10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,899 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2018 Subaru Outback:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2018 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 12 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #18

Nov 232018

Outback

  • 8,350 miles

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

Harman-kardon audio unit failure at 8,000 miles. Results in loss a basic back up camera function. Extensive safety features on this vehicle-basic back up camera not working.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #17

Nov 272018

Outback

  • 8,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Outback. While driving 35 mph, the fuel gauge indicated 40 miles remaining, but the vehicle ran out of fuel. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #16

Nov 142018

Outback

  • 8,000 miles
I was driving and the entire display went blank! this renders all electronic features controlled by the screen inoperable and also violates federal law mandating backup cameras on 2018 or newer cars. Though technically my vehicle is still equipped with it, it doesn't matter because the display is completely dead. This is such a common problem the part is backordered for at least a month, in the meantime I will driving a car without an important safety feature.

- Tulare, CA, USA

problem #15

Nov 122018

Outback

  • 11,000 miles

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

8- inch touch screen system is completely blank. As a result, the backup camera does not function. This is the second time this has happened. The first time, the unit was replaced after a one week wait for the part to be delivered. After several months, this unit went out. Subaru 'a month wait for new unit due to repair demands.'

- Huntley, IL, USA

problem #14

Nov 122018

Outback

  • 10,500 miles
2018 Subaru Outback: Per dealer: Original battery "bad" & replaced by dealer after it failed (unable to start & won't hold charge) after 10,500 miles at 9 mo. Battery also failed in our previously owned 2015 Outback after only 3 weeks, & in a 2015 Subaru legacy after 35 months. The 2018 Outback's touch screen (& back-up camera screen, etc) has also stopped working twice, at about 2 months (while backing out of the driveway) & again at 3 months, both times suddenly, the screen going black for a minute or longer, & then turning white for several minutes before resuming the normal screen configuration & appearance.

- Issaquah, WA, USA

problem #13

Oct 072018

Outback 4-cyl

  • 12,285 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Outback. While the contact was driving, the automated driving system stopped working and the back-up camera did not function. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (steve moyer Subaru, 201 S centre ave, leesport, pa 19533, (888) 696-0345) where it was diagnosed that the computer that controlled the electronic and safety systems malfunctioned. The dealer explained that the failure was occurring with multiple vehicles and that they would replace the component under the warranty. The repairs were completed and the electrical failures were remedied. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 12,285.

- Womelsdorf, PA, USA

problem #12

Oct 092018

Outback

  • 13,000 miles

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

** 2018 Subaru Outback ** this has happened three times** driving car when car shuts off complete loss of power engine turns off without warning at various speeds - seems to occur when the low fuel warning system turns on at 1/4 tank of gas. This 3rd time almost got me killed traveling at 45mpg when it happened today inside a major intersection. Software / sensor for the low fuel system" something is very seriously wrong. 1. is this car safe to drive with a full tank of gas? 2. has there been other complaints about this exact problem? 3. is there a recall or fix "

- Winter Park, FL, USA

problem #11

Aug 252018

Outback

  • 3,800 miles
I recently purchased a 2018 Outback. I was driving it going about 25 mph on road by my house and it shut down out of nowhere, dash lights came on, gas pedal wouldn't work, the only way I got it to go was shutting it off completely and restarting it. They car has 3500 miles, I dropped it off at the dealership on 8/25 and they have had it since. They replaced the fuel pump saying it was the cause of it shutting down on me. I received the car back on 9/21 and drove it for 180 miles, this time at 65 mph the car shutdown again while I was trying to pass someone on a 2 lane road, power steering lost and all lights came on dashboard like it had some type of electrical problem. Very similar to the first time but I was driving much faster this time.after about 30 seconds the car just kind of started up by itself without me having to push the start button I believe this issue is a huge safety issue and could possibly get me killed or someone else killed while driving this car. Subaru service facility has no clue whats going on since the car is not throwing codes. I have started the lemon law process but Subaru is not being very helpful thus far. Also having a problem with passenger seat not sensing if someone is sitting in the seat and not enabling the airbags. This problem came up on the scan on 8/25 analysis. I was unaware of the issue, nothing in the car told me passenger side airbag was not working. Subaru replaced the seat but I am still concerned that the problem is going on since I have no way to tell if it works or not.

- Saint Augustine, FL, USA

problem #10

Aug 012018

Outback

  • 11,000 miles
The radio head unit will randomly not connect to apple car play. It will also get stuck on a fm radio station and not respond to anything until the battery is disconnected. This happens while driving and there is no way to control the volume or anything. I have been for software updates.

- Apex, NC, USA

problem #9

Aug 212018

Outback

  • 14,410 miles
Vehicle developed drip from transmission approximately mid June 2018. Took to dealer & unable to find source after 11 days in shop. They put dye in and I drove until 7-30-18 when drip returned. Car in shop 6 days for new transmission. Car returned 8-9-18. 11 days later 8-21-18 major oil leak & vehicle towed to dealership. As of 8-24-18 they are still attempting to locate leak. Will have to pull engine. May not get car back during August. Outback has less than 15000 miles. Have contacted Subaru requested lemon law as the vehicle has nearly 40 cumulative days in the shop since purchased 8-16-18. Outback has also had 2 new radios and multiple software updates for numerous radio issues.

- Clinton, IA, USA

problem #8

Aug 122018

Outback

  • 18,527 miles

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

Soft keys for radio programming go to initializing and stay there rather than show the siriusxm channel that was set in memory. Head unit is extremely bright at night it does dim but there are white sections that should be inverted at night this makes it distracting at night. Radio boots up to a white screen now and nothing works. Radio was replaced on 5/31/18 and at that time it had additional issues but all appear to be returning. All of the issues appear at start up.

- Bristol, TN, USA

problem #7

May 292018

Outback

  • 6,000 miles
I have 6000 miles on my 2018 Subaru Outback and rodents ate the electrical wires in my engine which caused me not to be able to operate the car and could have caused a major accident. I found out my wires are soy based which attracted the rodents.I was driving on the highway when my dashboard indicators lit up indicating there was a problem. I immediately drove to the Subaru service department and had the wiring repaired. It is the responsibility of Subaru to replace all my wiring with non-soy based wiring at no cost to me immediately and give me a loaner car without soy based wiring until my car has been repaired. It is important that all cars on the road are hazard free.

- Ramsey, NJ, USA

problem #6

May 112018

Outback

  • 7,000 miles
When I turn on the hazard emergency flashing lights on while parked and engine off and I lock the car, both keyless remotes stop working when I try to unlock the doors to enter. To be able to access car need to use the manual key, alarm horn goes off and then push the engine start button and all seems to work fine again. Has happened multiple times.

- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

problem #5

May 032018

Outback

  • 5,500 miles
Rear tail gate opens without activation at 35 mph while vehicle is in motion. I have a video but it is too big to send. My wife and I were on a busy highway after just purchasing flowers and plants at a local nursery when the tailgate just started to open all by itself spilling some of the plants on the highway. The tailgate locked in the open position at about two feet in the open position.

- Crystal Lake, IL, USA

problem #4

Feb 202018

Outback

  • 5,800 miles
8" navigation/display frozen. No back-up camera when in reverse. Does not respond to inputs either on the display or from steering wheel. "power" switch did not power down the unit. Stopping the engine and restarting did not reset the unit. Stopping the engine, open and close the drivers door and restarting did not reset the unit. Remained inoperative during morning commute (30 min). Center console remained on after exiting and locking the car. After 9 hours the battery was drained and the engine would not start. After a jump-start, the unit did reset and seems to be working normally. There should be a way to power-down (reboot) the navigation/radio display without having to stop the car and restart the engine.

- Conyers, GA, USA

problem #3

Nov 052017

Outback

  • 1,200 miles
On occasion, and while in motion, the head unit (navigation display, radio, etc), in our 2018 Outback limited w/ eyesight, will freeze up and no hard or soft buttons will reactivate the system. I must shut car down for a few minutes before a "reboot" takes place. I have seen numerous other complaints on subaruoutback.com.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #2

Nov 012017

Outback

  • 300 miles
After putting on hazard switch and leaving vehicle, I came back to vehicle and the keyless entry would not function. System did not seem to recognize my smartkey as the door handle sensor did not operate. I tried the buttons on the smartly fob and they too did not function. Also tried the mobile remote app and that too failed. I had to use the mechanical key to enter vehicle. Of course the security horn goes off, but strangely I was able to start vehicle so system was able to recognize my smartkey after entry. Problem seems to only occur after a specific time period. If I put on the hazards and come back in a couple minutes, system works normally. It seems to occur around the five to 10 minute time frame.

- Norwood, MA, USA

problem #1

Oct 202017

Outback

  • 950 miles
The car is parked. The flashers are activated. The car is then locked from the outside with the key fob. After returning to the car a short time later (maybe 5 minutes or so) the key fob is totally unusable. Lock, unlock, rear hatch or panic do not work. Must then use the key in the door lock, to unlock the door. Then, of course, the alarm sounds until you can put the key into the ignition to silence the alarm. There appears to be a time out problem because the key fob can unlock the car with the hazard flashers on, right after locking the car but this problem only happens after the car has been left for a short time. I have given this problem to Subaru headquarters and they gave me a case number of 1-27586772057. In an emergency when the flashers are activated, if the car is locked and upon returning a short time later and the key fob won't unlock the car, there could be a dangerous situation, especially in a dangerous location or someone (especially an older person) might panic and not think clearly what to do next. I am able to repeat this problem at any time since it happened. I tried both key fobs with the same result.

- Ossining, NY, USA

Not what you are looking for?