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1998 Subaru Outback

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Subaru Outback do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 207.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

59 reports with mileage · 68 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 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

11 reports
Clear category filter
120,000 miles · May 27, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY CHILD CARE PROVIDER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT. SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN WET/RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A TREE. THIS IMPACT CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN AND HIT A SECOND TREE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, THE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE DRIVER SIDE…

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MY CHILD CARE PROVIDER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT. SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN WET/RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A TREE. THIS IMPACT CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN AND HIT A SECOND TREE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, THE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE MOST DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT END AND THE DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SHE WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS SUSTAINING A SEVERE HEAD INJURY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158447

70,000 miles · Jan 4, 2006
Air BagsEquipment

THE FRONT AIRBAGS ON MY 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK SPORT WENT OUT AT 76,000 MILES WITHOUT EVER DEPLOYING OR ANY OTHER INDICATORS. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS THE ONLY SIGN THAT THE BAGS WERE NO LONGER WORKING. THE DEALER SAID TWO MODULES WENT OUT. THE ONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE OVER $300 TO REPLACE AND THE ONE IN THE FLOOR OVER…

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THE FRONT AIRBAGS ON MY 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK SPORT WENT OUT AT 76,000 MILES WITHOUT EVER DEPLOYING OR ANY OTHER INDICATORS. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS THE ONLY SIGN THAT THE BAGS WERE NO LONGER WORKING. THE DEALER SAID TWO MODULES WENT OUT. THE ONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE OVER $300 TO REPLACE AND THE ONE IN THE FLOOR OVER $700. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SAFETY FEATURES DON'T HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE THEM FIXED! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146907

43,000 miles · Dec 11, 2004
Air BagsCrash

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE STRUCK STATIONARY OBJECT AT APROX. 15 MPH. AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. SIGNIFICANT FRONT END AND UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10102728

40,691 miles · Jun 29, 2004
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A LIGHT POLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S DESIGNATED REPAIR FACILITY. *AK THIS WAS QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY 2-3 MO…

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WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A LIGHT POLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S DESIGNATED REPAIR FACILITY. *AK THIS WAS QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY 2-3 MORE ACCELERATIONS IN WHICH THE VEHICLE GAINED SPEED EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE BEING SHIFTED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10074014

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2002
Air Bags

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE AIR BAG COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ODI #8021291

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT AT 15 MPH, AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND KNEE INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8006336

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2001
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT AIRBAGS WON'T WORK.*AK THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #882573

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2001
Air Bags

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #558534

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Air Bags

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT. YH

NHTSA ODI #608910

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1999
Air BagsCrash

THE VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A TRUCK THAT HIT VEHICLE AT 50MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S NOR PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR IS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833806

Official recalls

2

01V216000 · 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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