NHTSA has received 807 owner complaints about the 2018 Subaru Outback, or 93.0 per year on the road — far more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 2.21, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #63 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Subaru models its rate is 136% higher; against other Midsize SUVs it is 75% higher.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2017-08-20 and 2026-08-01. Median delay from incident to filing: 9 days.
807Complaints
93.0Complaints per year on the road
2.21Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
3Recalls
3.8%Share involving a crash or fire
37Last 12 months
Analysis
The following model year (2019) drew 134.6 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2018 model collected 242 complaints, 172% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Body & structure (34.0% of complaints), followed by Electrical (33.6%) and Interior & equipment (12.6%). Body & structure complaints are 3.7 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Body & structure reports, owners most often mention “windshield”, “crack”, “rock”, “impact” and “glass”. 31 reports (3.8%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 19 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 31 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (27% of incidents). In the last 12 months 37 new complaints were filed, versus 42 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for this model year. 71% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses.
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles2.21
vs. other Subaru models2.36
vs. other 2018 models1.89
vs. other Midsize SUVs1.75
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (242)2.72
Report on Accident [XXX] 4TH DISTRICT wHEATON MARYLAND [XXX] [XXX] I was driving west on [XXX] at approximately [XXX]. As I approached the intersection at [XXX] the TRAFIC light cars were stopped .
Brakes · 2026-06-04 · ODI 11742069 · Crash
Driving slowly in a parking lot, I applied the brakes as I approached a parking space. Instead of slowing down, the car inexplicably accelerated quickly and did not respond to increased pressure on the brakes.
Brakes · 2026-04-29 · ODI 11734591 · Crash
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.
Interior & equipment · 2026-08-01 · ODI 11754152
The infotainment touchscreen in my 2018 Subaru Outback has developed severe internal delamination and persistent phantom or ghost touches.
Interior & equipment · 2026-07-26 · ODI 11752926
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..
Electrical · 2026-07-15 · ODI 11750658
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: 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.
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the rearview image will not display while backing up the vehicle. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: 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.
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
Risk: 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.
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2018 Subaru Outback?
807 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Subaru Outback, or about 93.0 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2018 Subaru Outback?
The most common category is Body & structure, accounting for 34.0% of complaints.
Does the 2018 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recall(s) for this model year.
Is the 2018 Subaru Outback still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 37 new complaints were filed, versus 42 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
How does the 2018 Subaru Outback compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 807 owner complaints about the 2018 Subaru Outback, or 93.0 per year on the road — far more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 2.21, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #63 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Subaru models its rate is 136% higher; against other Midsize SUVs it is 75% higher.