Complaint volume
796 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
796 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Subaru Outback, grouped by component category.
796 Total complaints
26 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 26 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?
26 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 196
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 93
VISIBILITY 37
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 22
STEERING 22
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 19
ENGINE 13
STRUCTURE 12
BACK OVER PREVENTION 10
796 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Head unit / radio has delamination and causing buttons to randomly press and cycle until it freezes. This is a know. Issue and Subaru has extended the warranty for a but , but if issue occurs after this the owner is on their own. It is a safety issue when electrical systems just randomly start going off. Should be covered. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | My 2018 Subaru Outback has a defective head unit that poses a serious safety hazard. Subaru has already acknowledged this defect in this exact make/model/year and issued an extended warranty, but my vehicle was denied full coverage because the warranty window expired. The defect causes the head unit to: -Power on/off by itself. -Force phone connections even when Bluetooth is disabled. -Place dozens of calls on its own while I am driving (call random number, hang up, call number, hang up, etc). -Randomly connect to nearby devices. -Emit loud, unexpected noises. During a recent 4-hour family trip with my [XXX] son, the head unit repeatedly dialed contacts and hung up on them uncontrollably, forcing me to pull over on the highway. This is a clear safety risk, as it distracts the driver and requires emergency stops. At Subaru Customer Advocacy’s request, I took the vehicle to a Subaru dealership twice and paid nearly $200 for a formal diagnosis, which confirmed the known delamination defect and the need for replacement. Despite this, Subaru refuses full coverage and is offering only partial cost assistance, while other owners with the same defect have received full coverage. This is not normal wear-and-tear. It is an acknowledged manufacturer defect that is creating dangerous driving conditions. I request NHTSA’s investigation into Subaru’s inconsistent response and the safety risks of this defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | MY 2018 Outback experienced a driver side smoking mirror a few days ago. While parked at the gas station, a large amount of smoke suddenly began emanating from the driver side mirror. As a result I no longer see my TPMS, the ability to lock/unlock the car with the remote, interior lights no longer work. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Summary of Problem: The infotainment screen on my 2018 Subaru Outback has delaminated and is malfunctioning, causing multiple safety issues. This is a known manufacturer defect previously addressed in a class-action lawsuit (Starlink Infotainment System Litigation, settled 2021). However, my vehicle’s screen failed shortly after the extended warranty expired. Detailed Description of Safety Hazards: The malfunctioning screen creates the following safety risks: 1. Backup Camera Obstruction – The screen dims erratically, sometimes going completely dark, rendering the rearview camera unusable. This poses a serious safety hazard and appears to violate FMVSS 111 requirements for rear visibility systems. 2. Unintended Screen Inputs – The screen exhibits “ghost touches” that result in random phone calls, volume changes, and navigation menu disruptions, all without user input. This creates an unsafe level of driver distraction. 3. Driver Distraction and Interference – The system's erratic behavior pulls my attention away from the road, as I must manage or override its malfunctions, increasing the risk of an accident. Manufacturer Response: I contacted Subaru of America, who acknowledged the issue but only offered to cover half of the $1,200 repair cost. They declined full assistance, citing the expiration of the class-action extended warranty (5 years/100,000 miles), despite this being a latent defect with safety implications. Known Precedent: Many other Outback owners have received full coverage from Subaru for this exact issue, even outside of the warranty, suggesting inconsistent application of goodwill support. This is clearly a systemic defect. Requested Action: I am reporting this because the defect affects safety-critical features. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate whether this issue warrants a broader recall or compliance action. The unpredictable failure of the rearview camera and screen functionality poses a clear risk to driver and public safety. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was blank. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the radio system display had failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Jul 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The infotainment system in the car has suffered from screen delamination, which is apparently common with these models. This has left the touchscreen both non-responsive to touch as well as randomly selecting items on the screen, rendering it unusable. This is a safety issue because the only way to deactivate Reverse Automatic Braking and the rear parking sensors is through the touchscreen. Being able to do this is essential when connecting a trailer or attempting to reverse with one attached. Subaru is aware of the problem and was subject to class action litigation related to it, ultimately being required to extend the warranty on the units as a result. However, the warranty extension was inadequate and left several thousand units in the field which would eventually require replacement. Note that a similar issue on the 2019 models resulted in an 8-year / 150,000-mile warranty extension on the units, yet prior models were only required to have a 4-year / 80,000-mile extension. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Arriving at my childhood home, I followed the driveway to the left to park in front of the garage door. With my foot on the brake and slowly rolling to a stop, the car suddenly accelerated and jolted forward making contact with the garage door and the frame of the garage. This caused damage to the house, garage door and the front of the car. Thankfully there was no other car in the way or a pedestrian! Only the house and car were damaged. This was sudden and there was no warning or prior occurrence to make me aware of the problem. We spoke to the dealer service manager and at first he said he never heard of anything like that. After further conversation he admitted that another car had a similar issue. They kept the car for two weeks and couldn't repeat the issue. We then went on line and found there are several class action lawsuits against Subaru for the same thing - unexpected and sudden forward acceleration! But when contacting Subaru corporate for assistance in resolving this, they claimed they never heard of any class action lawsuits or problems such as this. We need help dealing with Subaru. They are playing with us. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | This is the third time my windshield has cracked in the last three years. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera failed to display a rearview image, comprising the back over prevention system. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rear-view camera. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 39,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 39,000 |
| Jul 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I have recently experienced an issue touchscreen delamination, which I understand has affected other Subaru owners as well. While my vehicle is no longer under the standard warranty, I believe this issue stems from a known defect and not normal wear and tear. More importantly, it has created a significant safety concern. Calling people on accident and in my case call 911 by mistake. The touchscreen issue is interfering with my ability to safely use backup camera and vehicle settings. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Halo light is out and it does not show on dashboard. Halo light is part of headlight system. It is part of daylight running lights. Unable to replace light without replacing the entire headlight. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that at the time of the purchase, the contact was shown a fraudulent Carfax report that displayed that the vehicle mileage was 35,000 and a fraudulent title that displayed that the vehicle mileage was 30,870 on issued date 04/25/24. The contact stated that upon retrieving the vehicle Carfax report personally later, it was discovered that there was a mileage and title information discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 35,000, and after the contact retrieved the vehicle Carfax report personally, it was discovered that the mileage was 166,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 166,000 |
| Jun 2025 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Sunroof's glass panel exploded/shattered unexpectedly due to unknown cause(s)/reason(s) while driving vehicle. No external item(s) contacted sunroof glass panel. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The radio has Cracks or striations on the screen that are Causing the Panel to make calls, Dial a phone, change the radio station...ETC. Complete random beeping and it is distracting when driving, The touch screen has become defunct and the Comp[uter does all random things, It does what it wants, when it wantys! I am afraid it is a danger! And please lookl into this, there are Many subaru owners Complaining of the same thing. They are saying that the screen is :Dellaminating" That is what they are calling it. That I why I am making a formal complaint. Thank you! PS...By the way, I was NOT calling mom, It did it on its own!! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | the radio malfunctions. it beeps constantly. it randomly changes inputs it won’t tune. the screen is severely dirty on inside so can’t clean it; thus making back up camera look smudged. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The touchscreen is completely malfunctioning and unusable. It started off as a one off incident during a very hot streak in the summer of 2024. I wrote it off and a fluke because of the temperature. 9 months later and the screen is constantly going haywire with ghost touches. Every feature that is controlled through that screen fails. Even using the controls on the steering wheel fail to work when the touchscreen is nonoperational. This system is so integrated into the systems of the vehicle that it is a safety concern. Subaru is aware of this issue and offered an extended warranty. However, if the system didn’t fail during that extended time, you are out of luck. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | BACK OVER PREVENTION,EQUIPMENT | The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while reversing, the display screen image was glaring and cloudy. Additionally, the infotainment screen failed to function properly and made beeping sounds, distracting the contact while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the infotainment screen had delaminated and that the head unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 74,000 |
| Apr 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Star system is malfunctioning. I cannot access the control panel because of delamination. This causes difficulty viewing backup camera and driver distraction. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the cruise control was inoperable. The contact was unable to connect to the radio or Bluetooth. The failure had progressed over time. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that another unknown local dealer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was due to a previous crash. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 26,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 26,000 |
| Apr 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The radio touch screen is defective. It does not respond to touches and does things on its own (ghost touches). Subaru and Harman Kardon are aware of the problem and even extended the warranty but unless your unit failed within the warranty window you're out of luck. The problem is this -- these units are now an integral part of vehicle functionality and a malfunctioning unit is a serious safety issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My sunroof on my subaru outback 2018 exploded while going north on the 5 from sea world drive to balboa exit. thankfully my cover was on and debris didnt fall on my while driving. Saw online many subaru outback owners have had similar issues. i want to file a claim and have the manufacturer pay for the damages | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The navigation screen that controls apps, radio, navigation and phone has delamanated and now has a mind of its own. If my phone is connected it will actually start making random calls while driving, radio sound changes, screens will switch on tjeir own while driving. It started a a year ago. I just thought it was a periodic glitch. It has progressly gotten worse. I saw there was a class action suit and didn't inform? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Replaced windshield at dealer using factory glass on 8/7/24. Daughter came out of apartment on approximately the 18th of December and the windshield had a horizontal crack from side to side. She did not have anything hit the windshield and there were not dings or stars in it. It appears to be a stress crack from either a defective install or glass. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The Head Unit, which is the center built-in touchscreen of the 2018 Subaru Outback, began glitching after 5 to 6 years after this vehicle was purchased. It would not register actual touches, and then it would register touches that did not occur, it became so severe that while driving, the radio would change on its own, navigation/GPS application would become unusable, and other distracting actions would occur without any way of fixing them. After some online research, matching photos of the screen showing bubbles underneath, and similar reports we have found including a class-action lawsuit against Subaru, the vehicle was taken in for official diagnosis of Delamination. Subaru Of America (SOA) agreed to pay $1000 of the approx $1500 cost to replace the Head Unit, and recommended we reach out directly to NHTSA to report a safety concern to have a potential recall started. This issue is a dangerous distraction and safety concern, and it seems to be a common occurrence with these Head Units. There were numerous incidents before getting the screen repaired where it caused driving distractions with the erratic movements and changes on the screen, which could cause an accident. Please recall these so no one ends up in an accident or ends up having to pay for this faulty part. Thank you for your time. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Had my recalls completed and started having jerking on my way home from the dealership. Didn’t have any issues prior and I drove 2 hours to the closest Subaru dealership. Had transmission serviced and still doing it. Read the fuel update and head unit updated could take a bit longer to learn and could cause jerking but still happening 3 weeks later. Transmission was serviced last week. The shop to do it stated didn’t notice metal shavings nor sounds in the transmission or the oil and suggested it be the computer problem with the recall fixes. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |