KnownCarProblems2018 Subaru Legacy Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Legacy, most often about the electrical (34% of complaints, typically around 16,500 miles). It is 9th of 26 Legacy model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2018 Subaru Legacy problems
Electrical
40 complaints · 34%Half of these problems showed up before 16,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel, 12v/24v/48v battery.
On the dashboard showed that the remain mileage was 70, but it stopped all the sudden due to no gas. I almost caused an accident because the car stopped on a public street with heavy traffic. After many times trying to start the car, it did not work; it was completely dead. I had to leave the car stranded to go and…
While exiting off highway, the can unexpectedly shut off nearly causing a wreck. Car would not restart. The entertainment screen remained working the entire time. The instrument cluster went black and remained this way. Automatic windows, entertainment screen, radio all worked but car would not start. A similar issue…
Visibility and wipers
32 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 28,500 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, sun/moon roof assembly.
I work as a home health nurse and I just finished a patient visit. After I got back inside my car I found a huge crack along the right side of my front windshield. While I was completing my patient visit my car was parked out front of the house the entire time and was not in motion. The car was not parked under any…
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that without impact, the windshield fractured on the lower right driver's side. The contact had the windshield replaced however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated dutch miller Subaru (1901 patrick st plaza, charleston, wv 25387; ([phone]) was contacted…
Other or unspecified
29 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 12,500 miles.
Sunroof glass exploded and shattered while driving. There was no car in front for potential rock damage.sunroof was covered so most of the glass was contained on the cover. The glass was bowed outward as if there may be too much stress forced up on the glass.
The safety recall regarding fuel has been completed. I filled the gas tank with the gauge on half. I put 12 gallons in the 16 gallon tank. Yesterday I repeated this by again filling the tank with the gauge reading half. I put 11.4 gallons in the 16 gallon tank. I also noted that the mpg calculator is now only using…
Engine
10 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 23,500 miles.
While exiting off highway, the can unexpectedly shut off nearly causing a wreck. Car would not restart. The entertainment screen remained working the entire time. The instrument cluster went black and remained this way. Automatic windows, entertainment screen, radio all worked but car would not start. A similar issue…
P014a error code. Started car and was about 1/8 mile away from home driving at 40 MPH on country road, and all the lights came on the dash (check engine, eyesight off warning light, battery, oil, etc...). Immediately turned around and went home. My obdii scanner said p014a error. I reset the code. Called dealer to see…
Fuel system
8 complaints · 7%On the dashboard showed that the remain mileage was 70, but it stopped all the sudden due to no gas. I almost caused an accident because the car stopped on a public street with heavy traffic. After many times trying to start the car, it did not work; it was completely dead. I had to leave the car stranded to go and…
Acceleration hesitates or stutters when slowly accelerating, like from a stop in a neighborhood. 2018 Legacy 3.6r has done this since purchased in april 2019.
Brakes
6 complaints · 5%Car was at a turning intersection. Car was completely stopped, foot was applied to brake with normal pressure. Within a few seconds, car started to progress forward, I lifted foot off brake and reapplied. The brake did not sense pressure, I put the car in park. These actions did not stop the car. Last effort attempt…
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the headlights failed to illuminate, and the rearview camera was intermittently flashing and displaying a blank image. The contact stated that on various occasions when the vehicle was parked, the parking brake failed to…
Body and structure
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: body.
Vehicle making a loud metallic rattling noise while driving between 25-45 MPH. Subaru has made multiple attempts to locate and remedy the noise, but they have not successfully repaired the vehicle after more than 4 times. Concerned this could be a potential safety issue since the issue cannot be identified or repaired.
Multiple failures of the clear coat in under 2 years of ownership. Car is detailed at minimum twice yearly to to try mitigate the damage, but it is just too pronounced. Other models, years, etc do not have this problem.
Steering
4 complaints · 3%At speeds above approximately 50 MPH, the steering has suddenly, erratically and without warning pulled the car to the left or right as if hit by a large gust of wind (when there is no wind or passing truck). It is as if the steering is out of control for several seconds. The car has 3,000 miles and this has happened…
The car veers right or left irradically as if a gust of wind pushed the car or large truck passed by. This is very troubling since it happens sporadically and has caused the car to drift off the road.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 Subaru Legacy recalls
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 24, 2021. Subaru and toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is wrg-21.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 ascent, 2018 forester, 2018-2020 impreza, legacy, outback, 2018-2019 brz, wrx, and toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Visibility and wipers: rearview mirrors/devices
Risk: Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
Fix: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on february 5, 2019. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is wtz-85.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2018 legacy, outback, and brz vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the rearview image will not display while backing up the vehicle. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety (fmvss) number 111, "rearview mirrors."
Electrical: software
Risk: 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.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began february 20, 2019. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is wtw-82.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2018 subaru legacy and outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2018 Subaru Legacy
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Subaru Legacy?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (40 complaints, typically around 16,500 miles); visibility and wipers (32 complaints, typically around 28,500 miles); other or unspecified (29 complaints, typically around 12,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Legacy have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 29, 2021 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2018 a bad year for the Subaru Legacy?
- It is 9th of 26 Legacy model years by number of complaints, with 117 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.