2018 Subaru Outback electrical system problems
Owners reported electrical system problems in 269 complaints for the 2018 Subaru Outback, 27% of the complaints on file. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 269 27% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 17,000 miles 141 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When electrical system problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 85 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 37 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 12 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 141 electrical system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 16,000 miles, and 95% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 2 crashes, 3 fires.
What owners wrote
Smoke electrical short issue in driver side mirror. Diagnosed by subaru mechanic to be a short in the approach light module. Significant smoke was emitted from mirror with burn marks on bottom inside middle of mirror. The car had just came to rest in a hospital parking deck. Car was removed from deck in order to prevent fire hazard. Note - a 10 amp fuse did blow which caused a failure of the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) and the remote lock/unlock system.
During vehicle operation, both stationary and in traffic, the driver window intermittently does not close normally. Upon activation to raise the window when in open position, it rises only partway, then bounces back down. Only after repeated efforts, using multiple maneuvers of the power control, sometimes requiring pulling over on the highway so as not to further drive distracted, can one finally raise the window. This is a safety issue in that it requires driver attention during vehicle operation.
Other problems reported for the 2018 Subaru Outback
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 275 complaints
- Fuel system 46 complaints
- Engine 37 complaints
- Steering 36 complaints
- Forward collision avoidance 23 complaints
- Cruise control 21 complaints
- Backover prevention 20 complaints
- Brakes 18 complaints