Research · Midsize Cars

2018 Subaru LegacyRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 117 owner complaints for the 2018 Subaru Legacy. Most complaints involve electrical system (40) and visibility/wiper (25). The EPA rates it 23–29 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
23–29mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Jul 2021
Owner complaints
117
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,200est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jul 29, 2021NHTSA 21V587000

Visibility: rearview mirrors

Free remedy

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."

VisibilityReported Dec 31, 2018NHTSA 18V935000

Electrical system: software

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported Nov 1, 2018NHTSA 18V773000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 29, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

117 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 2017 – Aug 2026
  1. Electrical system40
  2. Visibility/wiper25
  3. Engine10
  4. Fuel/propulsion system8
  5. Visibility8
  6. Service brakes5
  7. Lane departure4
  8. Structure4
  9. Steering4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Legacy model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996129
1997143
1998116
199997
200094
200180
200258
2005184
200687
200733
200865
200965
2010150
2011167
201290
201366
201453
2015160
2016147
2017119
2018117
2019123
2020121
202131
202234
202310
202417
20256
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

40 reports1 fire
“The vehicle on board video entertainment display has stopped working properly. It does not allow any input to the touch screen. And the only way to regain some functionality is by pressing the steering wheel source button. However it works intermittently. And this causes Driver Distraction while driving.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2026Electrical systemODI 11749001

Visibility/wiper

25 reports
“Following an engine-out service at an authorized dealer (Bill Kolb Jr. Subaru), a primary powertrain mounting bolt was left unthreaded by approximately 1 inch, creating an undetected 8,000-mile safety hazard that resulted in extensive drivetrain and suspension component failures. Subsequently, during a diagnostic inspection at another authorized dealer (All American Subaru), heavy rusted metal pliers and loose cowl trim panels were abandoned unsecured inside the wiper cowl tray beneath the windshield, posing a severe roadway projectile and steering/wiper obstruction hazard.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2026Suspension, Power train, Visibility/wiperODI 11760077

Engine

10 reports3 crashes
“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 uncontrollable, and guide the car down a row of parked cars until she clipped the front of another car at the end of the row and her car came to a stop. Thank God there were no students in the parking lot at the time! The floor mats in our Legacy are Subaru mats that lie flat and in no way would affect the accelerator pedal. As the car was accelerating in reverse, and she had removed her foot from the accelerator onto the brake, the brakes did not slow the car. There is considerable damage to the right rear of the car and trunk. After the accident, when the car was restarted, the accelerator and brakes worked fine and she was able to drive it home from the scene. Thank god students were not in the parking lot! [XXX] [XXX] (cell) [XXX] Nashua, NH 03062 (May-Oct), Ponte Vedra, FL (Nov-April)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2025Service brakes, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11694618
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 3.6L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (AV-S7) · Automatic (AV-S6)
Drive
All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 29, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Legacy AWD
Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
253429$2,200311
Legacy AWD
Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L · All-Wheel Drive
202823$2,800387
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    25 city · 34 hwy · $2,200/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L
    20 city · 28 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 29, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
10.1%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 29, 2026Vehicle 12396
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2018 Legacy questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Legacy have?

3 safety recalls as of Oct 29, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2018 Subaru Legacy problems?

Owners filed 117 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (40), visibility/wiper (25), engine (10). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2018 Subaru Legacy get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Subaru Legacy at 23–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2018 Subaru Legacy?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Subaru Legacy 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 29, 2026