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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The infotainment system freezes randomly causing screen to freeze including while backing up. This causes it to appear as though the back up camera is working when in reality it is not. Serious safety concern if cross traffic or children are not seen. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | ENGINE | Vehicle was parked with engine idling (waiting for passengers), engine accelerated to very high revs without any operator action. Driver shutdown engine. Driver checked to be sure nothing could have hit the accelerator, nothing found. Restarted the vehicle, could not reproduce the problem. About 2 miles down the road a RED exclamation symbol appeared on dash panel and shut off after 5 to 10 seconds. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Battery keeps draining. I replaced the original battery 6 months ago and it just drained again | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I was driving my vehicle in the dark through an unpopulated area of a highway. No other cars were near mine, as traffic was light. I was listening to music, but still heard a single “pop” sound. A few minutes later I heard another one. The next morning ( day) I noticed a crack (almost straight across horizontal ) in my windshield that looks as if it originated at the edge of the passenger’s side. It makes about a 90 degree curved turn about 1/2 way in the crack then goes up at a slight angle then makes another about 90 degree turn and then goes horizontal agsin. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Premature battery drainage. This problem is well documented in existing class action lawsuits. My original battery was replaced under warranty on 9/10/19, Invoice #19682 from Van Bortel Subaru of Rochester NY. 17264 miles on odometer. MY wife and I were recently stranded with this replacement battery failing with less than 10k miles on it. There was no pre-warning of the problem. According to the internet, battery drainage is a problem with 2017-2019 Outbacks and Ascents. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | After purchasing my 2018 Subaru Outback, I experienced 2 instances where my battery died in the first 2 yrs of ownership. After the second instance, where it had died while I was eating at a restaurant, I contacted the dealership right away. They replaced the battery with a new manufacturer battery saying the previous battery failed the testing. I paid $176 for a new one. This was in March 2021. While preparing to return from my summer home in the mtns to my permanent home on the coast, I spent at least an hour packing my car and trying to keep the door and hatch openings at a minimum. Well, my car battery was dead while trying to start my car for my trip home. I had previously purchased a portable battery pack at the cost of $100 with me, and was able to get it started. One should not have to go such lengths when traveling as doors and the hatch are almost always being used. My car is going in for service at the dealership for this particular issue, but they are only going to replace the battery of which I have been informed. My car has 35,000+ miles and is only 4 yrs old. I traded in my previous car because it had over 100,000 miles on it. But I never had these kinds of issues with it. Now I am hesitant to travel anywhere unless I have that battery pack as it is deemed not reliable! This is ridiculous!! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Battery draining issue. Jump starts required | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I bought a 2018 Subaru outback in January of 2022 from a Subaru dealership. Approximately 3 months after purchase the car battery died suddenly with no prior warning, so I jumped it, it started fine and I drove it to work. When I took my lunch break 3 hours later, my car was dead again. I jumped it, it stated fine and I drove home. same thing happened when I tried to go back into work, and when I tried to leave work for the day. During my lunch break on the way into work the dash light and display screen shut off completely while I was driving this happened a second time when i left work on the way to an auto shop. At the auto shop they ran diagnostic on the battery and declared it dead, unable to hold a charge any longer. I then payed 250$ bought a brand new battery and got that installed. Here I am 6 months later and I am having the same issues with the battery. This is a safety issue what am I to do if the battery dies while I'm driving and leaves me stranded in the winter. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 incidences where the car accelerated on its own. 1st time pulling into a parking Space, Slammed on brakes barely got it to stop otherwise I would have gone through a store front. 2nd time same night in heavy traffic going to the George Washington bridge crawling in traffic while keeping at least a car length Between me and the car in front of me it did it again and I had to pull up on the parking brake and again I hit the brakes as hard as I could otherwise I would have slammed into the back end of a tractor trailer. I have owned this car for about a year and nothing like this has ever happened. Absolutely terrifying To the point where I don't Even want to keep the car. Called Subaru told them what was happening and they said they never heard of this before but they Don't have any appointments with loaner car until October 10th. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Entertainment Unit Defects Car Battery Fast Drainage | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | The battery has drained twice in the time that I have owned this vehicle. Once I was able to recharge the battery by jumpstarting and letting it run. The second time it required a battery replacement. This was approximately 12 months after the first incident. The electrical system also has unpredictable quirks related to the window functions and lighting. I am uncertain to other resulting irregularities that may be occurring under the hood. Currently, my car is being serviced for a radiator fan and motor replacement for the cooling system. The estimate for repair is $1747 + tax. This is potentially related to the electrical quirks related to the battery irregularities. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS | Battery failed and had to be replaced Wheel Bearing replacement | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE | The battery in my 2018 Subaru Outback has been replaced three times since I purchased it. I am the sole owner. The original battery was replaced within seven months of purchase due to continual battery drainage. The dealership replaced it with the same type of battery and I was not charged. When I went into the dealership expressing concern with the second battery also having to be jump started frequently when the battery was barely two years old, I was told that is the typical life of a battery for the newer electronic vehicles and because the area I live in has excessive heat, that also lowers the battery life. I have had to jump start my vehicle so many times, I stopped taking my vehicle on long trips for fear of being stuck somewhere. In August of 2021, during a cross- states road trip, the battery died mid-trip. I jumped it and had it replaced at my own cost, but not at a dealership. They gave me a 5-year warrenty on the battery. When I took the car into the dealership and had them run diagnostics, they told me that, "Yes, there was some kind of power draw, but then it couldn't be duplicated, so we don't know what the problem is. That will be $117.00." I think Subaru makes great products and my dealership has wonderful employees, but there is currently a Class Action Suit going on, and I wanted to support those who are filing. Subaru needs to acknowledge and fix the issue. And reimburse me the $117.00 plus the $169.56 for my third battery. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I was changing the passenger side wiper blade, and when the wiper was lowered to the windshield, the windshield cracked. The crack is now moving up towards the forward eyesight detection system. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION | Car jerked back and suddenly accelerated without warning as driver had foot on brake and was slowly pulling into parking spot. Car hit wall of parking garage causing front end damage. Parking collision warning did not sound at any point. Car was going 1-2 MPH and was 5 feet from end of parking spot when incident occurred. Sudden acceleration when driver has foot on brake can cause injury to driver, passengers or others in the path of the car. No hazards in parking garage were present that could have caused accident, which was witnessed by driver's work colleague. No police report filed. Incident was reported to Subaru, which ran diagnostic and could not replicate issue. No warning messages were present prior to the incident. It appears there are 2 current class action lawsuits filed against Subaru reporting similar issues with 2018 Outback. I am unsure what component failed to cause this issue; car is available for inspection on request. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Battery is dying pre-emptively. Have gone through 2 batteries in one month. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Subaru Starlink system flickers, selects apps and does all of this without ANY touching. At times, the backup camera is not working. Having a phone connected does not improve the problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Persistent battery drain. Car was jumped a week ago because it wouldn't start at all. It has been sluggish to start (turns over a couple times before catching) since and had a major error with the rear hatch today despite starting up. Power rear hatch will alarm as open but then cannot be opened with key fob, button in car, or button on hatch. The rear alarm will ring consistently until car has been running for 10 min/reached 60 mph but restarts again at stop lights. It is currently scheduled to be looked at in 4 days, if it is able to be safely driven to the dealership. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I bought this Outback new back in June of 2018. I just purchased the 3rd battery for it today 8/11/22. I’ve noticed that the past 2 batteries have been corroded and barely last 1.5-2 years. It sounds like this is an issue with many other owners as well where the battery either doesn’t fully charge or continues to deplete when the car is off and parked. The battery gets so low and is so corroded that it can’t get jumped by remote starters and requires a jump from a started car. The shop I took it to to replace the battery said they couldn’t get a read from their battery checker because the terminals had so much acid on them. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | AIR BAGS | SEVERE, HEAD-ON IMPACT TO DRIVER'S SIDE, OTHER CAR WAS TOTALED. POLICE EXPECTED BOTH CARS TO BE TOTALED, AND WERE SURPRISED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, HOWEVER, SHE TOOK A HARD HIT TO HER HEAD, NECK AND SHOULDER. DEALER, INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER HAVE NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, NOR HAS PROBLEM BEEN REPRODUCED. AIRBAG HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, OR INSURANCE REP., POLICE AND REPAIR FACILITY ONLY. NO WARNING LAMPS, ETC. WERE KNOWN TO HAVE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE AND AIRBAG ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 8 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Gas Gauge is not working correctly. This problem was supposedly fixed in a previous recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | car battery dies if tailgate is opened for several minutes. Had to replace battery in January 2022 and still have issues with the battery. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Normal vehicle start. While leaving shopping mall parking lot, vehicle suddenly shut down; no electrical, no accelerator, no power steering, no engine. Was able to steer vehicle to safe location out of traffic path. Waited approximately 10 minutes, tried vehicle again, and it started / drove normally. Vehicle inspected afterward by dealer, who found no issues, and returned vehicle with no repairs made. Driver is 86 year old widow, who is terrified of being stranded in an unreliable car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The electrical system in our Subaru is draining the battery prematurely, which could cause us to get stranded. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The battery loses its charge so that the car will not start if I don’t drive the car at least once or twice a week. The battery and electric system of the car was checked July 11, 2022 at the Bay Ridge Subaru dealership in Brooklyn, NY and all systems were found to be normal and good, including the battery. The battery is only 1 year old and is under a 30 month warranty. The Subaru service technician said that the car needs to be run for 45 minutes twice a week or this problem will keep happening and will lead to the battery needing replacement much sooner than normal. He also suggested I buy a portable battery jumper or a stronger bigger battery for $500-$750. So he acknowledged that this model has issues with the battery draining. He said the newer Subaru electrical system in Subaru Outbacks was first tested on this car model and year, and that was the cause of the problem, that they hadn’t figured out an efficient electrical system for the newer Subaru Outbacks by the time they started selling the 2018 Subaru Outback. The system is available to look at upon request. The problem was confirmed by the Subaru dealership service technician. The safety hazard is that I or my family might get stuck somewhere that is remote or dangerous due to weather or temperature with a car that won’t start. Or if I need to escape a bad situation quickly and my car won’t start. There were no warnings before the battery died. This has happened 3 times in the past two months. Today is July 11, 2022. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |