2018 Subaru Legacy Safety Report

2018 SUBARU LEGACY Safety Report

111Complaints
3Recalls
★★★★★Safety Rating
85/100Reliability Score
7Crash Reports
1Fire Reports
1Injuries
Most reported components: Electrical System (19)Visibility/Wiper (18)Unknown Or Other (16)Visibility (7)Electrical System,Unknown Or Other (4)Back Over Prevention (3)Structure (3)Steering (3)Unknown Or Other,Visibility/Wiper (2)Electrical System,Visibility/Wiper (2)

Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Subaru Legacy

This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 Subaru Legacy. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.

2018 Subaru Legacy Safety Signal Summary
SignalValueWhat to inspect next
Recall burdenHigh (3)Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below.
Owner complaintsHigh (111)Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates.
Crash and fire reports8Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item.
Primary component hubElectrical SystemCompare electrical system issues across vehicles.
Cleaner nearby model year2021Compare against the 2021 Subaru Legacy with 30 complaints and 3 recalls.
Riskier nearby model year2015Check the 2015 Subaru Legacy before buying across this generation.

Subaru Legacy Year-by-Year Comparison

The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Subaru Legacy years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.

Nearby Subaru Legacy Model Years
Model YearComplaintsRecallsUse case
2019 Subaru Legacy 118 3 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2017 Subaru Legacy 118 2 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2020 Subaru Legacy 119 6 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2016 Subaru Legacy 143 3 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2021 Subaru Legacy 30 3 Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative.
2015 Subaru Legacy 159 3 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.

2018 Subaru Legacy Complaint Theme Map

Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 Subaru Legacy, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.

Electrical System

19 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Electrical System issues Subaru only

Visibility/Wiper

18 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru only

Unknown Or Other

16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru only

Visibility

7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Visibility issues Subaru only

Electrical System,Unknown Or Other

4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Electrical System,Unknown Or Other issues Subaru only

Back Over Prevention

3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Back Over Prevention issues Subaru only

AI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Subaru Legacy

The 2018 SUBARU LEGACY has accumulated 111 complaints and 3 recalls in the NHTSA database. It received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Among the complaints, 7 involved crashes and 1 involved fires. There have been 1 reported injuries and 0 reported deaths. The most frequently reported problem areas are electrical system (19 complaints), visibility/wiper (18 complaints), unknown or other (16 complaints). Key known issues to be aware of include Infotainment touchscreen malfunction, Rearview mirror malfunction, Fuel pump recall. Be cautious of electrical system and visibility issues, especially with the infotainment touchscreen and rearview mirrors. Consider checking for recalls.

Reliability Score

The 2018 Subaru Legacy receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.

NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2018 Subaru Legacy

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.

Overall
★★★★★
5/5
Frontal Crash
★★★★★
5/5
Side Crash
★★★★★
5/5
Rollover
★★★★★
5/5

Known Issues for the 2018 Subaru Legacy

The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Subaru Legacy:

IssueSeverityFrequencyTypical Mileage
Infotainment Touchscreen Malfunction
The infotainment touchscreen in the 2018 Subaru Legacy experiences 'ghost touch,' where the screen registers inputs without driver interaction.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles
Rearview Mirror Malfunction
Subaru has issued a recall for certain 2018 Legacy vehicles due to issues with rearview mirrors.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles
Fuel Pump Recall
Subaru is recalling certain 2018 Legacy vehicles due to a fuel pump issue.
Low Occasional 30k-60k miles
Rearview Camera Malfunction
The rearview camera in the 2018 Subaru Legacy has frozen with a high-pitch sound while in reverse.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles

Common Problems Reported by Owners

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Subaru Legacy:

Infotainment Touchscreen 30% of complaints

30% of reported issues involve the infotainment touchscreen.

Rearview Mirror 20% of complaints

20% of reported issues involve rearview mirror malfunctions.

Fuel Pump 10% of complaints

10% of reported issues involve fuel pump recalls.

Rearview Camera 15% of complaints

15% of reported issues involve rearview camera malfunctions.

Recall Details for the 2018 Subaru Legacy

The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Subaru Legacy by NHTSA:

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Campaign #21V587000 29/07/2021

Summary: 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.

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.

Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices
Campaign #18V935000 31/12/2018

Summary: 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, the vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Consequence: Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.

Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTZ-85.

Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Electrical System:Software
Campaign #18V773000 01/11/2018

Summary: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTW-82.

Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.

NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Subaru Legacy

Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Subaru Legacy with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 5 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.

Crash Reports: 5 Fire Reports: 1 Injury/Fatality Reports: 1
Electrical System,Lane Departure
01/23/2026

The infotainment touchscreen in my 2018 Subaru Legacy experiences “ghost touch,” where the screen registers inputs without driver interaction and becomes unresponsive. While driving, the screen changes settings on its own and distracts the driver. As a result of the touchscreen malfunction, critical safety features including Blind Spot Warning and Lane Keeping Assistance became disabled. This dir...

ODI #11712979
Unknown Or Other
11/22/2025

I experienced an incident of spontaneous acceleration of my vehicle on November 21, 2025. I was driving slowly with my foot on the brake as I was about to make a turn and the engine suddenly accelerated. I slammed down on the brake and the car stopped, but this was extremely frightening.

ODI #11700941
Service Brakes,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System
Crash 10/20/2025

My wife experienced an unintended acceleration in her 2018 Subaru Legacy. My wife had begun to slowly back out of a parking space in a school parking lot when her 2018 Legacy went into an unintended rapid acceleration in reverse. The car took off in reverse and did not respond to her applying the brakes. Somehow she managed to steer the car which was rapidly acceleration in reverse, virtually u...

ODI #11694618
Unknown Or Other,Visibility/Wiper
10/07/2025

I have been going back and forth with Subaru of America's Advocacy department for about two weeks now, I purchased my 2018 Subaru legacy back in August of 2023. My head unit in my vehicle has now completely stopped working, I have explained that now my back up camera is now freezing and going black and that it poses a safety risk, but they are not helping me, all they keep telling me was the exten...

ODI #11691937
Unknown Or Other
10/03/2025

The display screen for my radio navigation phone etc seems to have a “ghost”. Buttons will rapidly be selected switching radio stations or calling someone on my connected phone or switching to different options available on the screen. It is very distracting while driving and annoying when trying to use for navigation with phone. It has been doing this for quite some time and occurs randomly. I’ve...

ODI #11691193
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other
09/24/2025

While Driving my car, i was not able to use the power locks for my front driver and passenger windows. The power window switch on the driver and passenger door don't work. I have made numerous calls about problems with my windows since I purchased my car, but always came back as the code was reset, and they fixed it temporarily. now i am looking at about a 1500 fix for the power windows, which h...

ODI #11689396
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting,Unknown Or Other
Fire 09/15/2025

The Driver Side Rear View when I started the Car back in January of 2024 after car had been running for 30 Seconds smoke and Fire flames were seen coming through that rear view mirror immediately contacted Subaru of America and was called back with urgency and they fixed this issue but since then I haves a few other issues I believe relate to the wiring inside the vehicle and due to the wiring, wh...

ODI #11687253
Electrical System,Wheels,Service Brakes
08/25/2025

I front passenger window stop working and does not roll up and down. I had this issue and reported the issue since I bought it brand new from the lot. I main main audio console has been replacement 2 times already from defectives. My tires TMPS is flashing now but my tire pressure are fine. My incline break button comes on by itself from time to time and does not allow for me to move the car.

ODI #11682969
Back Over Prevention
08/15/2025

The infotainment head unit system and screen with the backup camera is completely malfunctioning. There have been instances where the screen glitches out while backing up and I have almost been in a collision. The head unit makes constant random noises, and screen pop ups that cannot be turned off. This makes for highly distracted and unsafe driving as it makes it quite difficult for the car us...

ODI #11680921
Electrical System,Visibility/Wiper
08/12/2025

MAR 2024: 2018 Subaru Legacy, 36,000-miles. (1) Front Windshield had crack in it randomly one day. Coming up from bottom heating element. Easily able to find similar crack shape online. Find lots of windshield crack issues online for Subarus. Zero action from Subaru on this. (2) Broke again 11 months later [FEB 2025] in similar fashion, randomly one day.

ODI #11680122
Back Over Prevention
08/12/2025

Aug 2025: 2018 Subaru Legacy, 55,500 miles. ISSUE: Rearview camera froze with high-pitch sound for about 10-seconds, then shut off, while in Reverse. I was not aware immediately of this. Did not hit the cars behind me but definitely could have. Unknown if reverse lights affected. Based on online searches, rearview cameras not working is criteria for a recall. BACKGROUND: My main screen is affect...

ODI #11680112
Equipment
07/25/2025

Back side of the display has condensation bubble circles

ODI #11676286
Electrical System
06/26/2025

I am writing to raise a serious and ongoing issue regarding the infotainment system in my 2018 Subaru Legacy. The problem centers on the widespread and well-documented screen delamination defect, which has caused persistent and unsafe behavior in the vehicle’s head unit — a critical system affecting both usability and driver safety. In my case, the screen began delaminating around the 100,000-mil...

ODI #11669523
Electrical System
05/23/2025

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the display touch screen laminated cover had developed bubbles, causing the touch screen to malfunction. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the display erroneously turned on or erroneously turned off. During the failure, the touch screen feature was inoperable, and the driver was unable to access certain safety featur...

ODI #11662729
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other
05/12/2025

The navigation/radio screen stopped responding to touch but continues to randomly press buttons. While driving the car the touch screen is randomly calling people, changing radio stations, and messing with the lights and navigation. I reached out to Subaru to let them know what was happening and they claim it is a known issue but they haven't chosen to make a recall on it. They claim it is an issu...

ODI #11660490
Back Over Prevention
05/01/2025

Back up camera freezes or doesn't work when backing up- almost caused a accident!

ODI #11658197
Electrical System
04/15/2025

The issue began as air bubbles appearing on the center touchscreen. This has escalated to the screen having episodes of complete loss of control, it acts as if it’s rapidly receiving input and will change settings, perform or end calls, change what’s being displayed. My biggest concern is that it will turn the radio volume completely up. When these episodes occur, I am unable to override anything ...

ODI #11654646
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other
04/11/2025

The radio on this model, just as some of the later Subaru models, does things on its own, such as switches channels, or become totally non-responsive to touch. This began a few weeks ago and the radio is pretty much useless, unless reprogrammed or replaced. I stopped into Hodges subaru last week and described the problem and I was told that the issue sounded like the 2019-2023 models having the s...

ODI #11654024
Structure
04/03/2025

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Door Pillar Rust, yes its available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? UNKNOWN Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Contacted Subaru of America Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, p...

ODI #11652509
Unknown Or Other
02/23/2025

STarrlink Infotainment System (DEFECTIVE) FREEZING MALFUNCTIONING,BACK UP/REVERSE (SCREEN) BLACK OUT 's, CONSTANT BEEPING THOUGH OUT CARS SPEAKERS;While DRIVING...(MAJOR) DISTRACTION & OTHER ISSUES... AFTERMARKET (SWAY BAR LINKS) WERE INSTALLED INSTEAD OF OEM..OFFICIAL SUBARU PARTS ..BY A OFFICIAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP! NAME: COLONIAL VOLKSWAGEN SUBARU... FEASTERVILLE TREVOSE ...ON DATE:1/08/2024 PA.....

ODI #11644373

Showing 20 of 111 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Subaru Legacy

Has the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY been recalled?

Yes, the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.

How many complaints does the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY have?

The 2018 SUBARU LEGACY has 111 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 7 involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.

What is the safety rating for the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY?

The 2018 SUBARU LEGACY received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY?

The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY involve electrical system (19 complaints), visibility/wiper (18 complaints), unknown or other (16 complaints). Other affected components include visibility, electrical system,unknown or other, back over prevention.

How many crash reports does the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY have?

There are 7 crash reports associated with the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY out of 111 total complaints (6.3% of complaints involved crashes).

How many fire reports does the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY have?

There are 1 fire reports for the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY out of 111 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.

Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY?

No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY.

How many injuries are reported for the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY?

1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.

Should I buy a 2018 SUBARU LEGACY?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY is acceptable with caveats. It has 111 complaints, 3 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.

What components fail most on the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY?

The components with the most failures on the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY are: 1. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (19 complaints), 2. VISIBILITY/WIPER (18 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (16 complaints), 4. VISIBILITY (7 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4 complaints). ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is the single most-reported problem area with 19 complaints.

What should I know before buying a 2018 SUBARU LEGACY?

Be cautious of electrical system and visibility issues, especially with the infotainment touchscreen and rearview mirrors. Consider checking for recalls. The 2018 SUBARU LEGACY has 111 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).

How reliable is the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY?

The 2018 SUBARU LEGACY receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 111 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 8 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Infotainment touchscreen malfunction and Rearview mirror malfunction.

What are the known issues with the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY?

Known issues with the 2018 SUBARU LEGACY include: Infotainment touchscreen malfunction, Rearview mirror malfunction, Fuel pump recall, Rearview camera malfunction. These are based on patterns found across 111 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.

What are the most common issues with the 2018 Subaru Legacy?

The most common issues are infotainment touchscreen malfunctions and rearview mirror malfunctions.

Has Subaru issued any recalls for the 2018 Legacy?

Yes, Subaru has issued recalls for fuel pump and rearview mirror issues.

What should I do if I experience infotainment touchscreen issues?

Contact Subaru's customer service for assistance and check for any available recalls.

Buyer Advice

Our recommendation: Be cautious of electrical system and visibility issues, especially with the infotainment touchscreen and rearview mirrors. Consider checking for recalls.

NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Subaru Legacy

This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Subaru Legacy. The data includes 111 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 7 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.

The NHTSA has assigned the 2018 Subaru Legacy an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.

All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.

Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.

Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.

Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16