IllustrationREAR ANCHOR SEAT BELTS ARE TOO LONG TO SAFELY SECURE A NUMBER OF CHILD CAR SEATS. *AK
1998 Subaru Legacy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Subaru Legacy do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Legacy years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
00–25K
525–50K
250–75K
775–100K
11100–150K
7150K+
32 reports with mileage · 82 unknown
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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports2 fire reports11 injury reports
What owners actually said
114 reportsCRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES APPROACHING THE EXIT RAMP THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT SEEM TO DISENGAGE. WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD--THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WENT OFF, HOWEVER THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN ALTHOUGH I WA…
Read full complaint
CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES APPROACHING THE EXIT RAMP THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT SEEM TO DISENGAGE. WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD--THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WENT OFF, HOWEVER THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN ALTHOUGH I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 40-50MPH. NEITHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND SENT THEM ALL INFORMATION REQUESTED ON 11/24/98; I HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE FROM SUBARU TO DATE.
VERY BAD OIL/GREASE SMELL BROUGHT INTO CAR BY VENTILATION SYSTEM AFTER EVERY OIL CHANGE. CAN SMELL IT OUTSIDE THE CAR AS WELL AS UNDER THE HOOD. GOES AWAY AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STUMPED. I FOUND A SIMILAR REPORT: OD1 1D 828824, A BAD FUEL. *AK
DOOR LOCK REMOTE OUT OF ORDER. YH
ROOF RACK TRIM FAILED. YH
GREASE SEALS ON DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. YH
AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR FAILED. MJS
GEAR BOX SEAL FAILED. YH
LUBRICATION IN FRONT STEERING LEAKS ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM, CAUSING FUMES TO ENTER CABIN AIR. *YC
BRIDGESTONE TIRES HAVE AN AIR LEAKAGE (185-70R-14). MJS
Official recalls
401V216000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Jun 25, 2001
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
98V127000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Jun 8, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, ALSO SERVICE PARTS SUPPLIED TO SUBARU DEALERS ARE INVOLVED (LOT NUMBERS F01 J21D2, F01 J30D2, F02 J09D1, F02 J09D2, AND F02 J20D1). THE PUROLATOR OIL FILTER CANS USED ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE CAUSING A VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY CAN RESULT IN OIL VAPOR IGNITION BY THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THESE ENGINE OIL FILTERS.
98V042000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Feb 20, 1998
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.