2018 Subaru Outback reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2018 Subaru Outback — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 983
- 444 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 255 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 48 reported crashes · 23 injuries · 6 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#406
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+801
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2016-2020
+696
median 288 complaints in 538 records
Top component share
26%
Electrical System: 255 complaints
What owners report fails — 2018 Subaru Outback
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 255
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 233
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 154
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 43
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD 36
3 recalls on record for the 2018 Subaru Outback
- NHTSA 21V587000 · 2021 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 18V773000 · 2019 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the
- NHTSA 18V935000 · 2019 · VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2018 Subaru Outback
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2018 Subaru Outback units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Subaru Outback reliable?
NHTSA has 983 consumer complaints on record for the 2018 Subaru Outback and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (255 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2018 Subaru Outback units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Subaru Outback?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (255), visibility/wiper (233), unknown or other (154), fuel/propulsion system (43). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2018 Subaru Outback?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.