22 complaints reported

2018 Subaru Outback ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
22
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2025

The radio has Cracks or striations on the screen that are Causing the Panel to make calls, Dial a phone, change the radio station...ETC. Complete random beeping and it is distracting when driving, The touch screen has become defunct and the Comp[uter does all random things, It does what it wants, when it wantys! I am afraid it is a danger! And please lookl into this, there are Many subaru owners Complaining of the same thing. They are saying that the screen is :Dellaminating" That is what they are calling it. That I why I am making a formal complaint. Thank you! PS...By the way, I was NOT calling mom, It did it on its own!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2025
Dec 2024

My 2018 Subaru Outback has an infotainment display that has a Delaminating Screen issue, where the screen that controls so many aspects of the car's functionality (to include safety) is now becoming increasingly harder to see.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2024
Aug 2024

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? After about 1 year of procuring vehicle, the car battery would die about every 4-8 weeks. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I travel often and could *never* rely on my car to start up properly. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, and also is in a civil law suit because of it. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, although still not even remotely confident that they have truly identified the issue. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warnings whatsoever. The battery would be fully charged one day and dead as DEAD can be the next. As noted above, it first started after about a year of having the vehicle, then started trouble shooting w/ the dealer for about the next 2 years over about 6 appointments.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2022
Jul 2024

Sterio and Navigation screen has formed bubbles and what appears to be a film under the screen and has also started delaminating. The screen is now rarely usable as it appears to have a mind and hands of its own as it makes its own selections on the screen and no longer allows me to control it. This is very dangerous as the Subaru touch screen offers setting adjustments that are being changed while on the road, without my control. It is my understanding that Subaru will not replace this unless you pay $2k+ out of pocket even though SEVERAL incidents are reported. Unfortunately, I am not in good standing to purchase another car right now so I will have to continue driving this car and praying that whatever settings that car adjusts during that drive won't have a negative impact.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2024
Apr 2024

Audio system does not work which does not allow - hands-free use of phone - sound alert when nearing railroad crossing - voiced directions when using Waze

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2024
Jul 2023

My vehicle just dies and leaves me stranded after turning off the car and leaving it overnight. This has happened many times, and I worry everytime I go camping or to some remote place where I may not have cell signal to get a tow truck to jump me. If I don't carry water and food, medicine, at all times, I fear what will happen to me if I am stranded and cannot get help on time. My car is 5 years old, I am on my 3rd battery. In every case, the battery should have been very well charged because it happens after highway driving for several hours. Suburu and the dealers try to deny that anything is wrong; but one of the rescue mechanics told me that the alternator seems to overcharge. Yes , I took the vehicle in for all inspection while it was under warranty. I reported these events to no avail. NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. I need to be able to get this fixed. How do I do that?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2023
Apr 2023

The touchscreen on the Starlink head unit is delaminated and there is a “ghost touch” whenever the screen is on. You can visibly see bubbles under the screen. While I was driving my kids to daycare the other day, the navigation system activated and said that “you cannot change the volume at this time” repeatedly for no reason. It also changes driving directions mid-trip. It’s very distracting while driving and makes the car information system and radio unusable. My dealer said that this is a known problem and that they would fix it; however, the part is back for months. They said they could not turn the screen off without disabling other safety features such as the back-up camera.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2023
Nov 2021

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2021
Oct 2021

THE BATTERY KEEPS DYING FOR NO REASON. THR FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS IN OCTOBER 2020. WE JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT. IT DIED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH ONE FROM AN AUTO PARTS STORE. APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS LATER IN DECEMBER 2020 IT DID THE SAME THING. WE WENT TO START IT UP AND IT WOULDN'T START. WE JUMPED IT AND DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. WENT OUT THE NEXT DAY AND IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY SO I PAID FOR A REPLACEMENT. EXACTLY A MONTH LATER, JANUARY 2021, I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AND THE BATTERY IS AGAIN DEAD. I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2021
Aug 2021

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2020
May 2021

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2021
Apr 2021

BATTERIES DRAINED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. OLD BATTERY REPLACED WITH NEW ONE AND THE NEW ONE WAS DEAD 24 HOURS AFTER REPLACEMENT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2021
Mar 2021

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2021
Nov 2020

BATTERY CONSISTENTLY DRAINS AND CAR WILL NOT START. BATTERY IS NEW, REPLACED IN 2020. CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR LESS THAN 12 HOURS WHEN IT WILL NOT START. CAR HAS BEEN JUMPED, TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATE "NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT", THEN WITHIN 1-4 DAYS USUALLY HAPPENS AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE 10/03/2020.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2020
May 2020

DEAD, DRAINED BATTERY- NO RESPONSE FROM CAR, UNABLE TO EVEN OPEN WITH KEY FOB. CAR PARKED IN GARAGE AT HOME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2020
May 2020

THIS MODEL HAS SEVERE BATTERY DRAIN ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY JUMP OR CHARGE THE BATTERY AFTER JUST A SHORT PERIOD OF THE LIFT GATE OR SIDE DOORS BEING OPEN. THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF BUT THEY STILL DRAIN THE BATTERY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN AN "OUTDOOR" VEHICLE. YOU CANNOT TAILGATE, USE THE LIFT GATE TO MAKE A TENT, KEEPS DOORS OPEN WHEN UNLOADING. SUBARU GIVES YOU AN UNDER-POWERED CHEAP BATTERY AND HAS THE DRAIN ISSUE. I CANNOT USE THE CAR AS MARKETED. I FINALLY GOT FED UP WITH THE ISSUE SO FAR AND PURCHASED MY OWN LARGER BATTERY. SOA HAS AGREED TO PAY FOR THIS, BUT THE UNDERLYING ISSUE NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. I SUSPECT ON THE LIFT GATE THERE IS POWER CONTINUALLY FLOWING TO IT WHEN OPEN SO IT IS READY TO CLOSE WHEN YOU PUSH THE CLOSE BUTTON. THIS NEED A KILL SWITCH. MY BEHAVIOR WITH THIS CAR IS NO DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CARS IN THE PAST AND THEIR BATTERIES DID NOT DIE. THIS IS NOT USER ERROR, BUT A BAD DESIGN. THE WEB IS FULL OF SIMILARLY FRUSTRATED OWNERS. I'LL PUT THE LAST DATE I HAD TO CALL AAA, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. EVEN AN HOUR OF THE LIFT GATE OPEN SEEMS TO SEVERELY DRAIN THE BATTERY. MY PARENTS HAVE A 2016 AND I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THIS ISSUE? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU GET STUCK SOMEWHERE IN THE WILD WITH A DEAD CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2020
Dec 2019

INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WENT BLACK ON DECEMBER 17, 2018. RADIO, NAVIGATION SYSTEM, BLUETOOTH AND REAR CAMERA ARE ALL INOPERABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2018
Feb 2019

THE HEAD UNIT IN THE SOUND SYSTEM/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ALL SOUND FUNCTIONS. I DON'T GET ANY WARNINGS OF PROBLEMS AS THE SOUND SYSTEM SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS UNSAFE. TO DATE, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED WHAT HE CALLS AN AMPLIFIER TWICE. THE NEW UNIT WORKS FOR A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS AND THEN FAILS AGAIN. SO FAR, THE OTHER COMPONENTS CONNECTED TO THIS SYSTEM -- BACK UP CAMERA, FOR INSTANCE, STILL WORK. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS RELATED, BUT THE REAR HATCH HAS OPENED BY ITSELF THREE TIMES, EACH TIME WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. ONCE, THIS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN BECAUSE WE DID NOT DISCOVER IT FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS. ONCE, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE REAR HATCH BECAUSE WE DID NOT KNOW IT WAS OPEN AND IT WAS DAMAGED BY THE GARAGE DOOR WHEN WE OPENED IT REMOTELY FROM OUTSIDE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2019
Jan 2019

BLUETOOTH WILL RANDOMLY DISCONNECT. SOMETIMES IT LASTS A FEW MINUTES, SOMETIMES A COUPLE HOURS. UNABLE TO RE-CONNECT ONCE IT DOES, SO WE HAVE TO MESS WITH SETTINGS WHILE DRIVING TO SWITCH TO AUX CABLE, RADIO, ETC OR PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR COMPLETELY. WE HAVE VERIFIED THE ISSUE WITH 6 DIFFERENT DEVICES. NONE OF THE DEVICES DEMONSTRATE THE SAME ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER BLUETOOTH DEVICES (WE USE A SPEAKER FOR HOURS ON END IN THE HOUSE WITH NO ISSUES). COMBINE THAT WITH THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN BEING INCREDIBLY SLOW, THIS IS A FRUSTRATING ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2018
Jan 2019

THE SCREEN HAS GONE BLACK AND SIDE LIGHTS BLINK, UNABLE TO USE ANY ITEM CONTROLLED BY THE SCREEN. APPEARS THE WARNING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE STOPPING TOO CLOSELY IS NOT WORKING AS WELL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Dec 2018

ENTIRE CENTER RADIO CLUSTER HAS FAILED. CAR WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE AND GOT INTO THE CAR AND STARTED CAR AND ENTIRE UNIT WAS BLACK. THIS IMPACTS RADIO, HANDS FREE CELLULAR PHONE USE, NAVIGATION, BACK UP CAMERA AND WARNING SYSTEM, VEHICLE NOTIFICATIONS, STAR LINK PROGRAM. THIS MAY SOUND JUST LIKE A MINOR THING BUT THIS HAS SIGNIFICANT SAFE OPERATION IMPACTS IN REGARDS TO TRAFFIC AND DRIVING, CELL PHONE USE AND NAVIGATION OF THE VEHICLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2018
Nov 2018

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2018

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 2018 Subaru Outback has 22 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.