The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 283 of 816 complaints (35%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (11) than those mentioning any other identified area.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 816
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,200–$2,850
- Combined MPG
- 22–28
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Advertisement
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,200–2,850 | 2,200–2,850 | 2,150–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–28 | 22–28 | 26–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–25 / 27–32 | 20–25 / 27–32 | 23–26 / 30–33 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 320–398 | 320–398 | 308–343 | |
| Complaints filed | 816 | 1,036 | 906 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 27 | 24 | 19 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 2 | 7 | |
| Injuries reported | 19 | 18 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Outback have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Subaru Outback?
Visibility & Lighting: 283 of 816 NHTSA complaints (35%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Subaru Outback get?
EPA rates it 22–28 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Subaru Outback?
EPA estimates $2,200–$2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,200 (low) | 320 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 398 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 37 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 46 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical | 267 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 21 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 10 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 56 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 283 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 165 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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 recall is WRG-21.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
- Defect
- 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 vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
- Consequence
- Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
- 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 number for this recall is WTZ-85.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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 for this recall is WTW-82.