6.1

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,677 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Subaru Outback body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2018 Subaru Outback Owner Comments

problem #12

Dec 222021

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Rock hit windshield and cracked windshield, from a small rock cracking the windshield and leaving this much damage if it was a bigger one it could have gone through and hurt us. This will be the second time I-??ll have to repair the windshield.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #11

Aug 232021

Outback

  • miles
The front windshield (driver's side) cracked out of nowhere. Now there's a large crack that runs from the driver's side through the middle of the windshield. There were no visible chips on the front windshield prior to the incident.

- The Colony, TX, USA

problem #10

Feb 022021

Outback

  • 39,000 miles
Moonroof exploded.

- Gardena, CA, USA

problem #9

May 182020

Outback 4-cyl

  • 15,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Subaru Outback 2018 have an issue with the residue leak from the windshield near the eye sight it happened twice to my vehicle first time when I took the vehicle they said it might be a leak from the glue in eyesight and they said they have eyesight might be loose and they have tighten it and second time it happened and then they said no no the eyesight doesn't have any glue and this is coming from some glue used in the windshield. Subaru doesn't seem to be worry about it and all they say is they are not able to duplicate the issue. This issues started happening in this summer when the temperature is extreme hot the glue what they used to stick the windshield to the body of the car melts and it comes out when I took it to the dealership all they say is we are not able to replicate the issue. Contacted Subaru customer service and they said we had our master technician had a look at the car and the field engineer they are not able to see this as an issue. When I bought a brand new car from Subaru and with in 2 years the glue is melting because of heat not sure what kind of car Subaru manufactures. The supervisor from Subaru customer service doesn't seem to have any concern on the issue and keep saying when we are not able to replicate the issue its not our concern. I am getting scared if the glue came out and the windshield breaks or cracks when I am driving what will happen to the safety of me and my family. I took it to 2 separate dealerships. Subaru of America and colonial Subaru. Subaru America said it might be a leak from the glue of the windshield and colonial Subaru said they are not able to find the problem.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #8

May 152019

Outback 4-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
1. defect in windshields or framing area. I've had 4 windshield crack in the bottom right and have replaced 3 so far since I bought it. Adding my name and car to the complaints saying the windshields in their Subaru vehicles are defective and are spontaneously cracking, and breaking, sometimes 'within weeks or a few months of purchase.' I usually notice upon returning to my car in the morning to leave for work or returning from being away from it all day. My car insurance has covered all but $100 of the bills over the span of 2 years, luckily. But my time is valuable. 2. radio/multimedia screen sometimes doesn't come on when I start the car and won't work until I turn the car off and back on later. 3. chincy material, seems to dent veeeery easily, does not live up to high standards and durability they rave about. I'm not sure what all has dinged my car but it is way more frequent than any other car I've owned. I usually notice walking up to it from being parked. Could be from driving down road though. 4. battery life is short. Car was not run for 5 days and battery was dead. Claims to be an outdoorsy car so why would it be set up to kill the battery so quickly? my dealership updated the software and gave me a bigger battery to help "fix" that issue.

- Caledonia, MI, USA

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problem #7

Apr 212020

Outback

  • 34,120 miles
My windshield spontaneously cracked starting at the vertical edge on the passenger side. There was no event that caused this. It just happened one day. I'm barely driving my car bc of the pandemic so I'm assuming it happened when it was stationary.

- West Chatham, MA, USA

problem #6

Oct 012018

Outback

  • 5,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I just driven home from work on the freeway for 20 minutes. Got home and parked my car on the street in front of my home. I went into my home and came out about 30 minutes later to do some yard work. A crack in my windshield caught my eye. I looked at it and it went from one side to the other it was not there when I parked my car 30 minutes earlier and nothing hit the windshield on the freeway. This happened 9 mos after I bought my car. It was still under warranty but they made me pay $1118.33 out of my pocket and then told me to get reimbursed by my insurance.

- Turlock, CA, USA

problem #5

Jul 012019

Outback

  • 19,000 miles
Door will not unlock using key in key hole. This appears to be a very common problem from all the online comments and is on all Subaru models. Being locked out of the car for safety or weather conditions can put one's life in extreme danger. Are is stationary. Door will not unlock using key in door.

- Warren, OH, USA

problem #4

Jun 062019

Outback

  • miles
Rear lift gate malfunctioning. Will not open automatically after appx 18'. able to manually open with great difficulty, auto closure working.

- Mckinleyville, CA, USA

problem #3

Jan 312019

Outback

  • 12,000 miles
Windshield severely cracked, possibly from small pebble at approx 35 mph approaching fwy on ramp. We were informed by corporate that the windshield glass is 'sensitive' due to the 'eye sight' feature calibrated with the windshield. Windshield needs to be replaced - at owners expense at $1100. Size of initial impact damage mark on windshield was 1/16' or 1-2mm. Next day it spread to several inches while car was parked. Small pebbles or common road debris should not cause windshield failures especially in vehicles that are all wheel drive for off-road. Read that other vehicles of same year and model are also experiencing windshield failure.

- Calabasas, CA, USA

problem #2

Jun 012018

Outback

  • 1,000 miles
The passenger side hood does not shut all the way. A service bulletin came out but the dealer said they would not recommend the fix because it involves using a 2X4 to bend the hood.

- Apex, NC, USA

problem #1

Mar 252018

Outback

  • 17,000 miles
My wife and I were driving on the interstate on a cool (45 degrees) day at about 70 mph, the only vehicle in the vicinity. There was a suddden unexplained noise overhead, then a loud explosion like noise and then a loud rush of wind and the sound of something breaking and flapping and something blowing and hitting the roof of the car. I slid open the sunshade a very small distance and discovered my sunroof had exploded for no apparent reason or cause.this was on a 7 month old 2018 Subaru Outback with factory installed sunroof and 17,000 mikes on it. The sunroof was completely closed at the time and fortunately so was the interior sunshade.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

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