2018 Subaru Outback Steering Problems
NHTSA lists 35 steering complaints for the 2018 Subaru Outback, 4% of its 811 total complaints that year. There is no related recall on file. Median mileage at failure is 4,700 miles, and one complaint involved a crash.
- Steering complaints
- 35
- 4% of 811
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 4,700 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical steering symptoms owners report
- Owners describe erratic steering at highway speeds, often above 70 mph, where the car feels like it is hydroplaning even on dry pavement.
- Several drivers report the car self-correcting or overcorrecting on curves and lane changes, describing a floating or swaying sensation.
- Multiple owners say the vehicle drifts or pulls to one side, sometimes correcting itself without driver input.
- Some owners link the erratic steering feel to the lane-keep assist system, with dealers telling them to disable the feature.
- One owner reported the steering locked up entirely while backing out of a driveway, leading to a loss of brakes and a crash into a tree.
When 2018 Subaru Outback steering complaints were filed
First complaint Dec 20, 2017, latest Nov 4, 2025.
Steering recalls for the 2018 Subaru Outback
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Steering complaints by Outback model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many steering complaints does the 2018 Subaru Outback have?
- NHTSA lists 35 steering-related complaints for the 2018 Outback, which is 4% of the 811 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a steering recall for the 2018 Subaru Outback?
- No. NHTSA does not list any related recall for steering on the 2018 Outback in this data.
- At what mileage do steering problems usually appear on the 2018 Outback?
- The median mileage at failure for steering complaints on the 2018 Outback is 4,700 miles, suggesting the issue tends to surface early in ownership.
- Did the steering issue cause any crashes?
- NHTSA data shows one crash and zero fires or injuries tied to steering complaints for the 2018 Outback.
- Is the 2018 Outback worse for steering complaints than other years?
- The 2018 Outback's 35 steering complaints and 4% share are similar to 2016, 2017, and 2019, and lower than 2010's 12% share, based on NHTSA data across model years.