Battery continues to drain prematurely. It's been an issue since the very beginning of out ownership in June 2018. We replaced the battery after it would not hold a charge for more than two days. The replacement battery still wouldn't last for more than a day or two. Now in the cold weather it won't even last a day. Two days ago, I went in the grocery store for about 45 minutes and the battery…
2018 subaru Outback electrical problems
moderate 249 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
249
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
The infotainment system freezes randomly causing screen to freeze including while backing up. This causes it to appear as though the back up camera is working when in reality it is not. Serious safety concern if cross traffic or children are not seen.
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 …
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…
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 WA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AT NIGHT, THE FUEL RANGE DROPPED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED, BUT NO ONE ANSWERED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE FOR ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE DARKNESS. THE CONTACT CALLED TRIPLE A AND WAS PROVIDED SOM…
Battery loses charge overnight for no reason. New battery placed in vehicle and same issue still present.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2018 subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 249 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
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.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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