2018 Subaru Outback Fuel/propulsion System Problems

NHTSA component category: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · data through 07/14/2026

43Fuel/propulsion System complaints

5.3%Of all 804 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How fuel/propulsion system ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM256 · 31.8%

VISIBILITY/WIPER233 · 29%

Unspecified / other156 · 19.4%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM43 · 5.3%

ENGINE36 · 4.5%

Share of the 804 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Subaru Outback overview page.

What owners report

“RAN OUT OF FUEL EVEN THOUGH THE GAUGE HAD ORIGINALLY SAID 30 MILES TO EMPTY. THEN GAUGE WENT FROM 30 TO ---- AND THEN STALLED…”NHTSA complaint 11173626 — filed 02/01/2019

“I WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH 1/8TH OF A TANK OF GAS REMAINING. GAS LIGHT CAME ON ONLY A FEW…”NHTSA complaint 11173593 — filed 02/01/2019

“I WAS DRIVING AND THE FUEL INDICATOR INDICATED 70 MILES TO GO LAST TIME I SAW IT. I ONLY HAD TO DRIVE 10 MILES HOME…”NHTSA complaint 11169972 — filed 01/14/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Fuel/propulsion System complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Subaru Outback have fuel/propulsion system problems?

Fuel/propulsion System is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Subaru Outback: 43 of 804 complaints on file (5.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2018 Subaru Outback have in total?

804 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 27 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 19 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's fuel/propulsion system category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.