This page covers 3 recalls, 794 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Subaru Outback.
22–28 mpg combined
8.4–10.7 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2018 Subaru Outback centers on the infotainment and visibility systems. The most-reported issue involves the 8-inch touchscreen display, where owners frequently describe screen delamination, an internal adhesive failure that leaves the screen hazy, partially obscured, or completely unreadable in daylight. This directly affects the backup camera, which displays through the same screen; owners report the rear view going dark, freezing, or becoming too degraded to use while reversing. A related electrical complaint involves the touchscreen registering phantom inputs, changing radio stations, switching screens, or disconnecting paired phones without being touched. Owners describe the behavior as an ongoing distraction requiring them to shut the system off entirely to stop the interference. Backup camera visibility and ghost-touch behavior on the infotainment unit are the two most consistently reported symptoms across this model year.
794
Total Complaints
26
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
10
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Subaru Outback has 3 recalls, the most serious being a fuel pump that can fail while driving, causing the engine to stall without warning and raising the risk of a crash.
Two other issues affect fuel awareness and visibility. A software error can cause the low-fuel warning light to stay off longer than intended, and the miles-to-empty display can show a positive number even when the tank is actually empty, meaning the engine can stall from running out of fuel before the driver gets any warning. On the visibility side, a separate software problem can prevent the audio display system from loading properly, leaving the backup camera screen blank when reversing.
At a glance
What can fail
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail, which could prevent fuel from reaching the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump at no cost to you.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software issue in the audio display system may prevent it from starting up, leaving the camera display blank. This means the rearview camera image won't show on the screen when you back up.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the audio system display software at no cost to restore the rearview camera display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error prevents the low fuel warning light from turning on at the correct fuel level, and the miles-to-empty display may show remaining range even when the tank is empty.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the combination meter software at no charge to fix the warning light and display operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
