2018 Subaru Outback problems and complaints
Owners have filed 816 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Outback. The most-reported areas: Electrical System (267), Visibility/Wiper (234), Unknown Or Other (162).
Key takeaways
- 816 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 | 267 | 33% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 234 | 29% |
| Unknown Or Other | 162 | 20% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 43 | 5% |
| Visibility | 41 | 5% |
| Engine | 37 | 5% |
| Steering | 36 | 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%.
Parts for the 2018 Subaru Outback
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| 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.
Exterior Lighting - filed 2026-10-20
Was notified by the dealer upon completion of an oil change, on May 20, 2026, that the driver side front daytime LED running light was not functioning. The light was not on. I am a faithful user of either turning on my headlights in the absence of DRL or using the factory DRL on the vehicle. The failure of one DRL...
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-10-19
The multimedia device/infotainment system (Harman-Kardon) which controls the radio, navigation maps, back-up camera, etc, is again showing issues with the screen, "delamination," which causes the radio channels to change irradically, causing distraction and confusion when driving. This issue was found and RECALLED yea...
Steering,suspension,unknown Or Other - filed 2026-10-11
SUMMARY OF SAFETY DEFECT: The vehicle exhibits severe, premature corrosion and rust perforation of the front subframe (crossmember) assembly. This structural component is deteriorating at an accelerated rate, compromising the vehicle's structural integrity. This was confirmed at a Subaru dealership and as a result has ...
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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.