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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |
| Feb 2019 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,400. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,400 |
| Feb 2019 | STRUCTURE | WINDSHIELD SEVERELY CRACKED,POSSIBLY FROM SMALL PEBBLE AT APPROX 35 MPH APPROACHING FWY ON RAMP. WE WERE INFORMED BY CORPORATE THAT THE WINDSHIELD GLASS IS 'SENSITIVE' DUE TO THE 'EYE SIGHT' FEATURE CALIBRATED WITH THE WINDSHIELD. WINDSHIELD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED - AT OWNERS EXPENSE AT $1100. SIZE OF INITIAL IMPACT DAMAGE MARK ON WINDSHIELD WAS 1/16' OR 1-2MM. NEXT DAY IT SPREAD TO SEVERAL INCHES WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. SMALL PEBBLES OR COMMON ROAD DEBRIS SHOULD NOT CAUSE WINDSHIELD FAILURES ESPECIALLY IN VEHICLES THAT ARE ALL WHEEL DRIVE FOR OFF-ROAD. READ THAT OTHER VEHICLES OF SAME YEAR AND MODEL ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING WINDSHIELD FAILURE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Feb 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I GOT INTO MY CAR, IT PARKED, CLOSED THE DOOR, HEARD SOMETHING FALL AND WHEN I CHECKED TO SEE WHAT THE NOISE WAS MY ENTIRE REAR WINDOW ON THE HATCH WAS SHATTERED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO FIX IT ON MY OWN, THEY ALSO SAID ANY OF THE WARRANTIES I PURCHASED ALSO DONT COVER IT. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT 4 PEOPLE ALSO CALLED THIS SAME WEEK WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAD A HATCH BACK CAR FOR 15+ YRS BEFORE PURCHASING THIS SUBARU AND THIS NEVER HAPPENED. JUDY DIDNT SEEM RIGHT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Feb 2019 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH 1/8TH OF A TANK OF GAS REMAINING. GAS LIGHT CAME ON ONLY A FEW MILES PRIOR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A GAS STATION. CAR STARTED AFTER TURNING OFF AND BACK ON. ONLY TOOK 16.9 GALLONS TO TOP OFF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE PREVIOUS TIME THE MILES TO EMPTY WAS SHOWING 50 WHEN IT STALLED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THE CURRENT RECALL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,000 |
| Feb 2019 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | RAN OUT OF FUEL EVEN THOUGH THE GAUGE HAD ORIGINALLY SAID 30 MILES TO EMPTY. THEN GAUGE WENT FROM 30 TO ---- AND THEN STALLED ALL WITHIN A FEW MILES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 30,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | BLUETOOTH WILL RANDOMLY DISCONNECT. SOMETIMES IT LASTS A FEW MINUTES, SOMETIMES A COUPLE HOURS. UNABLE TO RE-CONNECT ONCE IT DOES, SO WE HAVE TO MESS WITH SETTINGS WHILE DRIVING TO SWITCH TO AUX CABLE, RADIO, ETC OR PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR COMPLETELY. WE HAVE VERIFIED THE ISSUE WITH 6 DIFFERENT DEVICES. NONE OF THE DEVICES DEMONSTRATE THE SAME ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER BLUETOOTH DEVICES (WE USE A SPEAKER FOR HOURS ON END IN THE HOUSE WITH NO ISSUES). COMBINE THAT WITH THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN BEING INCREDIBLY SLOW, THIS IS A FRUSTRATING ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE SCREEN HAS GONE BLACK AND SIDE LIGHTS BLINK, UNABLE TO USE ANY ITEM CONTROLLED BY THE SCREEN. APPEARS THE WARNING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE STOPPING TOO CLOSELY IS NOT WORKING AS WELL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Jan 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | SUNROOF EXPLODED AND SHATTERED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE WE WERE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,200 |
| Jan 2019 | STEERING | TENSION AND CONTROL DISAPPEARS IN THE STEERING, SO LOOSE IT FEELS LIKE YOU COULD SPIN THE WHEEL LIKE A TOP. LASTS A SECOND OR SO THEN CONTROL RETURNS. HAPPENS IN MULTIPLE DRIVING CONDITIONS. NOTICED IT FIRST DAY WE HAD THE CAR, DEALER SAID HE NOTICED IT TOO, AND WE JUST NEEDED TO BREAK THE CAR IN. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN HIGH WINDS, CAR FEELS OUT OF CONTROL, LIKE DRIVING ON SLICK ICE. NEVER HAD TO GET OFF A HIGHWAY BEFORE OUT OF FEAR AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING 40 YEARS. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE, TOLD ME TO CALL SUBARU CORPORATE, WHO SENT ME BACK TO DEALER. CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP. I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IT ONLY HAS 2700 MILES ON IT AFTER 18 MONTHS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 250 |