The 2018 Subaru Outback is a SUV that came with a choice of 2.5L 4-cyl and 3.6L 6-cyl engines. Even at 8 years old, a damaged or broken-down one still has real value for its parts. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.
| Body style | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|
| Engines | 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl |
| Transmissions | Automatic (AV-S7), Automatic (AV-S6) |
| Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
| Fuel economy | 20–25 city / 27–32 highway / 22–28 combined MPG |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,400–$3,050 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles) |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 320–398 grams per mile |
| EPA fuel economy score | 4–6 out of 10 |
| EPA greenhouse gas score | 4–6 out of 10 |
| Curb weight (NHTSA test vehicle) | 3,467 lb |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,695–4,850 lb |
| Versions tested by EPA | 2 configurations |
| Age | 8 years |
Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data; weights from NHTSA crash-test records. Your car's exact equipment may differ.
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls covering the 2018 Subaru Outback. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.
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.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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…
Risk: Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
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.
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.
Owners have filed 814 complaints about the 2018 Subaru Outback with NHTSA. 27 reports involved a crash and 4 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 19 injuries.
Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Subaru Outback.
| Version | Overall | Frontal crash | Side crash | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sw, AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 17.4% |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP). Ratings from different model years or rating systems aren't directly comparable.
Manufacturers have filed 439 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2018 Subaru Outback. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.
This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
This announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application.
"This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"
This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).
It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. As a heavier vehicle, its scrap weight adds to the offer. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.
Yes. We buy 2018 Outbacks that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.
Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 Subaru Outback; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.
Data retrieved October 2026.
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