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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD DOESN'T KNOW HOW IT'S HAPPENED. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALER. THEY SUGGESTED FIXING THE ISSUE WITH INSURANCE. I DON'T KNOW WHY SUBARU IS VERY CARELESSLY HANDLING THE QUALITY OF WINDSHIELD EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE FOCUSING MORE OTHER SAFETY FEATURES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ON DRIVER APPEARED WHILE NORMAL DRIVING. NO INDICATION OF ROCK CHIPS AT ALL THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET TRAVELING STRAIGHT. CRACK ORIGINATED FROM A-PILLAR AND PROPAGATED TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED IT AT MY COST OF ABOUT $1000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 36,000 |
| Mar 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | KEYLESS ACCESS SYSTEM HAS ISSUES. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE FOUND THE CAR UNLOCKED AND / OR WITH THE REAR HATCH DOOR APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY OPEN. I'VE NOTICED ALSO THAT SOMETIMES OTHER PERSON FOB INTERFERING WITH MY CAR. 2X WHEN I'VE BEEN PARKED WITH ENGINE OFF THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD START BLARING FOR NO REASON. ALL THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITH THE CAR PARKED AND ENGINE OFF. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM BELOW WHERE THE WIPERS ARE INTO A HUGE CRACK. NO ROCK HIT ME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Mar 2020 | SEATS,VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE, I DO NOT RECALL ANY ROCKS OR DEBRIS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. NEXT MORNING THE CRACK GREW TO OVER HALF THE WINDSHIELD. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE CRACK HAS GROWN TO COVER 85% OF THE WINDSHIELD HORIZONTALLY, ALMOST IN A COMPLETE "U" SHAPE.I NOW HAVE TO DECIDE TO SPEND THE ~$1,000 TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD OR DRIVE WITH THE CRACK. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON 2ND CRACKS, I'M HESITANT. THE DRIVER SEAT HAS A VERY ANNOYING SQUEAK WHEN GETTING IN/OUT AND WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SOME DAYS IT'S WORSE THAN OTHERS, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHAT THE CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 24,000 |
| Mar 2020 | STEERING | UNCONTROLLED STEERING AS DESCRIBED BY OTHER COMPLAINTS WHILE IN MOTION. DANGEROUS AT HIGH SPEEDS. HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW JULY 18, 2018. | Crash: No Fire: No | 100 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CRACKED. THE CRACK RUNS FROM THE FAR LEFT CORNER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE JUST IN THE MIDDLE AT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY A SMALL PEBBLE BOUNCING OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED IT WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WITH THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING. THE DEALER BUD CLARY AUTO GROUP (1030 COMMERCE AVE, LONGVIEW, WA 98632 (360) 423-1700) REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTO GLASS COMPANY WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Feb 2020 | SEATS,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 1-WINDSHIELD VERY LARGE CRACK AND IT KEPT GETTING BIGGER 2-DRIVER SEAT IS SQUEAKING EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR. AFRAID THE SEAT FRAME MIGHT COME A PART DURING ACCIDENT | Crash: No Fire: No | 30,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED ABOUT 18" WHEN STATIONARY. HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TRAVELLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT FREEWAY SPEED, A TRUCK KICKED UP A ROCK WHICH HIT THE WINDSHIELD. IT CREATED A CHIP LESS THAN THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. WITHIN ONE HOUR IT STARTED CRACKING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE CHIP. I HAVE NEVER HAD A ROCK CHIP SPREAD LIKE THIS. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY REPAIR. NOW THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED ALMOST THE ENTIRE LENGTH. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SAFETY FEATURES IN THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT WORK EFFECTIVELY NOW. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT CRACK WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD AND INHIBIT MY VISION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,500 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO CRACK FROM THE RIGHT SIDE LOWER PORTION WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE GLASS FROM ANY SOURCE WHILE DRIVING AROUND 35MPH. THE CRACK CONTINUED ACROSS THE GLASS TO THE DRIVERS SIDE AND GLASS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE OR IMPACT TO THE GLASS. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THE WINDSHIELD KEPT CRACKING MULTIPLE TIMES | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Feb 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON AND THE CRACKS ARE SPREADING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,500 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS ON AN ON RAMP ABOUT TO ENTER HIGHWAY NEAR WHERE I LIVE. I WASN'T YET AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SUDDENLY NOT SURE IF A ROCK OR ROCK SALT HIT MY WINDSHIELD. IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE A LARGE PIECE, AND I DIDN'T EVEN SEE IT. WHAT SEEMED LIKE NORMAL ROAD DEBRIS THAT FROM MY EXPERIENCE WOULD NEVER AFFECT A WINDSHIELD AND HASN'T WITH OTHER CAR MAKES I'VE OWNED ACTUALLY IMPACTED MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. A SMALL CHIP/CHUNK OF GLASS APPEARED ON MY WINDSHIELD. WAS VERY SURPRISED AND APPALLED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON UPPER PASSENGER SIDE | Crash: No Fire: No | 38,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND CREATED A VERY LARGE SPIDERING CRACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 50,000 |
| Feb 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM DRIVER'S SIDE ABOUT 4 INCHES TOWARD CENTER. I ACTUALLY WITNESSED THE CRACK SUDDENLY APPEAR WHILE HEARING A CRACKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME; I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A SMOOTH STRETCH OF HIGHWAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,500 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLY FROM A ROCK. I HAVE NO PICTORAL EVIDENCE BUT I HAVE THE REPAIR RECEIPTS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,000 |
| Feb 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | CRACKED WINDSHIELD | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WINDSHIELD STARRED THEN CRACKED ACROSS MOST OF WINDSHIELD WIDTH QUICKLY. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE NEAR AND THERE WAS NO DEBRIS IN ROADWAY. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO; WINDSHIELD HAS LONG SINCE BEEN REPLACED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I HAVE A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK (LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD). DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A GLASS CRACK. THEN I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE WINDOW CRACK STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD (DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER) AND CURVING UPWARDS TOWARDS THE CENTER. PULLED OVER TO CHECK, AND THERE WAS NO SIGNS OF OBVIOUS ROCKS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THE CRACK APPEARED. I RECALL DRIVING IN THE MORNING AND AS THE WEATHER WARMED UP THE WINDOW CRACK OCCURRED. NOT SURE IF TEMPERATURE MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS, BUT IN ANY CASE THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT BE CRACKING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT OBVIOUS SIGNS OF IMPACT BY OBJECTS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,500 |
| Feb 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WE OWN 2 2018 SUBARU OUTBACKS. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN EACH ONE TWICE (A PIECE) AND ONE OF THEM HAS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AGAIN. AFTER LOOKING ON LINE I FIND THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELDS MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIPS CONTINUE TO SAY THE WINDSHIELDS ARE CRACKING BECAUSE OF ROCK CHIPS. NONE OF OUR OTHER CARS' WINDSHIELDS ARE CRACKING. THE LAST ONE CRACKED WHEN THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE GARAGE AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN. SINCE THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES WITH 2 VEHICLES SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOUR FORM ASKED DID NOT APPLY. SUCH AS HOW FAST WERE WE GOING (SOMETIMES 55,65 OR 0) WHAT DATE DID THIS OCCUR (5 DIFFERENT DATES) AT WHAT MILEAGE 5 DIFFERENT ONES BUT THEY ARE ON THE 4 INSURANCE CLAIMS I ATTACHED. THE 5TH ONE WE HAVE NOT FIXED YET. WHY? IT'S JUST GOING TO BREAK AGAIN. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REPORT IT TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, OUR RATES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF NOW BECAUSE OF ALL THESES CLAIMS AND THEN THERE IS HASSLE TO GET IT FIXED. NOT WORTH IT TO HAVE IT BREAK A MONTH OR TWO DOWN THE LINE. I AM NOT SURE MY FILES DOWNLOADED TO YOU. I HAVE THE HARD COPIES JUST IN CASE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,758 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING ON A 2 LANE HWY GOING ABOUT 50MPH WHEN I SPOTTED A SMALL STAR CRACK IN THE BOTTOM, MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK HAS CONTINUED TO GROW, MOSTLY HORIZONTAL OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS. THE WEATHER WAS MILD, ABOUT 55 DEGREES AND THERE WAS NO ONE DRIVING IN FRONT OF ME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,500 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | ON RETURNING TO PARKED CAR MID-DAY ON 2/2/2020 (A MILD WINTER DAY, PARKED IN SHADE AT SKI RESORT), I SAW A T SHAPED CRACK ON LOWER PART OF WINDSHIELD JUST ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CENTER. THERE WAS NO CHIP OR DENT OR CRACK IN THE CENTRAL WINDSHIELD WHEN I PARKED THE CAR. I DIDN'T SEE OR HEAR AN IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVE THAT MORNING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 10 DAYS, THIS HAS GROWN, EXTENDING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD AND ACROSS ABOUT HALF THE WIDTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,550 |
| Feb 2020 | ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES | MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS BRAKE FADE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, BRAKE LOSS (PETAL GOES TO FLOOR) AFTER BEING PARKED OR DRIVING, AND BRAKE LOSS IN X-MODE ( X MODE FEATURE CONTROLS BRAKING/SPEED ON STEEP SLIPPERY ROADS.SUBARU DEALER MADE 4 UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIR ATTEMPTS. SUBARU OF AMERICA FLEW IN A FIELD ENGINEER, TIED UP MY CAR 3 WEEKS BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL ALSO. MATHEW IN A RECORDED MESSAGE SOA'S SERVICE REP.CONFIRMED THE BRAKE ISSUES & CLAIMED SOA WAS TESTING ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS. ON 01/07/2020 MY 2018 SUBARU ,STILL UNDER NEW CAR WARRANT, FAILED TO PASS A NY STATE MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION. I CAN NOT LEGALLY DRIVE MY VEHICLE ON NY ROADS. SOA OFFERED ME $ 2,500.00 TO GO AWAY. I HAVE MADE VIDEOS OF MY BRAKE LOSS IT OCCURS SO FREQUENTLY. NHTSA HAS SEVERAL BRAKE FAILURE COMPLAINTS WITH ROLL OVER, INJURIES & 5 CAR PILE UPS. I BELIEVE SOA REFUSES TO HELP ME IN ORDER TO CIRCUMVENT A RECALL. THE 2017 OUTBACK HAD A BRAKE FADE ISSUE THAT SOA DID A SECRET REPAIR ACCORDING TO ONLINE INFO. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |