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Back-over prevention (rear camera)Part report

2018 Subaru Outback Back-over prevention (rear camera) Problems

Complaints
19about this part
Share
2%of 816 total for the year
Median mileage
35,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the back-over prevention of the 2018 Subaru Outback, 2% of the 816 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 35,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The radio headunit which houses the backup camera freezes. When this happens, the backup camera does not work. Vehicle was brought to a Subaru dealership, and confirmed that radio unit freezes, and diagnostic did not improve system. Radio unit requires re-manufacturing. I have contacted Subaru and they refuse to address the problem. There is also documentation that talks about a recall on the Harmon Kardon unit we have.”

NHTSA complaint #11619920, filed 2024-10

“The screen that controls everything in the car is delaminating and it prevents the driver from being able to see the back up camera properly and is a distraction to drivers. This is a known issue with this year vehicle. Subaru won’t replace and only offered me 750 to get it fixed which means I would still have to come out of pocket $900 for a known defect. They are aware of the issue and have replaced some vehicles at no charge.”

NHTSA complaint #11626727, filed 2024-11

“Our Subaru backup camera screen is suffering from a factory defect delamination issue which has caused the screen to become hazy and difficult to see. In daylight, the screen is often completely obscured by the defect. Subaru issued a warranty extension from 2020 to 2023 due to class action litigation regarding this issue, but we were never made aware of the extension. Subaru has refused to repair this factory safety defect simply claiming it is out of warranty.”

NHTSA complaint #11732839, filed 2026-04

“The head unit on my 2018 Subaru Outback is pressing random buttons all over the screen by itself. It would constantly make the button noise as I drive leading me to lose track of the directions that was being provided from my Apple Maps. It would also disconnect me from CarPlay leaving me with no sense of direction as to where I should be going. I have gotten this fixed before at a Subaru dealership and they ended up replacing the head unit for me, however this is the second time it’s happening and there is obviously a serious problem with the all the units.”

NHTSA complaint #11616734, filed 2024-09

“The infotainment head unit in my 2018 Subaru Outback has experienced internal adhesive delamination, resulting in frequent ghost touches and unpredictable system malfunctions that pose a severe safety hazard. Most critically, the backup camera display intermittently disappears or freezes while the vehicle is in reverse, causing a total loss of rear visibility during low-speed maneuvering. …”

NHTSA complaint #11731085, filed 2026-04

Back-over prevention (rear camera): other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202556%
202433%
202210%
202141%
2020101%
201991%
2018192%
201740%
201630%
201551%
201310%

Other parts of the 2018 Subaru Outback

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
273 complaints
Electrical system
267 complaints
Other or unknown
163 complaints
Fuel system
46 complaints
Engine
37 complaints
Steering
36 complaints
Vehicle speed control
21 complaints
Brakes
18 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
18 complaints
Body and structure
15 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
14 complaints
Wheels
11 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Subaru Outback

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology