10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,860 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2018 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 3 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #96

Nov 192021

Outback

  • miles

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

A week ago, drove 5 miles to get a hamburger. While the car was parked I listened to the radio. When my husband returned with our food 8 minutes later, the car would not start. The battery was dead. This happened again today (11/19/21) when we drove 4 miles and parked. I left the key in the ignition for barely 3 minutes before removing it, but the battery was dead when I tried to start it again a few minutes later. Both instances we used a portable battery charger after having the same problem happen during the summer. Today my husband took the car in to have the battery checked, but it is within normal range (12.2 volts). Aside from the battery problem, the oil lamp also comes on a lot-??after getting a complete oil changed which should last us 6k miles or so, the oil warning light comes on after 1,500 or 2k miles, forcing us to add a quart of oil which we always have in the car now.

- Salem, OR, USA

problem #95

Sep 062021

Outback

  • miles
The windshield on my Subaru developed a crack across the length of windshield after a minor rock impact. A few weeks later a second crack developed randomly. The new crack crosses infront of the eyesight system. I am concerned the cracks interfere with the vehicles eye sight system. I believe the windshield is defective and creates safety hazard as the cracks blocks visibility and also affect the eyesight system. I contacted Subaru and the dealer advised the defect was not covered under my warranty and would cost more than $1000 to repair.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #94

Aug 232021

Outback

  • miles
Went into my office yesterday morning and came out on my break to a cracked windshield. It was a perfect crack that seems to have started right at the edge of the glass extending to the middle of the windshield with no point of impact noted. As per Subaru it-??s not covered under our Gold Warranty Plan even when we explained the glass seems to have just cracked on its own. After research it-??s seems to be an issue with Subaru that they do not want to handle and with my insurance deductible being $500 I will have to cover the whole windshield for $471. At this point I will just leave eyesight off because it-??s around another $600 to recalibrate that. ** accidentally uploaded a picture of an email and was unable to delete it.

- Snellville, GA, USA

problem #93

May 302020

Outback

  • miles

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

Repeated battery failures. Two battery replacements and battery still is not holding a charge. First battery replacement at 17,120 miles - 5/30/2020 Second battery replacement on 21,300 miles - 2/20/2021 Latest, battery died on 8/22/2021 with about 24,000 miles. Had to be jumped.

- Hillsborough, NJ, USA

problem #92

Jul 162019

Outback

  • miles
The vehicle was parked with no one driving at the time and the windshield developed a crack in the glass for no apparent reason "while parked". There was no road hazard or reason for the crack to occur and the vehicle was not even in motion, and I could not understand why it happened, until I began reading the incidents online about multiple other owners experiencing the same issue. I replaced the windshield almost immediately to avoid further cracking and issues with visibility and having to look past the crack. Cost $333.40 to replace.

- Bristow, VA, USA

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problem #91

Jun 142021

Outback

  • miles
Windshield has a giant crack from an unknown source.

- Missoula, MT, USA

problem #90

Jun 182021

Outback

  • miles

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

The battery completely dies after at-least 3 days of not driving the vehicle. Within a few weeks of driving the car off the lot in 2017 (new from the dealership), the car would not start after not being driven over the weekend. I had the car jump started. It happened again the next week after a long weekend of not driving the vehicle. I had it jump started the drove it to the dealership. I was told there was nothing wrong with the vehicle or the batter. It happened again the next weekend and I had to get it jump started again. Since then I have not left the car un-driven for more than a couple of days. On June 18, I took the car for an oil change and was told i needed a new battery. I replaced the car battery that same day. Hooked everything up and the car started just fine. I check all interior lights and headlights to make sure they were all off. The next day, I go to start the car and my battery is completely drained. There is an issue with the car where it is draining the battery. I don't know if replacing the battery caused some kind of software reset, but now i'm having issues with a full brand new battery being drained overnight.

- Pearland, TX, USA

problem #89

Apr 192021

Outback

  • miles
My wife and I, financed our brand new 2018 Subaru Outback Premium from World Subaru, 688 Shrewsbury Ave., Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07701, in June 2018. There are 3 main problems with the car, but I-??ll only be addressing the most recent one. The main people in this situation is myself-[XXX], my wife-[XXX], Subaru, Owner and General Manager-Joe Wajda, Service Advisor-Rudolph J DeGaetano, and Fixed Operation Director-Lou Zuluaga. The 2018 Subaru was brought in for an oil change filter, etc., on April 19, 2021 and I went right up to the service advisor Rudolph J DeGaetano to tell him besides the oil change and filter to please take a look at this back tire wear, on the edges to about an inch in, its bald, about 3 inches then full thread all the way around the tire, Rudolph said you need an alignment, so I told him to do it with the oil change and filter, so when they were done Rudolph came back to me and I paid $165.47, with this Rudolph showed me the alignment paper and said this can-??t be fixed, no mater what you do, the right front caster in red at 4.3 cannot be fixed. And as you see on the original paper, on the right front caster in red, it can-??t be fixed. But at the bottom in red it states, -?? OR MORE VALUES ARE NOT WITHIN SPECIFICATION. TIRE WEAR, HANDLING AND SAFETY PROBLEMS MAY RESULT-??. SO ITS TELLING ME THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WORLD SUBARU CANT FIX IT. I TOLD RUDOLPH THATS UNEXCEPTABLE. Texted owner and General manager Joe Wojda who turned it over to Fixed Operation Director Lou Zuluaga who in turn sent me a text, that it could be the body of the car. I explained to Rudolph that Subaru had a big problem with the new ascents, and it either would cost Subaru to much to fix or they couldn-??t fix it, and subaru gave them all brand new Ascents, but what about my car we bought brand new, they expect my wife to drive an unsafe vehicle"?"[XXX]-[XXX] [XXX] Owner Joe Wajda-732-741-6200 Lou and Rudolph-same number PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUAN

- Metuchen , NJ, USA

problem #88

Jun 042021

Outback

  • miles
I have been having battery issues with my 2018 Subaru Outback. Ended up replacing the battery with a new one and am still have issues with the car draining the battery to dead if not run for a few days.

- Emeryville , CA, USA

problem #87

Jun 052021

Outback

  • miles
I bought a new 2018 Subaru Outback in June 2018. It has been a very good vehicle except for the CVT which Subaru has had issues with for years. The CVT hesitates and shudders and detracts from the performance and safety of the vehicle. I have spoken with the dealer as well as Subaru of America They have extended the CVT warranty to 10 years 100k miles but only if the CVT breaks to the point where the vehicle will not operate. I do all my service at the dealer and have asked if Subaru would replace the CVT to make it run better and safely. They said that Subaru will only do that if and when the CVT breaks and does not operate. I would hope that NHTSA can get Subaru to replace the CVT if it operates in an inferior way.

- Warrenton, VA, USA

problem #86

May 232021

Outback

  • miles

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

My windshield cracked after washing it. It seems out of the blue with no previous damage known

- Rehoboth Beach , DE, USA

problem #85

May 192021

Outback

  • miles
Since June of 2020, my 2018 Subaru Outback has now had four cracked windshields with little to no explanation. The first crack was repaired by a Subaru dealership, only to crack again within 24 hours. The same dealership refused to cover the cost of the second windshield replacement. Then in Nov 2020, it cracked again and a different Subaru dealership did cover the cost of the third windshield replacement, but only after filing a compliant with Subaru Corporate. Now in May 2021, the windshield has cracked again with little to no impact and needs to be replaced. Each time the windshield cracked, it significantly spread across the the windshield within hours, and poses a risk to driving. Please assist, as I am aware of active lawsuit for this same type of car misfunction occurring with other 2018 Subaru models, and cannot afford to have a car continue to have this issue.

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #84

May 172021

Outback

  • miles
My Subaru Starlink Infotainment System has been inoperative since my local dealer attempted to install an update. The update is on back order. I was not informed that this system is no inoperative and if I were in a collision or other emergency the system would not be able to notify 911 dispatchers of my emergency or location. There are now warning lights to tell me the system is inop. I contacted Subaru of America and they provided me with a phone number to Starlink. They are not accepting responsibility. Starlink has refused to provide a refund. There was a class action lawsuit against Subaru that was filed in 2017.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #83

May 012021

Outback

  • 30,850 miles
I was parking my 2018 Subaru Outback premium next to my house on my parking spot, my foot was on a brake pedal, it left around 50'' to complete a parking, like suddenly my car start moving forward even that I was strongly pressing brake pedal, car went over curb and hit a palm tree that is next to my parking spot. Car suddenly accelerated and I was not able to control the car. Car front bumper, grill, radiator was damaged. Today, my car is in body shop. It was very scare experience. From my background I am driving 12 years without any car accident.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #82

Nov 302017

Outback

  • miles
This car has had battery drainage issues since I purchased it new in 2017. It has only 10,000 miles on it and and is on it's 3rd battery. The car must be jump-started in order to drive it. The problem occurs if I drive the car for a short trip. It also occurs if I take longer trips (I.e. 100 miles) in that the battery will be deleted if I do not drive it within 7 days or so, I have had this car jump-started probably 20-30 times. The dealership continually blames me for the problem and says I should not expect the car to start if I do not start it every day. Most of the time, I have to borrow my mother's Buick to have a working car. Because the battery is constantly dying, the power windows do not work and have to be reset after each battery drainage. I owned a 2014 Subaru Outback prior to trading up to the 2018 model. I have the exact driving habits now as I did with the 2014 model. The 2014 model never had any issue starting. I have recently learned that there is a class action lawsuit filed by other Subaru owners with the exact problem I'm having. I cannot fully express how deeply I hate this car and regret trading up. It is not reliable. I have purchased a noco boost plus to start my car each time so that I don't have to constantly call tow services. The battery on this car is not sufficient to start the car and the dealership will only replace it with another insufficient battery. I would also like to add that the dealership claims my low mileage is the reason my car won't start, claiming I don't drive it enough. This is infuriating. I have repeatedly told the service manager that it has low mileage because it does not start and I cannot drive it, and borrowed my mother's car for the first 2 years because of the battery issues on the Subaru. They do not care.

- Concordia, KS, USA

problem #81

Apr 022021

Outback

  • miles
Batteries drained spontaneously while vehicle was stationary. Old battery replaced with new one and the new one was dead 24 hours after replacement

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #80

Apr 082021

Outback

  • 80,800 miles
In a rural town I was driving 30mph. Weather was overcast 60 degrees with occasional showers. I was moving straight. Road was well paved. No close car in front of my vehicle. Car may have approached from other direction... unsure. Heard a explosive sound from roof, followed by tinkling of debre falling off car. The sound was similar to frozen snow or ice coming off the roof of a car in winter. I stopped the car and found sunroof had a hole size of large cantelope.

- Eau Claire, WI, USA

problem #79

Apr 082021

Outback

  • 21,000 miles
While traveling at highway speed, the sunroof "exploded" with a load noise and rained pieces of glass into the passenger compartment. No rock or other projectile was seen coming toward the car. It seemed spontaneous. Speed was 65 mph. Road was straight and well paved. No vehicle was in front of the car. The car had just been run through an automatic touchless carwash about 10 minutes before. Outside temperature was approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

- Rutland, VT, USA

problem #78

Dec 202017

Outback

  • 30 miles
Navigation system gives wrong directions and has almost caused me to get in accidents as a result. Accurate voice command is needed for safety when traveling on the highway and realize I am lost and need to find out when to begin to move over and to exit it is unable to understand my very clear speech.

- Woodinville, WA, USA

problem #77

Mar 032021

Outback

  • 30,000 miles
The battery seems to drain very quickly and without apparent reason. The dealer recently replaced the battery under warranty but did not explain why it has gone bad so quickly. I was stuck a number of times with a suddenly dead battery. I am concerned that the actual cause of the draining has not been addressed and I go off the warranty in another month. I have read that this problem has occurred with other owners of this year Outback. This occurs after the car has been sitting for a while.

- Portland, OR, USA

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