2018 Subaru Outback Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 2%of 816 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 15,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the body and structure of the 2018 Subaru Outback, 2% of the 816 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 15,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My windshield spontaneously cracked starting at the vertical edge on the passenger side. There was no event that caused this. It just happened one day. I'm barely driving my car bc of the pandemic so I'm assuming it happened when it was stationary.”
NHTSA complaint #11321852, filed 2020-04, 34,120 miles“Subaru Outback 2018 have an issue with the residue leak from the windshield near the eye sight it happened twice to my vehicle first time when I took the vehicle they said it might be a leak from the glue in eyesight and they said they have eyesight might be loose and they have tighten it and second time it happened and then they said no no the eyesight doesn't have any glue and this is coming from some glue used in the windshield. Subaru doesn't seem to be worry about it and all they say is they are not able to duplicate the issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #11328362, filed 2020-06, 15,000 miles“I just driven home from work on the freeway for 20 minutes. Got home and parked my car on the street in front of my home. I went into my home and came out about 30 minutes later to do some yard work. A crack in my windshield caught my eye. I looked at it and it went from one side to the other it was not there when I parked my car 30 minutes earlier and nothing hit the windshield on the freeway. This happened 9 mos after I bought my car. It was still under warranty but they made me pay $1118.33 out of my pocket and then told me to get reimbursed by my insurance.”
NHTSA complaint #11292513, filed 2020-01, 5,000 miles“My wife and I were driving on the interstate on a cool (45 degrees) day at about 70 MPH, the only vehicle in the vicinity. There was a suddden unexplained noise overhead, then a loud explosion like noise and then a loud rush of wind and the sound of something breaking and flapping and something blowing and hitting the roof of the car. I slid open the sunshade a very small distance and discovered my sunroof had exploded for no apparent reason or cause.this was on a 7 month old 2018 Subaru Outback with factory installed sunroof and 17,000 mikes on it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11081260, filed 2018-03, 17,000 miles“Door will not unlock using key in key hole. This appears to be a very common problem from all the online comments and is on all Subaru models. Being locked out of the car for safety or weather conditions can put one's life in extreme danger. Are is stationary. Door will not unlock using key in door.”
NHTSA complaint #11230593, filed 2019-07, 19,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11022304Aug 11, 2025This bulletin provides information on paint codes for vehicles in the 2026 line up.
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 2 | 2% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 7 | 2% |
| 2021 | 7 | 2% |
| 2020 | 21 | 2% |
| 2019 | 27 | 3% |
| 2018 | 15 | 2% |
| 2017 | 26 | 3% |
| 2016 | 19 | 3% |
| 2015 | 33 | 6% |
| 2014 | 11 | 5% |
| 2013 | 11 | 4% |
| 2012 | 5 | 2% |
| 2011 | 11 | 2% |
| 2010 | 14 | 4% |
| 2009 | 5 | 5% |
| 2008 | 6 | 3% |
| 2007 | 5 | 4% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% |
| 2005 | 7 | 3% |
| 2003 | 5 | 5% |
| 2002 | 10 | 7% |
| 2001 | 15 | 9% |
| 2000 | 13 | 6% |
| 1999 | 4 | 4% |
| 1998 | 2 | 2% |
| 1997 | 3 | 4% |
| 1996 | 3 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2018 Subaru Outback
273 complaintsElectrical system
267 complaintsOther or unknown
163 complaintsFuel system
46 complaintsEngine
37 complaintsSteering
36 complaintsVehicle speed control
21 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
19 complaintsBrakes
18 complaintsForward collision avoidance
18 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
14 complaintsWheels
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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