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 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THREE ITEMS: WHEN VEHICLE IS SWITCHED-ON - VIDEO DISPLAY FOR REVERSE/BACKUP CAMERA IS NOT WORKING. DISPLAY COMPONENTS ARE RESPONDING TO TOUCH BUT NO AUDIO IS HEARD FOR RADIO, PHONE, OR NAVIGATION. ONCE VEHICLE IS SWITCHED-OFF - DISPLAY CONSOLE AND SIDE LIGHTS (ON CENTER COMPUTER) REMAIN ILLUMINATED PULLING FROM THE BATTERY. NOW MY CAR IS DEAD AND REQUIRES A JUMP! | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I HAVE HAD 2 ROCK CHIP REPAIRS AND I WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WITHIN A SPAN OF 6 MONTHS. ALL THESE CRACKS WERE RIGHT ON THE LINE OF SIGHT. SINCE I AM DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I CANNOT STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. IT IS REALLY RISKY TO DRIVE WITH SUCH A DELICATE WINSHIELD. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CRACK IS LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE LIFE DAMAGE ? THE COST OF A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH RECALIBRATION IN 700$. IF I KEEP DOING THIS EVERY 2 MONTHS, IT WILL SURPASS THE AMOUNT I USED TO PURCHASE THE CAR?. IT HAS BEEN WIDELY SPOKEN THAT OUTBACK HAS A WINDSHIELD DEFECT. THOUGH THEY HAD SOME RECALLS IN 2015, EVEN THE NEWER VERSIONS LIKE MINE 2018, HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE OUTBACKS WINSHIELD CANNOT WITHSTAND EVEN SMALL STONES. YOU CAN LITERALLY HEAR THE IMPACT OF EVEN A RAINDROP FALLING ON THE GLASS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE GONE TO THE POINT OF MAKING SURE THAT MY WINDESIELF IS NOT CRACKED WHEN IT RAINS WITH HAIL AT TIMES. DOING SO MAKE ME STRESSFUL ABOUT MY SAFETY AS WELL AS FINANCIAL BURDEN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. IT CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS EXTERNAL IMPACT BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER CARS DRIVING ALONG SIDE THE HIGHWAY AND WERE EXPOSED TO THE SAME ROCK CHIPS FROM A TRUCK, ONLY MY OUTBACKS WINSHIELD CRACKED. 2 OF THE CRACKS WAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEREAS THE OTHER ONE WAS WHILE DRIVING NEAR MY HOME (A VERY VERY RARE SCENARIO). I HOPE THIS ISSUE IS NOTICES AS THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND SUBURU HAS SO FAR IGNORED ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND THE TAXPAYER ENDS UP PAYING THE COST OF THE VEHICLE FOR ITS REPAIRS DUE TO A DEFECT FROM SUBARU'S END | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Apr 2019 | STEERING | VEHICLE LOSES CONTROL AT 50 MPH AND HIGHER SPEEDS. STEERING FEELS VERY LOOSE AND LIKE VEHICLE IS HYDROPLANING ON DRY SURFACES. ON OCCASION IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY A GUST OF WIND AND FLOATS. VEHICLE FEELS VERY INSECURE ON HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT'S SCARY! | Crash: No Fire: No | 19,000 |
| Apr 2019 | STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | SUBARU LANE ASSIST STEERING ISSUE. WHEN YOU HAVE LANE ASSIST ON THE CAR WILL TRY AND STEER FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY AND STARTED AFTER 10,000 MILES WAS ON THE CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Apr 2019 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | FUEL SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING DEFECT - FUEL WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE NOR READ PROPERLY BELOW 50 MILES. I HAD 30 MILES LEFT IN THE TANK, PARKED THE CAR AND AFTER WORK (APPROX. 8 HOURS) I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. HAD TO UTILIZE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE - THANK GOODNESS THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION OR ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. BRAND NEW CAR RUNS WORSE THAN MY 1988 HONDA CRX. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Mar 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | VIDEO SCREEN FOR THE DISPLAY OF THE BACKUP CAMERA VIEW IS NOT WORKING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,228 |
| Mar 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | STEREO OUTPUT ABRUPTLY CHANGED FROM ALL SPEAKERS AT NORMAL VOLUME, TO ONE SPEAKER AT INCREASED VOLUME. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN AN URBAN SETTING. THIS KIND OF RANDOM VOLUME CHANGE FROM THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING CAN BE QUITE JARRING AND SURPRISING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,100 |
| Mar 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | HEAD UNIT IS MALFUNCTIONING MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY. INTERMITTENT PHONE MUTING, INTERMITTENT PHONE DISCONNECT, NO VOLUME THROUGH APPLE CAR PLAY WHILE IN PARK, SPEAKERS COME THROUGH ON WEIRD CHANNEL EXTREMELY LOUDLY ALL OF A SUDDEN, NO VOLUME ON RADIO, CHANNELS ON RADIO ALL OF A SUDDEN CHANGE, PULSATING POWER SIGNAL THROUGH USB PORT(CHANGED MULTIPLE CABLES)SAYS ITS CHARGING DEVICE BUT DEVICE DIES, VOICE COMMAND BUTTON ON STEERING WHEEL NOT WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, PHONE CONNECTED ON CAR PLAY BUT CAR SAYS NO PHONE CONNECTED. STARLINK WILL NOT START UP AND HAVE TO RESTART CAR. INTERMITTENTLY SQUEALING IN THE CAR. FOR ALL PROBLEMS CAR MAY BE MOVING OR STATIONARY. IN PARK OR DRIVE OR REVERSE. MAY BE ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD CONDITION GOING ANY DIRECTION. THIS INTERMITTENT BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE ONSET OF OWNERSHIP. | Crash: No Fire: No | 50 |
| Mar 2019 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING UP FROM A STOP SIGN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS NO POWER AND YOU HAVE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THE CAR TO RESPOND. SOMETIMES THIS OCCURS AT LOW SPEED GOING LEFT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS NO POWER AND YOU HAVE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET IT TO RESPOND. THE ENGINE NEVER STALLS OUT. ON THE EXPRESSWAY IT DROPPED OUT OF CRUSE TWICE. I PULLED UP TO A STOP SIGN TO CROSS INTO TRAFFIC AND IT HAD POWER AT FIRST AND THEN NO POWER. I WAS THEN IN A PANIC MODE PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND FINALLY IT RESPONDED. THIS IS WHY I THINK IT IS SERIOUS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,465 |
| Mar 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | IN LESS THAN A YEAR ON 2 OCCASIONS A SMALL ROCK CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHEN IT RAINS THE WATER DROPS DO NOT RUN OFF OF THE SIDE MIRRORS WE ARE UNABLE TO SEE. AT NIGHT THE DROPS OF WATER MAGNIFIES THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE CARS BEHIND US AND THIS BLINDS US. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WE HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN A MOTEL AS WE COULDN'T DRIVE. WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS, BUT NOTHING WORKS | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | STARTED CAR THIS MORNING AND THE UNIT THAT CONTROLS THE RADIO, BACKUP CAMERAS, NAVIGATION AND BLUETOOTH IS BLANK AND UNRESPONSIVE.. DEAD. CAR IN GARAGE WHEN STARTING. CAR DRIVES FINE EXCEPT FOR ABOVE DEFICITS | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,141 |
| Mar 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE ENTIRE "INFOTAINMENT" SYSTEM, CENTRAL DISPLAY CONSOLE, AND CONTROL PANEL DOES NOT WORK. IT WILL NOT TURN ON. THE SCREEN IS BLACK. NOTHING WORKS. THE REAR VIEW CAMERA SAFETY SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. THE RADIO, BLUETOOTH, AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. THIS SYMPTOM IS CONSTANT. IT OCCURS WHEN STATIONARY, IN MOTION, IN CITY, HIGHWAY, TURNING - ALWAYS. IN REVERSE THE REARVIEW CAMERA DOES NOT DISPLAY AN IMAGE. THE HANDS FREE CALLING SYSTEM/BLUETOOTH DOES NOT WORK - AGAIN, THIS ISSUE IS CONSTANT REGARDLESS OF CONDITIONS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,000 |
| Mar 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | ON FEBRUARY 22, 2019, THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE DASH BELOW THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAME LOOSE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT WAS HANGING DOWN ATTACHED BY WIRES AND DANGLED OVER THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS, INTERFERING WITH THEIR SAFE OPERATION. I WAS ON A HIGHWAY ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I CAREFULLY DROVE HOME. SUBARU ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE NEXT DAY THAT THE PANEL HAD BEEN PROPERLY REATTACHED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,200 |
| Feb 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON SOUTH US HWY 231 (LEFT LANE), WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW POPPED AND SHATTERED AND THEN BROKEN GLASS FELL INTO BACKSEAT OF CAR. THERE WAS NO CAR IN RIGHT LANE OR IN FRONT OF MY CAR. THERE WERE NO ADVERSE ROAD CONDITIONS. NO OTHER DAMAGE TO CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Feb 2019 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | USING EYE-SIGHT CONTROLS THE AUTOMATIC STOPPING DISTANCE IS SET TOO STOP TOO CLOSE TO THE CAR IN FRONT. VARIES IN STOPPING DISTANCE ,CANNOT DEPEND ON THE SYSTEM THEREFOR CAN NOT USE THE SYSTEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Feb 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE CENTRAL DISPLAY CONSOLE WHERE BACKUP CAMERA IS WENT TO BLACK SUDDENLY AND WILL NOT TURN ON. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. HERE IS A LINK TO MANY OTHER 2018 2019 SUBARU OWNERS REPORTING SAME ISSUE HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T75428_DS961674 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | BACKUP CAMERA IS BLACK GPS AND RADIO DEAD | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Feb 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THE HEAD UNIT WENT BLACK AND THAT MEANS I DO NOT HAVE A BACK UP CAMERA. I LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE BACK UP CAMERA IS A MUST. I PURCHASED THIS UNIT BECAUSE IT HAVE A BIG BACK UP CAMERA AND ALL 2018 MODELS MUST HAVE BACK UP CAMERA. SUBARU FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE SAFETY COMPLIANCE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2019 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | VEHICLE USES COOLANT AT AN ALARMING RATE WHICH HAS NEARLY LEAD TO OVERHEATING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO PASS MAKING THE MANEUVER UNSAFE. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO LOOK AT CAR AGAIN, ALREADY BEEN IN SHOP 4 TIMES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Feb 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | SECOND CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN ONE WEEK. FIRST ONE WAS REPLACED 2/8/18. BOTH TIMES TRAVELED AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEED 25-40 MPH ON LOCAL FWY IN LOS ANGELES, CA. SUNNY MILD, DRY CONDITIONS, NO WIND. SMALL PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD. COULDN'T SEE HIT, ONLY HEARD A SMALL CRACK SOUND. DAMAGED WINDSHIELD, FIRST TIME SMALL PEBBLE MARK GREW TO LONG CRACK. INITIAL IMPACT SIZE ABOUT 1.5 - 2 MM. ONE WEEK LATER ANOTHER PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD IN SLOW TRAFFIC,35 MPH, NO TRUCKS NEAR BY. SAME SIZE OF MARK. SUBARU REQUIRES THEIR WINDSHIELD REPAIR AT CUSTOMER COST OF $930. WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER ANY DEBRIS DAMAGE, BUT SMALL PEBBLES SHOULD NOT CAUSE THIS KIND OF DAMAGE AND COSTS. HAD A GRAND CHEROKEE 184K MILES AND NEVER A CRACK OR DING, NEVER ISSUE FOR OUR 2005 SAAB, OR ANY OREVIOUS VEHICLE. SHOULD NOT COST US $1860 MONTH ADDITIONAL TO MAINTAIN CAR, PLUS SAFETY ISSUE. ACCORDING TO SUBARU CORPORATE: DOES NOT RECOMMEND US TO DRIVE IT WITH I-SITE CAMERA WITH A DAMAGED WINDSHIELD. THEY SAY THAT THE GLASS IS THINNER/LIGHTER IN ORDER TO WORK WITH CAMERA AND BE MORE FUEL EFFICIENT/LIGHTER. CARS SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND NORMAL DRIVING AND ROAD CONDITIONS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Feb 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | EXPLODING SUNROOF. THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED INTO PIECES WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY OFFRAMP WITH NO OTHER CARS OR BRIDGES NEARBY. IT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THE CAR WASN'T DAMAGED OR SCRATCHED ANYWHERE ELSE, AND THERE WAS NO OBJECT OR DEBRIS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 19,818 |
| Feb 2019 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | GAS INDICATOR SAYS I HAVE MORE GAS THEN I DO. WHEN EMPTY IT STILL REGISTERS GAS. THERE IS A RECALL BUT NO FIX IS PRESENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,000 |
| Feb 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | ON START UP OF VEHICLE THE RADIO AUTOMATICALLY COMES ON AT A LOUD VOLUME AND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED OR TURNED OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO BACKUP OR MOVE OUT OF A PARKING SITUATION. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY SUBARU MECHANICS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO KEEP THE RADIO FROM AUTOMATICALLY COMING ON WHEN I START THE CAR. OTHER OWNERS HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS FEATURE. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR 7/4/18 | Crash: No Fire: No | 15 |
| Feb 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE REVERSING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED AND CRASHED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHILE LEAVING THE CRASH SITE; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SALVAGE LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED FLATIRON SUBARU (5995 ARAPAHOE AVE, BOULDER, CO 80303, (877) 464-2714) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1-374723133. ADDITIONALLY, AN INVESTIGATION TEAM COLLECTED THE DATA BOX. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | 6,000 |