IllustrationENGINE PISTON NOISE CONTINUAL, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE IN TO DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS, DEALERSHIP AND MANFACTURER STATE THAT THE ENGINE NOISE IS DUE TO THE NEW EFFICIENT DESIGN OF THE ENGINE. *JB
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 reportsGAS LINES TO GAS TANK ARE LOCATED UNDER AND FRONT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AS STEPPING INTO VEHICLE. CONSUMER PUNCTURED THEM VERY EASILY WHEN JUST TRYING TO HOOK UP SOME LIGHTS. WITHIN MINUTES, THERE WAS ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF GAS IN BACKSEAT. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE.*AK THE POURING OF GAS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE…
Read full complaint
GAS LINES TO GAS TANK ARE LOCATED UNDER AND FRONT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AS STEPPING INTO VEHICLE. CONSUMER PUNCTURED THEM VERY EASILY WHEN JUST TRYING TO HOOK UP SOME LIGHTS. WITHIN MINUTES, THERE WAS ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF GAS IN BACKSEAT. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE.*AK THE POURING OF GAS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN GAS LINE BREAKS IS UNSAFE DESIGN. *YH
I AM GETTING A LOUD SLAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE ON COLD STARTS IT LAST FOR ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES OR UNTILL THE ENGINE WARMES UP,THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS A PISTON SLAP AND THAT IS NORMAL. I DO NOT AGREE, WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT DID NOT HAVE THAT NOISE ,AND IT IS GETTING LOUDER ,I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT TO HAVE THI…
Read full complaint
I AM GETTING A LOUD SLAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE ON COLD STARTS IT LAST FOR ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES OR UNTILL THE ENGINE WARMES UP,THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS A PISTON SLAP AND THAT IS NORMAL. I DO NOT AGREE, WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT DID NOT HAVE THAT NOISE ,AND IT IS GETTING LOUDER ,I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED ,MY WARRANTEE WILL EXPIRE SOON
WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO RACE, AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATE CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE PROBLEM REOCCURED 5 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS PERIOD. *YH
SEVERE CUPPING ON TREAD. CAR ALIGNED 4 TIMES AND NEW TIRES PLACED. CAR STILL CUPPING TIRES. VIBRATION ABOVE 30 MPH( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/55/16 )
I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT-END COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. I RECEIVED WORD TODAY THAT THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. NEITHER THE DIRVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG EMPLOYED IN THE ACCIDENT.
THE OBD SYSTEM INDICATES CHECK ENGINE. THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND THE CARS ACCELERATION BECOMES VERY WEAK. THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE ENGINE WILL EITHER CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION OR WILL RUN NORMALLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL ($600) BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. NOW SUBARU SAYS THAT THE…
Read full complaint
THE OBD SYSTEM INDICATES CHECK ENGINE. THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND THE CARS ACCELERATION BECOMES VERY WEAK. THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE ENGINE WILL EITHER CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION OR WILL RUN NORMALLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL ($600) BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. NOW SUBARU SAYS THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANY MALFUNCTION. WHEN THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS WITHOUT WARNING IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO A HIGHWAY OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I CANNOT TRUST THIS CAR TO GET ME SAFELY TO MY DESTINATION.
2ND SUBARU TO FAIL, BOTH UNDER 3 YRS OLD, UNDER 42K MILE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
DURING A FRONT END COLLISION DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. YH
THIS CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE I WAS SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE;THE BRAKES HAD NO EFFECT IN SLOWING THE CAR DOWN AND I HAD TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE POST TO STOP THE CAR AND AVOID HITTING OTHER CARS AND PEDESTRIANS. THE CAR IS TOTALED AND I AM LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED.*AK
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.