIODICALLY REMAINS DARK. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I DO NOT HAVE THE USE OF THE BACK UP CAMERA. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,600 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON A HIGHWAY, A ROCK STRUCK THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD FROM ANOTHER SUV IN THE LANE TO THE RIGHT OF OUR VEHICLE. THIS WAS A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD INSTALLED BY JACK MORRIS AUTO GLASS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,600 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED EACH TIME SINCE THE CRACK OBSTRUCTED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS HAS A CRACK IN WINDSHIELD IN FEB. AND AGAIN IN SEPT. 2020 I CONTACTED THE DEALER IN BOONE, N.C. AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT FIX THEM THERE AND WOULD HAVE TO SEND IT OUT FOR REPAIR AND THEY WOULD NEED IT FOR 3-4 DAYS. I COULD NOT WAIT THIS LONG SO TOOK IT TO SAFELITE GLASS IN BRISTOL, TN. I DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED AND JUST NOTICED IT ONE MORNING. ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN ALMOST THE EXACT SAME SPOT. THIS SEEMED VERY UNUSUAL TO ME AND I JUST SAW THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH 2017-2020 YEARS. THIS COST ME $500.00 FOR BOTH REPAIRS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 32,500 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, THE NEXT DAY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN REPLACED ON 2 PREVIOUS OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME NO IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD HAD OCCURRED TO CAUSE THE CRACKS. THE LOCAL DEALER FAULKNER SUBARU LOCATED AT 3233 PAXTON ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17111 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Dec 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY DISCHARGES AFTER CAR SITS FOR A FEW DAYS OR AFTER SHORT TRIPS. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED EVEN THOUGH I REPLACED THE BATTERY. HIGHLY ANNOYING. HAVE PURCHASED A PORTABLE JUMP STARTER SO I DON'T GET STRANDED. I HAVE USED THE JUMP STARTER TO START THE CAR AT HOME AND WHILE AWAY FROM HOME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 36,400 |