This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Subaru Outback steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Subaru Outback have filed 35 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 8,200 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
35
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Outback | 17 |
| 2015 Outback | 13 |
| 2016 Outback | 24 |
| 2017 Outback | 23 |
| 2018 Outback (this page) | 35 |
| 2019 Outback | 35 |
| 2020 Outback | 12 |
| 2021 Outback | 5 |
| 2022 Outback | 3 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 35 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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 availability of new Front Stabilizer Link assemblies equipped with a new dust boot material having enhanced durability and grease retention characteristics.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe consistent steering problems in the 2018 Outback starting as early as delivery through the first 13,000 miles. The dominant complaint is erratic steering at highway speeds above 45 mph: the car pulls or sways left and right without driver input, with owners frequently describing it as hydroplaning or wind pushing the vehicle sideways—despite dry roads and calm conditions. This sensation persists even when Lane Assist is disabled. Several owners report the steering wheel momentarily turns on its own.
A secondary issue is steering looseness—the wheel feels disconnected from the road with a momentary loss of tension, as if it could spin freely. Control temporarily vanishes then returns.
Steering lock-up is also reported: the wheel locks into position during sharp turns or when backing out, requiring manual force to move. One owner experienced simultaneous loss of steering and brakes while reversing, crashing into a tree.
Wheel alignment and pulling problems are endemic. Multiple owners report the car pulling hard to the right from delivery, with one owner having alignments redone four times in two weeks without resolution. Uneven tire wear results, with the inside of driver-side front tires worn to steel while outside tread remains thick.
Lane Assist malfunctions, jerking the steering into adjacent lanes. Turning off the feature does not stop the intervention.
Dealers initially blamed Lane Assist or wheel alignment, told owners the behavior was within specifications, or could not duplicate the problem. No narratives document successful permanent repair of steering issues.
Same Subaru Outback steering reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Erratic steering pull/sway at highway speeds
Steering pulls or sways left/right without driver input, especially at speeds over 45–70 mph. Owners describe the sensation as hydroplaning, strong wind gusts, or loss of control on dry roads in calm conditions. Some report the steering wheel momentarily attempts to turn on its own. Occurs intermittently but persistently; worsens in rain, high wind, or when attempting lane changes.
When: Typically begins within first few thousand miles; reported from 7 miles to 13,000 miles onward
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls or sways left/right without driver steering input; Feels like hydroplaning or wind pushing car sideways; Steering wheel momentarily turns on its own; Loss of control sensation, especially above 45 mph; More pronounced in rain, high wind, or during curves; Lane Assist feature does not resolve the issue when disabled
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners report dealerships performed wheel alignments multiple times without resolving the issue. Some dealers blamed Lane Assist or said condition was within specifications. No successful repair documented in narratives.
Steering looseness/lack of precision
Steering feels excessively loose or disconnected from road feel, with a momentary loss of tension in the wheel. Control temporarily disappears then returns. Owners report it feels like the steering wheel could spin freely. Occurs across multiple driving conditions and speeds.
When: Reported from first day of ownership through thousands of miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering feels very loose, like disconnect between wheel and road; Momentary loss of steering tension/control lasting seconds; Steering wheel feels like it could spin freely; Happens in multiple driving conditions; More pronounced on highway in high winds
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers could not replicate or repair. One owner after 18 months and 2,700 miles reported ongoing issue unresolved.
Steering lock-up when reversing or turning
Steering locks into position when making sharp turns or backing out of a parked position. Wheel becomes immobile or extremely difficult to move until manually forced out of locked position. One incident caused loss of both steering and brakes during reverse, resulting in vehicle striking a tree.
When: Reported at low mileage (7,000 miles) and intermittently thereafter
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks into position during sharp turns; Steering locks when reversing or backing out of driveway; Requires manual force to unlock steering; Loss of steering and braking simultaneously (one incident); No warning lights or indication before failure
Repairs/costs cited: One incident resulted in collision with tree; vehicle required towing. Dealer initially stated locking behavior was normal power steering operation.
Excessive steering rack play/clunking
Front end clunking or rattling noise with excessive play in steering rack. Rack was replaced in one documented case due to excessive movement. Risk of complete steering failure.
When: Around 6,000 miles and higher
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking/rattling noise in front end; Excessive play in steering rack; Steering feels stuck or irregular during turns; Car jerks front end while driving straight
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack replacement performed at dealership
Intermittent loss of electric power steering assist
Electric power steering assist briefly cuts out at highway speed then returns to normal. Becomes a regular recurring occurrence with no warning lights. Occurs at 70 mph but unrelated to Lane Assist malfunction.
When: First reported at 25,000 miles, then became regular occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Brief loss of power steering assist at highway speeds; No warning lights illuminated; Returns to normal after momentary loss; Becomes recurring
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate failure; vehicle not repaired
Wheel alignment/pulling issues
Vehicle pulls or drifts to one side (usually right) immediately out of dealer lot or within first few thousand miles. Multiple alignment adjustments fail to resolve issue. One owner had alignment redone four times in two weeks without success. Uneven tire wear results from persistent misalignment.
When: Evident from delivery through early ownership; pulling noted as early as 3,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls to right consistently; Vehicle drifts to left lane when not corrected; 15–20 degree steering wheel offset from center; Steering requires constant manual correction; Uneven tire wear (inside of tire worn while outside has full tread)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple wheel alignments performed (up to four in two weeks) without resolving pull. Dealers initially denied alignment was needed despite obvious symptoms.
Highway vibration/shimmy at speed
Vehicle vibrates or shakes at highway speeds above 60 mph. Owners report vehicle feels unstable or like it might fall apart. Tire balance adjustments attempted without success. Unrelated to steering lock-up but contributes to unsafe highway feel.
When: New vehicle condition; reported as early as 290 miles on odometer
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration at speeds above 60 mph on highway; Vehicle shakes severely at higher speeds; Feels like car might fall apart; Occurs even on smooth pavement
Repairs/costs cited: Four-tire wheel balancing performed; outcome unclear from narrative
Lane Assist malfunction/unwanted steering intervention
Lane Assist feature pulls steering toward adjacent lanes without driver input, creating collision risk. System tries to steer car into exit lane beside intended lane. System cannot be adequately disabled to prevent intervention. Multiple owners report turning off Lane Assist does not stop the pulling behavior.
When: Reported after 10,000 miles and throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Lane Assist pulls steering into adjacent lanes; System jerks steering toward exit lanes; Unwanted steering intervention despite disabling feature; Creates near-miss collision situations
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers advised disabling Lane Assist, but feature continues to cause steering intervention
Steering wheel jerking at highway speeds
Steering wheel jerks sharply left or right during straight driving or on curved exits at speeds from 30–70 mph. Occurs on dry pavement with no hazards. Happens intermittently but recurrently (approximately a dozen times reported).
When: Reported at various mileages; one incident at 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sharp jerking of steering wheel left or right; Occurs on straight roads and curved exits; Happens at 30–70 mph; Occurs on dry pavement with no road hazards; Intermittent but recurring behavior
Single-brake engagement during highway driving
Right front brake applies on its own at highway speeds during straight driving, causing steering wheel to jerk right. Not a full panic stop but enough to be felt in steering. Occurs without driver input or warning.
When: Highway speeds (65–70 mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Right front brake applies without driver input; Steering wheel jerks to right; Occurs at highway speeds on straight roads; No warning or indication before event
Synthesized from 35 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2018 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2018 Subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 35 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 4,500 and 12,000 miles, with the median around 8,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,500; a quarter make it past 12,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Subaru/Outback.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.