2018 Subaru Legacy · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 41owner reports
- 30,000median miles
- $2,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 8, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
94 of the 117 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 41 of those describe infotainment, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Legacy.
Tick what matches of 41 reports
Infotainment on other Legacy years
No other Legacy model year has enough reports of infotainment for a sheet of its own. See every Legacy year.
What this problem usually is
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head unit or screen (37 reports), the camera (12 reports) and the software (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
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.
All 3 recalls on the 2018 Subaru Legacy, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Legacy
Electrical system. Closed may 31, 2000, led to recall 00I-002.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
What owners paid
7 of the 41 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $750 to $3,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 23,191 and 55,500 miles, from the 13 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 12 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Subaru Legacy that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment).
This bulletin provides helpful information about operating conditions observed in the field for Technicians to use when diagnosing customer concerns which may arise while operating Harman Gen 3 Navigation and Display Audio systems.
This service bulletin announces the addition of diagnostics for DTC B224C: RADIO ANTENNA FAULTS to the service manuals of the models listed.
8 more on the 2018 Subaru Legacy page.
What owners wrote
“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.”
Filed Jul 8, 2026
“The computer screen has an issue where there is bubbling in the lamination causing the screen to go nuts and become a distracting hazard that you can not shut off. It's a known Subaru Legacy issue and should be a recall. A new screen is $2000 plus, which is not feasable for the average person to pay and it's become a safety hazard, ect.”
Filed Jun 18, 2026
“Ghost touch issues with infotainment system (as with many other Subaru models). Cannot use radio, Bluetooth or any screen functions.”
Filed Apr 27, 2026
“Back up camera freezes or doesn't work when backing up- almost caused a accident!”
Filed May 1, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 41 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Windshield cracks or distorts 27 reports