YearToAvoid

2018 Subaru Outback Collision Avoidance & Cameras Problems

NHTSA lists 35 Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints for the 2018 Subaru Outback, 4% of its 811 total complaints, with 8 crashes and 1 injury tied to this area. Median mileage at failure is 30,850, and no related recall exists.

Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints
35
4% of 811
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
30,850 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical collision avoidance system symptoms owners report

  • Owners report unintended forward acceleration while braking to park, sometimes with no warning from the parking collision system, resulting in collisions with curbs, walls, or garages.
  • Some drivers say the automatic emergency braking system failed to engage or warn when another vehicle approached from behind while backing out, leading to a crash.
  • Several owners describe the backup camera going black or freezing intermittently, sometimes tied to a broader electronic and safety system malfunction that also disabled the automated driving system.
  • Multiple complaints describe windshields spontaneously cracking within the driver's forward field of view, in some cases within the area covered by the eyesight cameras, without any visible impact.
  • One owner reported the infotainment and camera systems glitching together, including a black backup camera image, screen freezes, and radio malfunctions.

When 2018 Subaru Outback collision avoidance system complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 2, 2018, latest Jun 4, 2026.

2018 Subaru Outback collision avoidance & cameras complaints: complaints filed per month4Nov 2018May 2021Jun 2022Nov 2023Aug 2024Apr 2025Jun 2026
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2018 to Jun 2026; peak Jul 2025 (4).

Collision Avoidance & Cameras recalls for the 2018 Subaru Outback

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints by Outback model year

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

  1. 20100 (0%)
  2. 20113 (0%)
  3. 20121 (0%)
  4. 20135 (2%)
  5. 20141 (0%)
  6. 20159 (2%)
  7. 201610 (2%)
  8. 201726 (3%)
  9. 201835 (4%)
  10. 201940 (4%)
  11. 202055 (6%)
  12. 202131 (10%)
  13. 202224 (5%)
  14. 202322 (25%)
  15. 202419 (19%)
  16. 202523 (28%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints does the 2018 Subaru Outback have?
NHTSA lists 35 complaints in this area for the 2018 Outback, which is 4% of the 811 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Subaru Outback's collision avoidance or camera system?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to Collision Avoidance & Cameras for the 2018 Outback.
At what mileage do these problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 30,850 miles.
Have these complaints led to crashes or injuries?
Yes. NHTSA data shows 8 crashes and 1 injury linked to Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints on the 2018 Outback.
How does the 2018 Outback compare to other model years for this issue?
The 2018 Outback's 4% share is similar to 2017 (3%) and 2019 (4%), but lower than 2023 (25%) and 2025 (28%), which report a much higher share of complaints in this area.

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.