YearToAvoid

2018 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 21 brake complaints for the 2018 Subaru Outback, 3% of its 811 total complaints for the year. Seven crashes and three injuries are tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 10,000 miles. No related recall exists for this issue.

Brakes complaints
21
3% of 811
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
10,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report complete brake failure at low speed, with the pedal traveling to the floor and no stopping power.
  • Several describe the vehicle unexpectedly accelerating instead of slowing when the brake pedal was applied, leading to collisions with parking curbs, posts, or buildings.
  • Some drivers report needing to pump the brake pedal repeatedly to get the car to stop.
  • One owner described the right front brake engaging on its own at highway speed, causing the steering wheel to jerk.
  • A few complaints mention the vehicle rolling or reversing into objects after the driver believed the brakes were engaged, including one incident while backing out of a driveway.

When 2018 Subaru Outback brake complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 20, 2017, latest Jun 4, 2026.

2018 Subaru Outback brakes complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2017Apr 2019Dec 2019Aug 2021Jun 2023Jul 2024
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2017 to Jun 2026; peak Mar 2023 (3).

Brakes recalls for the 2018 Subaru Outback

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Outback model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200542 (15%)
  2. 200628 (10%)
  3. 200713 (10%)
  4. 200834 (15%)
  5. 20099 (8%)
  6. 201041 (11%)
  7. 201184 (13%)
  8. 201241 (14%)
  9. 201333 (11%)
  10. 201424 (12%)
  11. 201531 (6%)
  12. 201622 (3%)
  13. 201728 (3%)
  14. 201821 (3%)
  15. 201925 (2%)
  16. 202017 (2%)
  17. 20218 (3%)
  18. 202211 (2%)
  19. 20237 (8%)
  20. 20244 (4%)
  21. 20256 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 21 brake complaints for the 2018 Outback, which is 3% of all 811 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2018 Subaru Outback brakes?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this brake issue on the 2018 Outback.
At what mileage do 2018 Outback brake problems typically occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this brake issue is 10,000 miles.
Have there been crashes linked to 2018 Outback brake complaints?
Yes, NHTSA data ties 7 crashes and 3 injuries to the brake complaints filed for the 2018 Outback.
Is the 2018 Outback worse than other years for brake complaints?
Its 3% share of complaints is lower than earlier years like 2011 (13%) and 2012 (14%), but still involves 21 reports and 7 crashes.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.