2018 Subaru Forester 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 Subaru Forester | 2018 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 490 | 807 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 400 | 423 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 26 | 27 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–28 | 22–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 18,000 mi | 18,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Forester | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 135 | 233 |
| Electrical System | 69 | 265 |
| Air Bags | 94 | 8 |
| Engine | 31 | 36 |
| Visibility | 21 | 41 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 18 | 43 |
| Steering | 24 | 35 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 30 | 21 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 31 | 0 |
| Stalling | 24 | 46 |
| Hesitation / surging | 16 | 7 |
| Battery drain | 16 | 54 |
| Vibration / shaking | 12 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 7 | 11 |
| Loss of power | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
2018 Subaru Forester
2018 Subaru Outback
Compare all Subaru Forester 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.