2018 Subaru Legacy Driver assistance Problems

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 directly impacted safe vehicle operation. The issue was diagnosed by an authorized Subaru dealership, which confirmed the head unit is defective and requires replacement. Subaru previously issued a warranty extension for this known defect. Subaru of America denied goodwill assistance despite the safety-related nature of the defect.

NHTSA ID

11712979

Incident

Jan 20, 2026

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 user to maintain sole focus and attention to the roadways and driving. The extreme glitchiness and phantom touches/noises are just as a distraction and safety concern as driving while using a cellphone which is against the law. The infotainment unit should be fully recalled, not just have a warranty extension. The Subaru dealership has inspected the head unit and declared the failure that was part of a now expired warranty extension. The failures came without warning; however the glitches have gotten more frequent and worse over time.

NHTSA ID

11680921

Incident

Dec 8, 2022

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 affected by Subaru Screen Delamination (can't use touch at all). My exact model got an extended warranty, but I was not aware of this extension until after it passed. Subaru of America and dealers refused to service it unless I paid full price out-of-pocket. Fast-forward to now, reverse camera being affected. I also see mention online of emergency broadcast radio being blocked, since it does not stay on one channel, due to screen issues. I do not recommend Subaru (not the only issue I've had on a once new vehicle).

NHTSA ID

11680112

Incident

Aug 12, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11658197

Incident

May 1, 2025

The driver’s side airbag of 2018 Subaru Legacy deployed as I was reversing out of a parking lot going approximately 5mph. It has not been fixed due to the company’s negligence. One of Subaru’s accident advocate specialist claimed the engineer found a mysterious brown liquid that caused the airbag to deploy although I had not been in the car for two hours nor was I drinking any substances; especially “brown”. My and other’s safety was put at risk to a degree that is fatal, I was a short distance from the highway to head home. Had I been driving at the normal highway speed in my city (55mph) with the airbag deploying in my face, with others on the road, and inhaling blinding fumes, I can assure you it would’ve been detrimental to my and other’s being. The car was inspected for a few months by multiple Subaru engineers, one of the accident advocate specialist refused to give me any documentation or pictures proving this was the cause. There was absolutely no warning lights or other malfunctions occurring. The car is in great condition, and in a previous accident did not deploy its airbags.

NHTSA ID

11580183

Incident

Aug 13, 2023

My car's belt had been screeching for a few weeks. I was planning on taking my car in the next day. When i turned my car off, all the electrical went out and it started smoking on the driver's side. I got my car towed to the nearest auto shop. They replaced the battery and belt and yet the electrical was still out. When they tested the fuse, the driver's mirror caught on fire and was smoking. Thank goodness I was not driving when this occurred as that could have been scary. They replaced the fuse, but now I can't auto up / down my window. When I reached out to Subaru, they wanted $200 just to inspect it and $1,000 for a mirror replacement. I told them the situation and they didn't care. I also emailed them and never received a response. I googled this issue and other Subaru cars have had this issue and noted water coming in the mirror so now I'm frightened to get a car wash. There was no warning light or anything unfamiliar.

NHTSA ID

11570260

Incident

Jan 29, 2024

Vehicle proceeded from a stop at intersection when it unexpectedly decelerated and holding the brakes down seem to do nothing, tried turning corner at next stop sign to maybe slow it down and hit utility pole and parked car in driveway. A resident that was outside on porch by stop sign said they heard it just loud exceleration. This was a short street block in a residential area. No warnings, vehicle undrivable and waiting on insurance. Police accident report filed. There were no skid marks, although there was wet pavement.12/6/2022

NHTSA ID

11496852

Incident

Dec 6, 2022

The car (#1) came to a sudden stop on a freeway without the driver stepped on the brake pedal. Front dash cam video on car #1 is available. Car #1 was then hit from behind by another car (#2) which could not stop in time. However, the impact was not significant because car #2 was able to partially switch lane and only the corners of the bumpers of both cars made the contact. The sudden stop problem could NOT be reproduced afterward by the driver. No dealer/car shop has been contacted on this issue. Warning light(s) status on dashboard of car #1 was UNKNOWN . However, driver of car#2 did report seeing brake lights of car #1 before the impact. Car #1 had never been in an accident before. This was the first time the sudden stop issue occurred.

NHTSA ID

11432159

Incident

Sep 3, 2021

DRIVING TO WORK EARLY THIS AM NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A HEAR A SMALL POP AND LOOK OVER TO NOTICE MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT.

NHTSA ID

11416397

Incident

May 13, 2021

Mileage

34,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT STATED THEY RENTED A 2018 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ACTIVATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP INDEPENDENTLY AND THE WHEEL TO TURN. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HIT A CURB. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE RENTAL AGENCY WAS NOT INFORMED. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11206421

Incident

May 8, 2019

Mileage

20,000 mi

OUR RECENT PURCHASE OF A 2018 SUBARU LEGACY HAS LEFT US WITH A VERY UNHAPPY REALIZATION. WE HAVE A SUBARU OUTBACK AND LIKE THE CAR BUT VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CRUISE. WE DID NOT REALIZE THE CRUISE CONTROL ADVANCES 1 OR 5 MPH RATHER THAN THE CONVENTIONAL CRUISE OF 1 MPH. WE HAVE FOUND THIS FEATURE TO BE NOT ONLY ON SUBARU BUT MANY OTHER MAKES OF VEHICLES. FROM RESEARCHING ONLINE AND TALKING TO OTHERS HAVE FOUND WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT DO NOT LIKE IT AND FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A REASON TO ADVANCE 5 MPH RATHER THAN 1 MPH. WHEN USING THIS TYPE OF CRUISE IT IS NECESSARY TO WATCH THE SPEEDOMETER, RATHER THAN PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ROAD, TO GET TO THE ANTICIPATED SPEED AND THEN QUICKLY SET AND HOPE YOU LOCKED-IN THE DESIRED SPEED. IF THE DESIRED SPEED IS NOT REACHED THE FIRST TIME THEN IT IS PUSHING THE CRUISE AND HOLDING IT, HOPING THAT IT ONLY ADVANCED 1 MPH RATHER THAN 5 MPH, OTHERWISE IT IS CANCELING AND TRYING AGAIN. WE CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THIS AND WERE TOLD THAT IF THERE ARE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THEY WOULD CONSIDER A SOFTWARE UPDATE. IT WAS ALSO EXPLAINED THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IF WE WERE TOLD THIS BEFORE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. WE LOOKED AT THE WEBSITES FOR THE SAFEST VEHICLES AND SUBARU IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST BUT THIS TYPE OF CRUISE CONTROL TAKES AWAY THE SAFETY; EVERYONE IS PREACHING TO REDUCE DISTRACTIONS WHEN DRIVING BUT TAKING AWAY THE CONVENTIONAL CRUISE CONTROL AND IMPLEMENTING SUCH A DISTRACTION DEFEATS THE PURPOSE. WE HOPE THIS COMPLAINT LEADS BACK TO VEHICLES HAVING CONVENTIONAL CRUISE CONTROL AS THE STANDARD EQUIPMENT.

NHTSA ID

11048499

Incident

Oct 28, 2017