2018 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 159owner reports
- 13,000median miles
- $1,100median quote
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
664 of the 812 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 159 of those describe infotainment.
Narrower sheets: Backup camera goes black or freezes (52 reports)
Tick what matches of 159 reports
Infotainment on other Outback years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
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 (118 reports), the camera (71 reports) and the software (11 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 Outback, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
What owners paid
13 of the 159 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $900 to $1,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 8,000 and 23,000 miles, from the 77 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 12 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Subaru Outback 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 Outback page.
What owners wrote
“The STARLINK multimedia touchscreen system screen started delaminating July-2022; April-2023 it developed a ghost glitch & changes all settings/info on its own - it doesnât recognize any true touch on the screen & after multiple hard resets (holding down sound/tuner/cd buttons all at once), it rarely ever actually resets the touchscreen; however, it may pause the glitching for 5-10mins.”
Filed Aug 6, 2023
“The navigation/radio/app/rear back-up camera/control center malfunctioned Sept. 2022; replacement unit took over two months to arrive. That unit failed in March 2023. We are still (6/23) awaiting a replacement. See attachment for more detailed narrative.”
Filed Jun 21, 2023
“Starlink Infotainment system, moves between sound system functions on its own, like you have touched the touchscreen repeatedly. Sirius Radio will no longer stay attached to a station and play. Reset failed to correct.”
Filed Apr 17, 2023
“The infotainment system freezes randomly causing screen to freeze including while backing up. This causes it to appear as though the back up camera is working when in reality it is not. Serious safety concern if cross traffic or children are not seen.”
Filed Dec 30, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 159 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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 264 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 170 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 52 reports