2018 Subaru Outback problems and complaints
Owners have filed 811 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Outback. The most-reported areas: Electrical System (265), Visibility/Wiper (233), Unknown Or Other (160).
Key takeaways
- 811 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 27 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 19 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 265 | 33% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 233 | 29% |
| Unknown Or Other | 160 | 20% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 43 | 5% |
| Visibility | 41 | 5% |
| Engine | 37 | 5% |
| Steering | 35 | 4% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 | 3% |
| Back Over Prevention | 19 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 18 | 2% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 18 | 2% |
| Structure | 15 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-12
Infotainment unit in my 2018 Subaru Outback has had a recurring freeze/black-screen defect since new, and it directly affects the backup camera display and interaction with EyeSight safety features, creating a rear-visibility hazard while reversing and a driver-distraction hazard while underway. Documented history: On ...
Engine - filed 2026-09-11
The car started to make very loud engine noises and then the engine completely failed. The car was no longer able to accelerate and lost the ability to go in both forward and reverse. Luckily, my son had just arrived home when the car completely lost power, but it began to have acceleration issues as he was driving hom...
Structure - filed 2026-09-09
I was driving on the highway going 70 MPH when the hood latch suddenly came unlatched. The hood flew up and smashed into the windshield, blocking my view. I was able to slow down and pull onto the shoulder, but there was damage to my hood, windshield, rear view mirror, body panels, sunroof, roof, and trim.
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2018 Subaru Outback
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.