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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WE PURCHASED A NEW 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK IN JULY 2018. MY WIFE WAS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE. BY APRIL 2019, MY WIFE WAS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE KNEE AND HIP PAIN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY. DURING HER VISITS TO HER ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST (KNEE), SHE WAS ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES IF SHE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. IN JULY 2018, I GOT TO DRIVE HER CAR ON AN 8 HOUR TRIP. BY 5TH HOUR, MY RIGHT KNEE WAS IN MAJOR PAIN, LIKE BEING ON FIRE FROM WITHIN. IN CLOSE INSPECTION OF DRIVING POSITION, I FOUND THE FOLLOWING: 1. TRANSMISSION TUNNEL INTRUDES IN DRIVING POSITION TO OPERATE GAS PEDDLE 2. GAS PEDAL IS TUCKED AWAY TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT (LINE OF SIGHT COVERED BY TRANSMISSION TUNNEL) 3. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE LONGER THAN ANY OTHER CAR THAT WE HAVE OWNED. OPERATING THE TWO PEDALS REQUIRE WIDE TURN OF RIGHT ANKLE). THE COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE 3 DESIGN ISSUES FORCES DRIVER TO OPEN THE RIGHT LEG AT THE HIP. NEXT TO TURN TO RIGHT FOOT BELOW THE KNEE FURTHER TO THE RIGHT. LASTLY REQUIRE WIDER TURN OF RIGHT ANKLE TO OPERATE BRAKE PEDAL IF NOT LIFTING RIGHT FOOT TO OPERATE THE BRAKE PEDAL. LATER THAT DAY, WE DID AN INTERNET SEARCH ON "SUBARU" + "LEG PAIN". WE FOUND OUT REPORTED ISSUES SINCE 2013. ALSO, OUR SISTER IN-LAW WHO HAS A SUBARU FORESTER SHARED THAT AT TIME SHE FEELS DISCOMFORT IN HER RIGHT LEG WHEN TRAVELING LONGER THAN 2 HOURS. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVING PAIN IN RIGHT SIDE OF THEIR BODY. INFORMATION SURFACES ONLY WHEN WE SHARE OUR EXPERIENCE. SINCE JULY 4TH 2018, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE OUTBACK. WHILE MY DAILY COMMUTE IS NOT AS LONG AS WIFE'S, I AM EXPERIENCING DISCOMFORT IN MY RIGHT KNEE AND ANKLE. I HAVE REACH OUT TO LOCAL DEALER AND SUBARU AMERICA TOP EXECUTIVES. SO FAR THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM OR WILLING TO WORK WITH ME. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | 15,000 |
| Jan 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WINDSHIELD IS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CHIPPING FROM THE SMALLEST STONE FRAGMENTS, THEN EASILY SPREADS. WE HAD IT REPLACED ALONG WITH RECALIBRATION OF THE EYE SIGHT. COST WAS 697.00 PRIOR TO THAT ANY TIME YOU WOULD HEAR THE FAINTEST SOUND OF SOMETHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD YOU WOULD SEE A TINY CHIP MARK. I HAVE BEEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS AND DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES IN MY 62 YEARS AND THIS WINDSHIELD BY FAR IS THE MOST FRAGILE. EVEN THE NEW WINDSHIELD HAS CHIP MARKS AND IS ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS OLD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Jan 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | I WAS DRIVING IN A 4 LANE (TWO ON EACH DIRECTION) PARKWAY TOWARD A RED STOPLIGHT WITH ONE CAR STOPPED AT MY LANE AT THE LIGHT, I WAS COASTING, SLOWING DOWN TOWARD THE CAR. WHEN I WAS ABOUT 30 FT AWAY THE LIGHT CHANGED, THE CAR IN FRONT STARTED DRIVING AND I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR. THE DISTANCE TO THE CAR IN FRONT WAS DEFINITELY INCREASING HOWEVER MY CAR WENT INTO EMERGENCY BRAKING MODE, CANCELLING MY ACCELERATION PEDAL ACTION AND STOPPING THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME AS IT WOULD HAVE ALMOST CERTAINLY ENDED IN A REAR-END COLLISION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Jan 2020 | STRUCTURE | I JUST DRIVEN HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY FOR 20 MINUTES. GOT HOME AND PARKED MY CAR ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOME. I WENT INTO MY HOME AND CAME OUT ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER TO DO SOME YARD WORK. A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD CAUGHT MY EYE. I LOOKED AT IT AND IT WENT FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER IT WAS NOT THERE WHEN I PARKED MY CAR 30 MINUTES EARLIER AND NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD ON THE FREEWAY. THIS HAPPENED 9 MOS AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY MADE ME PAY $1118.33 OUT OF MY POCKET AND THEN TOLD ME TO GET REIMBURSED BY MY INSURANCE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WIFE WAS DRIVING AND A SMALL STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD, LEAVING A SMALL CHIP IN THE GLASS. UPON TURNING ON THE DEFROSTER LATER, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 30,292 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | LIKE OTHER LATE MODEL SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS, A SPONTANEOUS CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK APPEARED AT APPROXIMATELY NOON ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29TH, 2019 IN THE PARKING LOT OF A RESTAURANT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM TOMORROW AT THE SUBARU DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE INITIAL INDICATION IS THAT THE CRACK MAY NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT THE ISSUE AND PERHAPS TO RECOVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR ,IF INCURRED, FROM SUBARU. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,599 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A SPONTANEOUS CRACK BELOW THE WIPER BLADE. IT WAS STATIONERY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 100,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | SMALL ROCK (MAYBE?) HIT WINDSHIELD AND IT IMMEDIATELY CRACKED. WAS DRIVING BACK FROM MEMPHIS, TN TO LITTLE ROCK, AR CHRISTMAS EVENING ON I-40. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 1.5 YEARS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKED WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. CRACK SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 38,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A ROCK OF PIECE OF GRAVEL HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD APPROXIMATELY 1/8" FROM THE TOP EDGE OF THE GLASS IMMEDIATELY RESULTING IN A CRACK WHICH WITHIN HOURS SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 562 |
| Dec 2019 | ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),VISIBILITY/WIPER | I FOUND A CRACK IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF MY WINDSHIELD (SUBARU OUTBACK 2018). THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE CRACK (HAIL STORM, ROCK/GRAVEL HITTING CAR). AT THIS TIME, THE CRACK HAS SPREAD AND THE SUBARU EYESIGHT PROGRAM (SENSOR PROGRAM) DOES NOT WORK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Dec 2019 | STEERING | MY 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK DOES NOT HAVE STEERING ASSIST AND WAS PURCHASED NEW. AT ALL SPEEDS, THE STEERING FEELS VERY LOOSE WHEN TRAVELING RESULTING IN A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE ROAD/WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT IS HYDROPLANING OR WIND IS FORCING IT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DESPITE DRIVING ON DRY ROADS IN CALM WEATHER. THE STEERING IS ERRATIC AND IS ESPECIALLY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN OR SNOW COVERED ROADS. ON SNOWY ROADS, THE CAR DRIFTS AND FEELS LIKE IT IS UNCONTROLLABLY STARTING TO SLIDE RESULTING IN AN OVER CORRECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM IS TERRIFYING AND THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF HOW SUBARU ADVERTISES THE CAR PERFORMANCE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER AS IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY ONLY SAID IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT WHICH WE JUST HAD DONE THE PREVIOUS WEEK. SUBARU HAS HAD STEERING PROBLEMS BEFORE AND I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM. IM SURPRISED THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL SINCE THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN DRIVING ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 36,600 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | A SMALL ROCK OR PIECE OF GRAVEL HIT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD APPROXIMATELY 3" FROM THE TOP EDGE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY A 12" LONG CRACK DEVELOPED AND HAS CONTINUED TO SPREAD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 16 MONTHS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 17,000 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO REASON. ALSO, RADIO IS CONTINUALLY DEFUNCT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 27,000 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | OUR 2018 OUTBACK ALMOST KILLED MY HUSBAND. HE WAS GETTING INTO THE CAR (IT WAS RUNNING) AND JUST OPENED THE DOOR, WHEN THE CAR ROLLED BACK. HE WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE GARAGE FRAME AND FORTUNATELY THE HE WAS ABLE TO ROLL INTO THE GARAGE. HE HIT SO HARD AND LANDED ON THE SIDE OF HIS MOUNTAIN BIKE (WAS INSIDE THE DOOR) THAT IT PUNCHED A HOLE THROUGH THE WALL. I CAME OUT TO FIND HIM LAYING ON THE GROUND IN THE GARAGE AND THE CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY JUST OUTSIDE THE GARAGE. THERE IS A NATURAL SLOPE AND IT WAS STOPPED WHERE IT LEVELS OFF. THE DOOR ENDED UP BEING CAUGHT ON THE FRAME OF THE GARAGE AND OPENED ALL THE WAY AND THEN SOME BEFORE SLAMMING BACK. THE DOOR IS NOT FUNCTIONAL AND IT DAMAGED THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL AS WELL AS THE DRIVER DOOR. THIS IS MY 3RD OUTBACK AND I AM BEYOND HORRIFIED OF THIS CAR! WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM IT SINCE WE HAVE HAD IT AND I AM READY TO GET RID OF THIS ONE! DO NOT BUY THIS YEAR! THERE WAS A RECALL ON AN EARLIER YEAR OUTBACK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AS THEY WERE DOING THE SAME THING, ROLLING WHEN IN PARK. THIS CAR COULD HAVE KILLED HIM AND HE IS FORTUNATE HE WAS ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM THE CAR AND THE FRAME. I CALLED SUBARU THIS MORNING AND HAVE A CASE SO WE SHALL SEE IF I HAVE TO GET LEGAL INVOLVED OR NOT. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | 29,800 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | SUDDEN CRACKING OF THE WINDSHIELD. NO ROCKS OR PEBBLES HIT THE WINDSHIELD. IN THE MORNING I ENTERED MY VEHICLE (THAT WAS STATIONARY ALL NIGHT) AND NOTICED A 2 INCH CRACK THAT DIDN'T EXIST THE DAY BEFORE. BY AFTERNOON, THE CRACK GREW TO ALMOST HALF THE WINDSHIELD AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. GLASS CLAIM WAS PLACED VIA GEICO WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | IN AUGUST 2019 DRIVING AT ABOUT 40MPH ON A SAMLL COUNTRY ROAD A VERY SMALL PIECE OF GRAVEL STUCK WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN 20 MINUTES IT EXPANDED TO A CRACK OVER 18 INCHES LONG. JUST FIVE MONTHS LATER ON DECEMBER 22 DRIVING AT ABOUT 65MPH ON INTERSTATE 5 ANOTHER SMALL STONE STRUCK WIND SHIELD AND WITHIN 30 MINUTES A CRACK FORMED ALMOST 14 INCHES. BOTH WINDSHIELDS WERE SUBARU OEM PARTS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 48,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | A CRACK IN WINDSHIELD JUST APPEARED AND STARTED TO SPREAD SO WE TOOK IT TO MARK'S MOBILE GLASS IN JEFFERSON CITY, MO TO GET REPLACED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 54,000 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE WINDSCREEN CRACKED ABOUT TWO INCHES. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM THE TOP DOWN IN A STRAIGHT LINE. NO OTHER VEHICLES NEAR ME. I DID NOT NOTICE THAT ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSCREEN. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY SIXTY MILES PER HOUR EASTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 270 JUST EAST OF INTERSTATE 70. ABOUT 7:30 IN THE MORNING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 36,000 |
| Dec 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | INFORMATION SYSTEMS FAIL TO REBOOTING. BACKUP CAMERA FAILS ETC | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,000 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | MY GAS GAUGE SAYS I HAVE 95 MILES BEFORE INEED GAS HOWEVER MY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AT THAT TIME TELL ME TO GET GAS RIGHT AWAY | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,000 |
| Dec 2019 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS | BOUGHT VEHICLE USED ONE OWNER NO PREVIOUS OCCURANCES, 8000 MILES RECORDED. GRADUALLY, A RUMBLING SOUND COMES FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN TURNING WHEEL ON FLAT DIRT DRIVEWAY PREDOMINANTELY. CONCURRENT NOISE FROM DASH. AT 10,000 MILES THE CAR NOW MAKES RUMBLING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE TRAVELING IN STRAIGHT LINE ON GOOD PAVEMENT (INAUDIBLE AT HIGH SPEEDS) SAME FRONT RIGHT LOCATION, DASH WAS REPAIRED REPLACING SPEAKER GRILLS AND STILL MAKES RATTLING NOISE AFTER FIXING. RUMBLING NOISE FROM DRIVERS LEFT FRONT AREA CHECKED BY DEALER AND REPORTED NOTHING LOOKED WRONG. NOISE CONTINUES FROM DASHBOARD. RUMBLING NOISE FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE LEFT WHEEL/DASH AREA CONTINUES MORE OFTEN AND SEEMS TO BE INAUDIBLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS - RUMBLING NOISE UPON TURNING WHEEL AND GOING STRAIGHT ON PAVEMENT AS WELL AS ON FLAT GRADED DIRT DRIVEWAY. SUBARU DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STATES THAT HIS FIELD MANAGER HAS CONCURRED THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED ELSEWHERE AND CANNOT BE FIXED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. TAKING BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK EVERYTHING MORE THOROUGHALLY, IF THEY CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, WILL TAKE TO DEALERSHIP IN ANOTHER TOWN TO CHECK, IF THEY CANNOT FIND PROBLEM WIILL EITHER SUE USING THE LEMON LAW, OR TRADE IN FOR ANOTHER MAKE OF VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,200 |
| Dec 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE AND THE BATTERY IS STILL DEAD IF I DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 3 DAYS. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PARASITIC DRAIN. I DON'T HAVE AN OPTIONS OR ACCESSORIES INSTALLED THAT DID COME WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 27,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | IN A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 1 YEAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE WINDSHIELDS CRACKING FROM NORMAL DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR OVER 55 YEARS IN SEVERAL VEHICLES AND HAVE BEEN HIT BY ROAD DEBRIS OR ROCKS NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS WILL NORMALLY LEAVE A PIT OR STAR WHICH CAN BE REPAIRED, I NEVER HAVE HAD A VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD CRACK, ALL THE WAY ACROSS WHEN SIMPLY DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT. NOT ONCE, BUT THREE TIMES IN A 5 MONTH PERIOD. I FEEL THESE WINDSHIELDS ARE NOT SAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO BE IN. IF THEY CRACK WITH A PEBBLE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. THE FIRST WINDSHIELD CRACKED COMING BACK FROM THE GRAND CANYON VISIT. THE SECOND TIME, NEW REPLACEMENT WINDOW FROM SUBURU, CRACKED FROM LITTLE OR UNKNOWN STRIKE 2 MONTHS LATER. SUBURU REPLACED THAT WINDOW AT THEIR COST. 2 MONTHS LATER DURING JULY HEAT, A SMALL ROCK PICKED OFF THE ROAD AND THE WINDOW CRACKED IN A BACKWARD C SHAPE. SUBURU DENIES ANY LIABILITY FROM ROAD HAZARDS, AND WILL NOT CONSIDER THEY HAVE LESS QUALITY PRODUCT AS IT WAS APPROVED. READING SEVERAL BLOGS AND ONLINE COMMENTS ALERTED ME THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON AND THEY HAD PAST ISSUES WITH THEIR WINDSHIELDS. WHO CAN I SPEAK TO? | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,500 |
| Dec 2019 | STEERING | INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. HAS HAPPENED ON STRAIGHT ROADS AND ON CURVED EXITS. SPEEDS FROM 30-60MPH. DRY PAVEMENT, NO SAND/MUD/OTHER HAZARDS. HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN TIMES TOTAL. LANE ASSIST IS TURNED OFF. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,600 |