RecallMyCar

2018 Subaru Outback Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2018 Subaru Outback, and owners have filed 813 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
813
owner complaints to NHTSA
27 / 4
complaints citing a crash / fire
22–28
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2018 Subaru Outback

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Fuel pump (fuel system)

    NHTSA 21V587000 Reported 175,968 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this…

  2. Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices

    NHTSA 18V935000 Reported 71,190 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the rearview image will not display while backing up the vehicle. As a result, the…

    Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's…

  3. Software (electrical system) and fuel system, gasoline

    NHTSA 18V773000 Reported 228,648 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number…

813 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2018 Subaru Outback have filed 813 complaints with NHTSA; 27 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 19 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 21,422 miles. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 174 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The touchscreen has delamination and ghost touching of the apps. I spoke with my dealer and was first told it was covered by Subaru to replace, as it was a known issue, but when I took my car to the d”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 3, 2026 · Electrical system

“The 8-inch Gen 3 Harman STARLINK touchscreen is delaminating/bubbling. It registers phantom touch inputs and becomes unresponsive on its own while the vehicle is in motion, changing audio, navigation,”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 29, 2026 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2018 Subaru Outback (Outback AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined22–28 mpg
City / Highway20–25 / 27–32
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.5/3.6 L
TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6); Automatic (AV-S7)

Compare Subaru Outback model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Outback model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Subaru Outback12
1996 Subaru Outback246
1997 Subaru Outback479
1998 Subaru Outback2127
1999 Subaru Outback1111
2000 Subaru Outback1207
2001 Subaru Outback3171
2002 Subaru Outback4143
2003 Subaru Outback1493
2004 Subaru Outback1090
2005 Subaru Outback9273
2006 Subaru Outback7277
2007 Subaru Outback8129
2008 Subaru Outback8226
2009 Subaru Outback13106
2010 Subaru Outback18360
2011 Subaru Outback16652
2012 Subaru Outback16292
2013 Subaru Outback12297
2014 Subaru Outback10208
2015 Subaru Outback5510
2016 Subaru Outback4643
2017 Subaru Outback4917
2018 Subaru Outback3813
2019 Subaru Outback31,035
2020 Subaru Outback6899
2021 Subaru Outback4296
2022 Subaru Outback4465
2023 Subaru Outback289
2024 Subaru Outback0103
2025 Subaru Outback081
2026 Subaru Outback016

Checking a specific 2018 Subaru Outback

How do I know if my 2018 Subaru Outback has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2018 Subaru Outback; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 18V773000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.