2018 Subaru Outback electrical problems
268 of the 812 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Outback name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 256 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 268 reports a crash · 3 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 3 · 2018: 26 · 2019: 25 · 2020: 46 · 2021: 84 · 2022: 30 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 16 · 2025: 16 · 2026: 8
Half of the 137 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 9,000 and 30,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
812 complaints in all about the 2018 Subaru Outback, 8 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Outback electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Vehicle developed drip from transmission approximately mid june 2018. Took to dealer & unable to find source after 11 days in shop. They put dye in and I drove until 7-30-18 when drip returned. Car in shop 6 days for new transmission. Car returned 8-9-18. 11 days later 8-21-18 major oil leak & vehicle towed to dealership.
I have always wanted a 3.6l and this is my first 3.6l 6 cylinder 2018 Subaru Outback! AM disappointed with few problems: the front seating is not comfortable and not supportive at all, especial in hard turns the seats will not hold you in place, the seat bed is to short and does not support long legs if you are over 5 feet tall.
Soft keys for radio programming go to initializing and stay there rather than show the siriusxm channel that was set in memory. Head unit is extremely bright at night it does dim but there are white sections that should be inverted at night this makes it distracting at night. Radio boots up to a white screen now and nothing works.
I have 6000 miles on my 2018 Subaru Outback and rodents ate the electrical wires in my engine which caused me not to be able to operate the car and could have caused a major accident. I found out my wires are soy based which attracted the rodents.
When I turn on the hazard emergency flashing lights on while parked and engine off and I lock the car , both keyless remotes stop working when I try to unlock the doors to enter. To be able to access car need to use the manual key, alarm horn goes off and then push the engine start button and all seems to work fine again.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications256 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 15-308-23R Service bulletinAug 20, 2026
- This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 15-304-22R Service bulletinAug 13, 2026
- This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
- Article Locator OtherAug 5, 2026
- Techtips newsletter locator index.
The 3 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B2A16 P0841 B2A20 P2096 P2097 C1956 C1957 P2404
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Subaru Outback names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Subaru Outback
Source: the same files- visibility and wiper problems 275 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2018 Subaru Outback?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 268 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (33% of everything owners filed about it), and 256 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2018 Subaru Outback?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 3 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2018 Subaru Outback?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 17,000 miles; half of them between 9,000 and 30,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.