1998 Subaru Outback Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Outback years
- Fewer complaints than other years 21st of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 127 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Subaru Outback. That ranks 21st out of 32 Outback model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (40 complaints, 31%), typically at around 93,850 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 127owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Subaru Outback problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 40 | 31% | 93,850 | — | — |
| Power Train | 19 | 15% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 10% | 115,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 10% | 66,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 11 | 9% | 56,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 7 | 6% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 5% | 100,147 | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 4% | 79,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 3% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 3% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 3% | 86,225 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% | 75,462 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 2% | 122,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 2% | 139,686 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 2% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 2% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 2% | 142,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 2% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | 166,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Subaru Outback recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:front:springs:coil springs
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with front coil springs originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new york, new jersey, new hampshire, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, and wisconsin, and in the district of columbia. The front coil springs were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive salt, can result in breakage of the spring.
Risk: Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.
Fix: Dealers will notifiy customers to bring their vehicle to an authorize dealership to have a spring guard installed on both front struts to prevent tire puncture and replace any broken springs free of charge. Owner notification began september 18, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. Due to poor welds, ignition keys can stick, shift levers/linkages can break and shift levers can move.
Risk: This condition can cause unexpected movement of the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash or property damage.
Fix: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission shift lever assemblies (except the handle grip).
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
While driving in the city streets, i came to a stop and realized the car would not stop. When i took my vehicle to the mechanic he said 3 brake lines on my subaru outback 1998 had broken. I live in pennsylvania. This incident cost me $500 in repairs. I realize there is a recall for newer models…
On march 19, 2013, i was returning to my place of employment after picking up my outback from bloomington acura subaru, bloomington, mn after a clutch replacement when the hydraulic brake system had a total failure resulting in a near catastrophic collision with several vehicles. This vehicle was…
I was driving on interstate 90 in idaho at 62 mph when the hood latch failed. The hood was secured down all the way before the incident and had not been opened in two weeks. There had been over 100 miles of highway driving over 60 mph since the hood was last opened. The hood flew up with no safety…
Sounded like there was a pop in my front corner. Still drove ok under 20-25 mph. Faster than that the wheel shook violently. Backing up there was a loud grinding noise. Took to friends hose who works on cars. He said it was my front lower control arm on the driver's side. The connection between the…
As my wife and i were filling up our 98 subaru legacy outback we noticed a smell of gas fumes on the way home as i backed the car into the driveway i noticed the smell of fuel even stonger. I went to the back and looked under the right rear and to my surprise the fuel filler neck was leaking fuel!!…
Other Subaru Outback years
← 1997 Outback · 1999 Outback →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Outback | 18 | 0 |
| 2025 Outback | 82 | 0 |
| 2024 Outback | 104 | 0 |
| 2023 Outback | 89 | 2 |
| 2022 Outback | 465 | 4 |
| 2021 Outback | 297 | 4 |
| 2020 Outback | 899 | 6 |
| 2019 Outback | 1,036 | 3 |
| 2018 Outback | 814 | 3 |
| 2017 Outback | 918 | 4 |
| 2016 Outback | 643 | 4 |
| 2015 Outback | 510 | 5 |
| 2014 Outback | 208 | 10 |
| 2013 Outback | 297 | 12 |
| 2012 Outback | 292 | 16 |
| 2011 Outback | 652 | 16 |
| 2010 Outback | 360 | 18 |
| 2009 Outback | 106 | 13 |
| 2008 Outback | 226 | 8 |
| 2007 Outback | 129 | 8 |
| 2006 Outback | 277 | 7 |
| 2005 Outback | 273 | 9 |
| 2004 Outback | 90 | 10 |
| 2003 Outback | 93 | 14 |
| 2002 Outback | 143 | 4 |
| 2001 Outback | 171 | 3 |
| 2000 Outback | 207 | 1 |
| 1999 Outback | 111 | 1 |
| 1998 | 127 | 2 |
| 1997 Outback | 79 | 4 |
| 1996 Outback | 46 | 2 |
| 1995 Outback | 2 | 1 |
See all Subaru Outback problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.
Similar Subaru models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Subaru Outback?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, power train, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 40 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Subaru Outback?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Subaru Outback a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Outback model years, the 1998 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.