Car · Subaru problems

2018 Subaru Outback problems

816 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Subaru Outback. The most reported area is visibility and wipers (33% of them). NHTSA also lists 165 service bulletins and 3 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 19. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 816 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Visibility and wipers273 · 33%
• Electrical system267 · 33%
• Other or unknown162 · 20%
• Fuel system46 · 6%
• Engine and engine cooling37 · 5%
• Steering36 · 4%
• Speed control and throttle21 · 3%
• Backup camera and sensors19 · 2%

16 smaller areas not shown (131 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 165 repair bulletins from Subaru for the 2018 Subaru Outback. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. 13-109-26Received October 5, 2026

   Paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.

2. 15-304-22RReceived October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.

3. 15-333-25RReceived October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   Illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.

4. 18-244-26Received October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   Additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit.

5. 15-308-23RReceived September 3, 2026

   Electrical system

   This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to...

6. 16-132-20RReceived September 3, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   Updated diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions...

7. 16-154-25RReceived September 3, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   This Service Information Bulletin announces the release of a new diagnostic assistance application for TR690 and TR580 CVT-equipped vehicles.

8. 16-156-25RReceived September 3, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   A design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Subaru Outback. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer.

1. 18V935000December 31, 2018

   Visibility

   In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank.

2. 18V773000November 1, 2018

   Electrical system

   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...

3. 21V587000July 29, 2021

   Fuel system, gasoline

   The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

See all 3 recalls for the 2018 Subaru Outback, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Outback will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Visibility and wipers 273 complaints · 33%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Electrical system 267 complaints · 33%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Fuel system 46 complaints · 6%

• Fuel pump replacement$370 to $1,075
• Fuel injector replacement (one injector)$170 to $820
• EVAP purge valve replacement$80 to $240
• Gas cap replacement$5 to $95

Steering 36 complaints · 4%

• Tie rod end replacement (one side)$130 to $380
• Wheel alignment (four-wheel)$85 to $250

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2018 Subaru Outback: questions

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

Of the 816 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Subaru Outback, 273 (33%) name visibility and wipers, and 267 (33%) name electrical system. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2018 Subaru Outback reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 27 of the 816 complaints as involving a crash and 4 as involving a fire. They also reported 19 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Outback have?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Subaru Outback. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 165 repair bulletins for the 2018 Subaru Outback.

More

• 2022 Outback problems
• 2021 Outback problems
• 2020 Outback problems
• 2019 Outback problems
• 2017 Outback problems
• 2016 Outback problems
• 2015 Outback problems
• 2014 Outback problems
• 2013 Outback problems
• 2012 Outback problems
• 2011 Outback problems
• 2010 Outback problems
• 2018 recalls
• All Subaru recalls
• Subaru problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.