2018 SUBARU OUTBACK Complaints

Battery is not keeping charge, unable to start vehicle even after daily driving. With an infant, we need something more reliable, being stranded is not an option. Vehicle has not been inspected, upon further review this is a constant problem with lawsuits requesting for a resolution against Subaru. Battery indicator light would turn on and lights would flash when able.

Fuel injector fuel delivery line rupture and leaking. Left on vacation in this 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring on 07/23/2021, noticed the strong smell of gasoline when stopped, less so when interstate driving, with the fuel gauge declining more rapidly than it should. Stopped by Wheeling Volkswagen/Subaru Dealership just before their daily closing. They inspected and found the above ruptured fuel line, leaking onto the pavement under the engine compartment. They determined it was unsafe to drive, but did not have a replacement part. They found there were less than 10 of these fuel injector fuel delivery lines available in the whole U.S. Had to leave the vehicle with them, and the repair was completed 4 day later. The faulty component was observed by the service department personel, and by myself. I have no photos to submit, but have the repair invoice covered under Subaru's drive train warranty. This component failure could have easily resulted in a vehicle fire or explosion, and I feel very fortunate that did not happen! This fuel line is flexible rubber, not metal, and I think is made of faulty materials. I have never heard of such a failure personally. There were no warning lamps, messages or symptoms, other than the strong smell of gasoline.

Battery randomly discharges to zero voltage. Passenger window randomly cannot be operated from drivers side. Sometime it can, sometimes not.

Battery corroded excessively so much so that when it was able to be removed the connector for the battery broke. Battery was replaced and the passenger window can't be operated from driver side, one touch driver window no longer works either.

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.

To: Subaru Motors Consumer Reports NHtSA I, Richard McNitt, am the very unhappy owner of a 2018 Subaru Outback (4 cylinder “Touring” model with 33,900 miles), VIN 4S4 BSATCT J3362742. Primarily on the basis of “glowing” Consumer Reports Reviews I chose this model….sad to say this was an unfortunate choice. I list some of the troubles endured: • Shortly after delivery the “radio-GPS” failed, replacement was in short supply(!), Did without several weeks and the re-installation had a glitch. •We were informed that the radio would always “come on” when the car was started, My wife finds this very annoying, •We find the road noise to be excessive, especially at around 25 mph, •We were left sitting twice with a “dead” battery, once at the end of a two hour trip when the radio was on after for less than 15 minutes. ••But the worst situation was this…..My daughter, granddaughter, and I were 500 miles into a 600 hundred mile trip to a North Carolina Beach when we exited the Interstate at Laurenburg NC at about 3PM on a very hot day. At the first intersection stop sign when the accelerator was pushed at first nothing happened…that is the car did not accelerate, then abruptly the car lurched forward. Alarmed we drove it around a large parking parking lot, stopping, then trying to start again..we found the hesitating, then lurching forward to continue, so we changed drivers with the same result. As it was now late on a Saturday afternoon in this small town with no local garages open, we had the car “Roll-Backed” to the nearest Subaru Dealer in Fayetteville, NC and as there were no local car rentals available, we had a family member drive 108 miles (each way) to get us and take us to the beach. The Fayetteville Subaru Dealer called on Monday morning and said “they could find nothing wrong”, and to pick up the car (another 100+ miles each way). Needless to say, I was very nervous the whole way home from the beach ..but the trip was without incident.

Stopped at a stoplight when a crack started in the bottom corner of the windshield and by the afternoon it had gone almost completely across the windshield.

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 mph, a semi-truck crashed into the vehicle causing severe front-end damage but no airbags were deployed. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The vehicle was no longer drivable and was towed to the home. The cause of the failure was not determined. The insurance company was currently reviewing the vehicle to determine if it is a total loss. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000.

I was driving straight on a divided highway and heard a loud pop. I didn't see anything at first, but as I continued to drive, a crack appeared at the bottom, driver-side of the windshield. The crack continued to grow and has now extended more than halfway across the windshield, obstructing my vision while driving. I have not taken the vehicle to be inspected by a dealer or insurance agent yet since it was a holiday weekend.

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at 70 mph, a rock struck the front windshield. The contact stated at the time there was no cracks on the front windshield. The next day upon entering the vehicle, he noticed a crack going along the passenger’s side of the front windshield. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that they would call the contact back once an assessment was made. The failure mileage was approximately 25,182.