2018 Subaru Outback Electrical System Problems
- 47
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 47 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- does work · 10 records
- head unit · 9 records
- back camera · 9 records
- backup camera · 7 records
- infotainment system · 6 records
- hands free · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 41 |
| 30–60k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System
I have replaced the battery twice and the battery is still dead if i don't drive the vehicle for more than 3 days. Obviously there is a parasitic drain. I don't have an options or accessories installed that did come with the vehicle when purchased.
ODI 11289138
Electrical System
Headunit, including backup camera, has been unresponsive for over six weeks. A replacement has been on order with the local subaru dealer for five weeks.
ODI 11252334
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Wheels
Smoke electrical short issue in driver side mirror. Diagnosed by subaru mechanic to be a short in the approach light module. Significant smoke was emitted from mirror with burn marks on bottom inside middle of mirror. The car had just came to rest in a hospital parking deck. Car was removed from deck in order to prevent fire hazard. Note - a 10 amp fuse did blow which caused a failure of the tpms (tire pressure…
Fire reported
ODI 11207532
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
In dec 2018 the fuel line of my 2018 subaru outback had to be replaced because it had been chewed through by a rodent and was leaking in the car. Total damage was over $2000. In may 2019 another $3500 damage was discovered from a rodent chewing on electrical harnesses in the dash. The dealer told me this is because subaru is now using soy-based insulation for fuel lines, wiring, and electrical harnesses. Rodents are…
ODI 11208706
Electrical System
Infotainment system would not boot up at start. Loss of navigation, backup camera, hands free phone, sirius radio.
ODI 11207732
Electrical System
The entire "infotainment" system, central display console, and control panel does not work. It will not turn on. The screen is black. Nothing works. The rear view camera safety system does not work. The radio, bluetooth, and navigation system does not work. This symptom is constant. It occurs when stationary, in motion, in city, highway, turning - always. In reverse the rearview camera does not display an image. The…
ODI 11202914
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
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…
ODI 11252776
Electrical System
Three items: when vehicle is switched-on - video display for reverse/backup camera is not working. Display components are responding to touch but no audio is heard for radio, phone, or navigation. Once vehicle is switched-off - display console and side lights (on center computer) remain illuminated pulling from the battery. Now my car is dead and requires a jump!
ODI 11194972
Electrical System
Video screen for the display of the backup camera view is not working.
ODI 11192706
Electrical System
Head unit is malfunctioning multiple times per day. Intermittent phone muting, intermittent phone disconnect, no volume through apple car play while in park, speakers come through on weird channel extremely loudly all of a sudden, no volume on radio, channels on radio all of a sudden change, pulsating power signal through usb port(changed multiple cables)says its charging device but device dies, voice command button…
ODI 11189768
Electrical System
Stereo output abruptly changed from all speakers at normal volume, to one speaker at increased volume. Vehicle was in motion in an urban setting. This kind of random volume change from the infotainment system while driving can be quite jarring and surprising.
ODI 11191830
Electrical System
The entire "infotainment" system, central display console, and control panel does not work. It will not turn on. The screen is black. Nothing works. The rear view camera safety system does not work. The radio, bluetooth, and navigation system does not work. This symptom is constant. It occurs when stationary, in motion, in city, highway, turning - always. In reverse the rearview camera does not display an image. The…
ODI 11183662
Electrical System
The central display console where backup camera is went to black suddenly and will not turn on. This is a safety concern. Here is a link to many other 2018 2019 subaru owners reporting same issue https://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-t75428_ds961674
ODI 11182335
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
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.
ODI 11171364
Electrical System
In 2018 a new law went into effect requiring all new cars cone with rear backup cameras. The subaru starlink infotainment system that is on all new subarus are defective, buggy, and subaru has no permanent fix. It renders the rear camera unoperable, replacements are on backorder and subaru makes owners continue to drive their card when it is unsafe and not following the new law for 2018 cars. I want subaru to fix…
ODI 11163856
Electrical System
Display panel shut down, completely dark, disabled are radio, gps, navigation and most importantly the back up camera. The dealership admits they are seeing quite a few of these and a new radio to repair the problem will take 3 months to arrive, no guarantee this will fix the problem. So i will be without a backup camera, deemed critical enough that it is mandated on all new cars for one quarter of the year. I also…
ODI 11165343
Electrical System
I have owned two outbacks a 2016 and 2018 and both have had the problem of front windows will work and then for what ever reason i will roll window up with power switch and wind will automatically roll half way down and stay there if i try to roll it up again it does the same thing .until i pull over stop car and reset the switch the way the dealership showed me to do ,this only works sometimes so i am left with my…
ODI 11164064
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other · Visibility/Wiper
Wtz85 - subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling 2018 model year legacy, outback, and brz vehicles equipped with a certain combination of head unit hardware and software, due to the possibility of noncompliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard type: recall | service campaign: wtz85 | nhtsa campaign: 18v-000000 open recall date: january 02, 2019 description 18 leg/out/brz v3 head unit reprogram safety…
ODI 11166438
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
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…
ODI 11163101
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
Infotainment screen went black on december 17, 2018. Radio, navigation system, bluetooth and rear camera are all inoperable.
ODI 11166632
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
Infotainment system is faulty. I have no back up camera, bluetooth, radio, can not program clock. Subaru dealer says there is no fix other than to replace head unit. I have been waiting since dec 14th for this replacement unit. While at dealer i asked for a loaner and was denied. Subaru said the car was safe to drive which is not true since their biggest safety feature isnt accessible
ODI 11166323
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
I drove to a nearby town, indicator said 40 miles to go before empty. Parked. Restarted the car after half an hour. Most of center display functions were dead. It did show back-up view, but no radio, no map. Drove toward home and gas station. After twenty miles, on cruise control at 70mph on highway, engine suddenly started racing as though it had down shifted, i braked and headed for the shoulder. No turn signals,…
ODI 11163822
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 subaru outback. While driving 35 mph, the fuel gauge indicated 40 miles remaining, but the vehicle ran out of fuel. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
ODI 11155699
Electrical System · Visibility/Wiper
Harman-kardon audio unit failure at 8,000 miles. Results in loss a basic back up camera function. Extensive safety features on this vehicle-basic back up camera not working.
ODI 11162253
Electrical System · Fuel Gauge · Fuel System, Gasoline
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 subaru outback. The contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 18v773000 (electrical system, fuel system, gasoline) and stated that the manufacturer failed to repair the vehicle within a reasonable amount of time. The dealer (subaru of santa cruz, [redacted], capitola, ca 95010) confirmed that parts were not available to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer…
ODI 11163844