2018 Subaru Outback Problems and Recalls (805 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2018 Subaru Outback is Glass / wipers / cameras (32% of 805 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Glass / wipers / cameras — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 805 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2018 Subaru Outback?

259 of 805 filings named Glass / wipers / cameras (32% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (204 reports).

There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Electrical, Glass / wipers / cameras, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2017 has 914 reports on file; this year has 805. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2018 Subaru Outback

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 3 campaigns on file below.
  2. Glass / wipers / cameras. Check windshield, wipers and any camera or sensor the listing claims is there.
  3. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  4. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Glass / wipers / cameras. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Glass / wipers / cameras 259 complaints · 32.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 27
  • Fires 4
  • Injuries 19
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2017 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) appears in 259 of 805 owner complaints (32.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 259 complaints, 32.2% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 1 crash reports 259 · 32.2% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 204 complaints, 25.3% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 fire reports 204 · 25.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 36 complaints, 4.5% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 crash reports 36 · 4.5% Steering (STEERING): 26 complaints, 3.2% of reports Steering (STEERING) 26 · 3.2% Engine (ENGINE): 23 complaints, 2.9% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 23 · 2.9% Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION): 15 complaints, 1.9% of reports Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) 2 crash reports 15 · 1.9% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 13 complaints, 1.6% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 4 crash reports 13 · 1.6% Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE): 12 complaints, 1.5% of reports Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) 4 crash reports 12 · 1.5% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 12 complaints, 1.5% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 12 · 1.5% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 235 complaints, 29.2% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 10 crash reports 235 · 29.2% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 259 32.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 204 25.3% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 36 4.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 26 3.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 23 2.9% 1 crashes · 1 fires
Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) 15 1.9% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 13 1.6% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) 12 1.5% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 12 1.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 235 29.2% 10 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2017; the first recall shown was reported in Nov 2018. 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2018-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2018-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2018-Q4: 34 owner reports 34 2019-Q1: 39 owner reports 39 2019-Q2: 27 owner reports 27 2019-Q3: 24 owner reports 24 2019-Q4: 66 owner reports 66 2020-Q1: 52 owner reports 52 2020-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2020-Q3: 42 owner reports 42 2020-Q4: 38 owner reports 38 2021-Q1: 53 owner reports 53 2021-Q2: 61 owner reports 61 2021-Q3: 37 owner reports 37 2021-Q4: 23 owner reports 23 2022-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2022-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2022-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2022-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2023-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2023-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2023-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2023-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2024-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2024-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2024-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2024-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2025-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2025-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2025-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2026-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2026-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 2026-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 Owner reports Jul 2017 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 18V773000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V773000 Recall campaign 18V935000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V935000 Recall campaign 21V587000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V587000
  • Campaign 18V773000 was reported 366 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V935000 was reported 498 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V587000 was reported 1,213 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 5
2018-Q1 Owner reports 10
2018-Q2 Owner reports 19
2018-Q3 Owner reports 17
2018-Q4 Owner reports 34
2019-Q1 Owner reports 39
2019-Q2 Owner reports 27
2019-Q3 Owner reports 24
2019-Q4 Owner reports 66
2020-Q1 Owner reports 52
2020-Q2 Owner reports 32
2020-Q3 Owner reports 42
2020-Q4 Owner reports 38
2021-Q1 Owner reports 53
2021-Q2 Owner reports 61
2021-Q3 Owner reports 37
2021-Q4 Owner reports 23
2022-Q1 Owner reports 23
2022-Q2 Owner reports 17
2022-Q3 Owner reports 17
2022-Q4 Owner reports 9
2023-Q1 Owner reports 18
2023-Q2 Owner reports 12
2023-Q3 Owner reports 10
2023-Q4 Owner reports 8
2024-Q1 Owner reports 10
2024-Q2 Owner reports 14
2024-Q3 Owner reports 16
2024-Q4 Owner reports 6
2025-Q1 Owner reports 10
2025-Q2 Owner reports 9
2025-Q3 Owner reports 12
2025-Q4 Owner reports 4
2026-Q1 Owner reports 8
2026-Q2 Owner reports 18
2026-Q3 Owner reports 4
Recall campaign 1 18V773000
Recall campaign 1 18V935000
Recall campaign 1 21V587000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Electrical, Glass / wipers / cameras, and Fuel system.

  1. Recall campaign 18V773000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTW-82.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 18V935000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
    Remedy:
    Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTZ-85.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 21V587000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 5 of 805 complaints · page 1 of 33
2026-08-01Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11754152
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I am reporting a safety defect involving the infotainment touchscreen in my 2018 Subaru Outback). The touchscreen has developed visible "bubbles" under the screen lamination, with lines and bubbling appearing beneath the surface of the display. As the weather got warmer, the issue worsened, and the screen constantly registers false touch inputs (“ghost touches”) without any physical contact. While driving, the infotainment system repeatedly activates buttons and menus on its own. The vehicle will unexpectedly: - Change radio stations - Rapidly cycle through menus and settings - Trigger Bluetooth phone functions - Attempt to call contacts from my phone when connected via Bluetooth This creates a significant driver distraction and safety hazard. The screen behavior is unpredictable and often continuous while driving, forcing me to repeatedly look away from the road to determine what the system is doing. The issue is especially concerning because the system can initiate phone calls or rapidly switch screens while the vehicle is in motion, making it difficult to safely operate the vehicle without distraction. Based on online research, this appears to be a widespread issue affecting multiple Subaru vehicles with similar infotainment systems, suggesting a possible design or manufacturing defect rather than isolated wear and tear. I believe this defect presents an unreasonable safety risk because it creates repeated and unavoidable distractions for the driver while the vehicle is in operation. This is my fist Subaru, I cannot believe how many times I have heard that this is a "common issue" and yet Subaru will not admit fault. This is a worse distraction than texting and driving and should be approached with the same respect when it comes to safety.
2026-07-26Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11752926
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The infotainment touchscreen in my 2018 Subaru Outback has developed severe internal delamination and persistent phantom or ghost touches. The screen randomly changes navigation routes, places telephone calls, changes audio selections, and moves between menus without driver input. These events create substantial distraction while the vehicle is moving. The condition has now progressed to the point that the rear backup-camera image is obscured and cannot be reliably viewed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. The camera activates, but the defective, delaminated display and make the image unusable. Subaru previously extended warranty coverage for the Harman Gen. 3 head unit under Service Bulletin 15-263-20, but Subaru has denied my request for replacement. This creates a risk of a backing collision because the driver cannot reliably use the rearview image. It also creates continuing driver distraction from uncontrolled navigation, audio, and telephone activity. No collision has occurred to date, but the system has caused repeated distracting incidents and can no longer be relied upon for rear visibility.
2026-07-15Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11750658
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2018 Subaru Outback Infotainment center glass delamination causing the system to come on by itself start malfunctioning switching between channels or apps and potentially startle / distract the driver. Incident has been ongoing for over 8 months..
2026-07-14Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11750422
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Engine cam carrier seals are leaking. Repair cost is $5,700 plus tax. Vehicle is well cared for and well maintained with only 96,000 miles The Subaru Manufacturer was contacted and will do nothing to fix and does not admit engineer defect nor manufacturing defect. Basically, 96,000 and needs a new engine. Please put out a national recall.
2026-06-26Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11746685
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The car screens are delaminating and bubbling due to fault of the manufacturer. This is a widespread issue and causes safety issues due to the screen moving erratically while driving, messing with volume and function controls.

Subaru Outback Complaints and Recalls by Year

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Subaru Outback?

Owners named Glass / wipers / cameras most often — 259 of 805 reports (32%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2018 Subaru Outback?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Electrical, Glass / wipers / cameras, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2018 Subaru Outback?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check windshield, wipers and any camera or sensor the listing claims is there. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources