2018 Acura MDX vs 2018 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Acura MDX | 2018 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 161 | 807 |
| Recall campaigns | 10 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 139 | 423 |
| Investigations | 3 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 27 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–27 | 22–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 30,000 mi | 18,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura MDX | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 27 | 265 |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 233 |
| Engine | 35 | 36 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 28 | 43 |
| Visibility | 3 | 41 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 20 | 18 |
| Steering | 3 | 35 |
| Power Train | 23 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 20 | 46 |
| Hesitation / surging | 20 | 7 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
| Battery drain | 0 | 54 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 11 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 9 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 6 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 6 |
2018 Acura MDX
2018 Subaru Outback
Compare all Acura MDX vs Subaru Outback years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.