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moderate 35 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Of the 35 electrical complaints filed for the 2018 Subaru Legacy, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Electrical accounts for 31% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 categories tracked.
Among the 18 model years of Subaru Legacy in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin contains information to help when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for 2026 model year vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20 with gen 4 Telematics.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The 2018 Legacy's electrical system is a minefield. The Starlink infotainment screen delaminates around 30,000–100,000 miles, developing air bubbles and registering phantom touches without driver input. Owners report the screen changing radio stations, calling contacts, maxing volume, and routing navigation — sometimes all at once — while they're driving. Safety features like Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Warning become disabled as a side effect. Subaru acknowledges this is a known, widespread issue but won't recall it; they'll extend the warranty on some owners but deny coverage after that, leaving others with $1,000–$3,000 replacement bills.
Battery drainage is chronic and severe. The vehicle's CAN electrical system drains the battery when parked, leaving owners stranded with no warning. Some replace batteries annually; others buy chargers just to keep the vehicle running. Fuel gauges read false high, showing 40 miles of range when the tank is actually empty—owners have run out of fuel on highways.
Other reported defects include power windows that quit intermittently, a mirror assembly that caught fire due to water-damaged wiring, engine stalls while driving, keyless entry failures, and windshields cracking from the heating element. One owner's wiring harness was damaged by rodents attracted to Subaru's biodegradable wire coating—a problem documented in a national civil suit.
Same Subaru Legacy electrical reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
The 8-inch Starlink multimedia touchscreen develops air bubbles and delamination in the laminate layer, causing the screen to register phantom inputs ('ghost touch') and become unresponsive to intentional touch. The screen unpredictably changes radio stations, calls contacts, navigates menus, adjusts volume and lights, and disables climate controls — all without driver input. Owners report the screen will malfunction suddenly with no prior warning.
When: Typically between 30,000 and 100,000 miles; can occur early in ownership or escalate over time
Symptoms owners cite: Air bubbles visible on touchscreen display; Screen becomes unresponsive to touch input; Screen registers phantom button presses and menu changes; Radio station changes automatically; Calls contacts or makes calls without driver action; Volume changes or blasts to maximum without user control; Navigation inputs random addresses or changes routes; Climate and lighting controls activate involuntarily; Complete blackout of display with loss of all infotainment function; Screen beeps and makes noise as if being touched; Safety features like Blind Spot Warning and Lane Keeping Assist become disabled
Repairs/costs cited: Authorized dealerships diagnose the head unit as defective and recommend replacement of the entire radio/display unit. Owners report cost estimates of $1,000–$3,000 for replacement. Software updates do not resolve the issue. Replacement parts have been on national backorder.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued a limited warranty extension for this known defect (covers some owners). Subaru of America has denied goodwill assistance on out-of-warranty vehicles. Dealerships have declined to repair vehicles beyond the extended warranty period. The manufacturer has not issued a recall despite owners reporting this is a widespread, known issue affecting all 2018 and later models.
The battery drains excessively when the vehicle is not running, leading to dead batteries and no-start conditions. Some owners require battery replacement every 1–2 years despite the battery being new or relatively new. The CAN electrical system is suspected to cause the drainage. No warning indicators precede the failure.
When: Can occur early in ownership; some owners report premature failure under 3 years of age or under 55,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start with no warning; Battery drains when car is parked and not in use; Owner stranded without ability to start vehicle; Battery goes dead unexpectedly even after recent replacement; Fuel gauge gives false readings (e.g., shows 40 miles remaining but vehicle runs out of fuel within 10 miles)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships replace the battery; however, the replacement does not resolve the underlying drainage issue. Some owners have purchased battery chargers to maintain charge between drives. One owner reported three dealership visits with the second visit finding 'no problem' when a failure had recently occurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru dealerships have not acknowledged this as a warranty issue or manufacturer defect. Dealers have indicated the battery is out of warranty by miles and refused coverage.
The fuel gauge displays a remaining range significantly higher than the actual remaining fuel. The vehicle runs out of fuel when the gauge shows 30–40 miles of range remaining and the tank displays 1/4 full. Gauge readings drop suddenly without warning.
When: Occurs during normal highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge shows 40 miles range remaining but vehicle runs out of fuel after 10 miles of driving; Fuel gauge shows 30 miles range remaining but vehicle runs out of fuel within 20 miles; Tank displays 1/4 full when vehicle is actually near empty; Gauge drops from 1/4 tank to empty in less than 20 miles; Vehicle stalls unexpectedly due to fuel starvation on the road
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs reported; owners have been stranded and forced to walk to obtain fuel.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in the narratives.
Electrical wiring in the driver-side rear view mirror assembly becomes damaged (suspected water ingress) and creates a fire hazard. The mirror caught fire while the vehicle was running, producing smoke and flames from the mirror housing. After replacement, the driver-side window auto up/down function ceased to work. One owner reported the fire hazard with urgency response from Subaru, but subsequent unrelated electrical issues have gone unaddressed.
When: Can occur unexpectedly during normal vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke and flames coming from driver-side rear view mirror; Mirror housing fire hazard; After mirror replacement: power window auto up/down function fails; Water suspected to enter mirror assembly; Owner fears damage from car washes
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru quoted $1,000 for mirror replacement plus $200 inspection fee. After replacement, windows still malfunction. No permanent resolution reported.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru responded with urgency to the fire incident and replaced the mirror. However, Subaru declined to address subsequent electrical issues traced to the original wiring problem. No comprehensive repair offered.
Power windows on driver and passenger doors become unresponsive or fail to operate. Some windows will not stay up after closing. The issue is intermittent and resets temporarily when returned to the dealership, but recurs. One owner reports a $1,500 repair estimate and has been told this is a known, step-below-recall issue.
When: Intermittent; can occur repeatedly during vehicle use
Symptoms owners cite: Power window switches on driver and passenger doors do not function; Front driver and passenger windows inoperable; Window will not stay up when closed via power button; Intermittent function — windows work, then fail again
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership resets code temporarily; issue recurs. One shop estimated repair cost at $1,500. One owner reports this is known as a step-below-recall issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. Known issue within the dealership network but not formally addressed by Subaru.
The radio and head unit become unresponsive to user input, or controls malfunction such that unrelated actions trigger audio changes. Android Auto disconnects randomly and audio blasts at full volume with no way to control it while driving. Heat and HVAC dials inadvertently control radio volume. Radio may not respond until the car is turned off and restarted.
When: Intermittent; can occur during normal use or at vehicle startup
Symptoms owners cite: Radio unresponsive to touch or control inputs; Android Auto randomly disconnects; Audio blasts at maximum volume without user control; Unable to lower volume while driving except by pulling over and powering down the radio; HVAC heat dial rotations change radio volume instead of temperature; Radio blank on startup; becomes responsive only after power cycle; Volume resets to maximum after car is started
Codes mentioned: P014A
Repairs/costs cited: No permanent repairs documented; issue persists after dealership visits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No formal recall or service bulletin documented; one owner reports Subaru is unresponsive to complaints.
Keyless entry system unexpectedly fails, allowing doors to open when locked. When the driver sits in the seat, the dashboard displays 'Remote Key Deactivated' and the vehicle becomes completely non-responsive — doors cannot be locked or unlocked, car cannot be started, no systems function. The dealership finds no fault code and declares no problem found, but the owner reports concern about future failures.
When: Occurred on a parked, locked vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Keyless entry system allows doors to open when vehicle is locked; Dashboard displays 'Remote Key Deactivated' message; Vehicle completely non-responsive after message appears; Doors cannot be locked or unlocked; Vehicle cannot be started; No system functions work
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership found no fault codes and could not identify a problem. Both remote keys functioned normally after the incident.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No follow-up or investigation documented; dealership declares no problem found.
The engine unexpectedly shuts off while driving (e.g., while exiting a highway), nearly causing a collision. The instrument cluster goes black and the vehicle will not restart, though the infotainment screen and radio continue to work. A previous unexplained no-start incident occurred two weeks earlier when parked; dealership inspection found no fault.
When: Occurs unexpectedly during active driving
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off suddenly while driving without warning; Instrument cluster display goes black; Vehicle will not restart after stalling; Infotainment screen remains powered; Radio remains functional; Windows and entertainment system remain operational; Previous no-start incident with no fault code identified
Repairs/costs cited: Master Subaru technician inspected the vehicle after the first no-start event and found nothing wrong; however, the issue recurred during highway driving.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; dealership inspection was inconclusive.
Vehicle wiring harness is damaged by rodents or wildlife, triggering airbag and seatbelt malfunction warnings on the dashboard. The owner discovered that Subaru uses biodegradable wiring materials that attract squirrels and mice. This issue has been the subject of a national civil suit against Subaru and reported in Consumer Reports. The dealership initially blamed rodent damage but refused to repair it without significant cost to the owner.
When: Occurred at 70 miles on a brand-new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag malfunction warning light on dashboard; Seatbelt malfunction warning light on dashboard; Wiring harness damaged by rodent or wildlife chewing
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership refused to repair without charging the owner extensively. No repair completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru has not acknowledged this as a manufacturer defect. Consumer Reports (July 10, 2017) identified technical bulletins from Subaru, Ford, GM, Honda, and Toyota acknowledging the issue. A national civil suit against Subaru exists regarding the use of biodegradable wiring materials.
The Eyesight driver-assistance system (includes lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control) unexpectedly turns off during normal driving. The system becomes unavailable without warning and the owner cannot determine the cause. This is particularly concerning given that the owner selected the vehicle specifically for its safety features.
When: Intermittent; occurs during nighttime driving
Symptoms owners cite: Eyesight system turns off during driving; Lane Keeping Assistance becomes disabled; Blind Spot Warning becomes disabled; Adaptive cruise control becomes unavailable
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.
Windshield develops cracks originating from the bottom heating element. The owner reports two separate cracking events in similar fashion within 11 months. Similar crack patterns are reported online for other Subaru vehicles, indicating a potential design or material defect.
When: First crack at 36,000 miles (March 2024); second crack 11 months later (February 2025)
Symptoms owners cite: Crack in windshield originating from bottom heating element; Crack appears spontaneously without impact; Similar crack pattern repeats
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs or coverage documented by Subaru.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Zero action or acknowledgment from Subaru despite multiple reports of similar windshield issues online.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) warning light flashes despite actual tire pressures being within normal range. The warning persists even though tire pressure is correct.
When: Occurs during normal vehicle use
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS warning light flashing; No actual tire pressure issues present
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; malfunction persists.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.
The incline brake system activates on its own, preventing the vehicle from moving. This occurs intermittently during normal driving and operation.
When: Intermittent; occurs during normal vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Incline brake button activates by itself; Prevents vehicle from moving; Occurs without driver input
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.
Synthesized from 35 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
During regular use of the radio and head unit, at times the touch screen or controls, dials, buttons will be unresponsive. The Android Auto software tends to malfunction and will randomly disconnect and the audio will blast, full volume at the driver with the inability to control the volume other than to pull over and turn the vehicle off or manually power down the radio. This has happened on…
Ran out of gas on a flat highway, when the indicator said there were 30 miles left. Gague went from 1/4 to 0 in less than 20 miles.
Subaru battery drainage defect. CAN electrical system causing battery to drain when car isn't running. Car may unknowingly not start at any time battery could be dead. Just put new battery in 1 year ago this did not fix the issue. I shouldn't have to worry about being stranded with my child if my car doesn't start due to a known battery issue.
Car was parked and locked. Keyless entry system allowed doors to be opened. Upon sitting in drivers seat, before any attempt to start car, a message on dash said "remote key deactivated". After that, nothing worked, no further messages, could not lock doors, could not start car, nothing functioned. Finally had car towed to dealer, casey Subaru, newport news, va. Late next morning, dealer…
Window on right passenger door doesn't stay up when we close the window with the power window button. Sometimes at night the eyesight system turns off. At times the radio entertainment system doesn't want to work.
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 35 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 8,400 and 30,000 miles, with the median around 18,125. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,400; a quarter make it past 30,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover electrical issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.