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1998 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Subaru Forester do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 131.

About this comparison →
101Owner complaints

Model-year median: 131

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
101
1998131
199975
2000139
2001
Compare all Forester years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
23Suspension
17Service Brakes, Hydraulic
15Engine And Engine Cooling
14Vehicle Speed Control
14
All reported categories
Tires
8Visibility
7Air Bags
6Electrical System
6Steering
3Unknown Or Other
3Equipment
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Seat Belts
2Engine
1Fuel System, Other
1Seats
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 101 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports

Equipment complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2003
Air BagsEquipmentCrash

MY SPOUSE HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT WITH OUR 1998 SUBARU FORESTER. THE FRONTAL IMPACT CAUSED BOTH AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN IT DEPLOYED BROKE THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) DOOR WINDOW AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. NO ONE WAS SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MAY BE …

Read full complaint

MY SPOUSE HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT WITH OUR 1998 SUBARU FORESTER. THE FRONTAL IMPACT CAUSED BOTH AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN IT DEPLOYED BROKE THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) DOOR WINDOW AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. NO ONE WAS SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MAY BE A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR ALIGNED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10010563

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2002
Equipment

EVAPORATOR CORE SPRUNG A LEAK, RESULTING IN AIR CONDITIONING FAILING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8019026

Official recalls

1

99V040000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Mar 3, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems

Subaru Forester transmission problems →Subaru Forester electrical problems →