Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Subaru Legacy. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel Pump May Fail
- 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.
Camera Image may not Display/FMVSS 111
- 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.
Incorrect Fuel Range Display May Cause Stall
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (117)
117 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 117 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 40 | 34.2% |
| Unknown or other | 29 | 24.8% |
| Visibility/wiper | 25 | 21.4% |
| Engine | 10 | 8.5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 6.8% |
| Visibility | 8 | 6.8% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 4.3% |
| Lane departure | 4 | 3.4% |
| Steering | 4 | 3.4% |
| Structure | 4 | 3.4% |
How 2018 compares with other Legacy years
Best and worst Legacy years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 53 | 10 |
| 2015 | 159 | 3 |
| 2016 | 147 | 3 |
| 2017 | 119 | 2 |
| 2018 | 117 | 3 |
| 2019 | 123 | 3 |
| 2020 | 121 | 6 |
| 2021 | 31 | 3 |
| 2022 | 34 | 2 |
| 2023 | 10 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2018 Subaru Legacy 4 dr awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 29 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,300
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 311 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 29 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S7 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 25 / 34 / 29 | $2,300 | 311 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · AV-S6 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | $2,900 | 387 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Looking at a 2018 Legacy for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2018 Subaru Legacy FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Legacy have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 21V587000 (fuel pump), 18V935000 (visibility), 18V773000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 Subaru Legacy problems?
Owners filed 117 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (40), Unknown or other (29), Visibility/wiper (25) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 Subaru Legacy get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S7 CVT version at 25 city, 34 highway and 29 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2018 Subaru Legacy get?
NHTSA rated the 2018 Subaru Legacy 4 dr awd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (10.1% rollover risk).
How does the 2018 Legacy compare with other years?
Among the 2014–2021 Subaru Legacy model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (31) and the 2015 the most (159). The 2018 drew 117. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.