IllustrationTHE ENGINE OVER HEATED, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT AND MARKER LIGHTS WERE REPLACED. *JB
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback 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
40–25K
325–50K
1250–75K
1675–100K
17100–150K
7150K+
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
40 reportsHEAD GASKET ON MY '98 OUTBACK FAILED. DEALER SAID NOT UNCOMMON. HE HAS 3 MORE WAITING FOR HEAD GASKETS. SEEMS A NUMBER OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THE SUBARU DISCUSSION GROUP ON EDMUNDS.COM TOWNHALL. FORTUNATELY, MINE WAS DISCOVERED WITH NO ENGINE DAMAGE. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS $2500.00. QUITE A FINANCIAL DRAIN FOR ME. SOME …
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HEAD GASKET ON MY '98 OUTBACK FAILED. DEALER SAID NOT UNCOMMON. HE HAS 3 MORE WAITING FOR HEAD GASKETS. SEEMS A NUMBER OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THE SUBARU DISCUSSION GROUP ON EDMUNDS.COM TOWNHALL. FORTUNATELY, MINE WAS DISCOVERED WITH NO ENGINE DAMAGE. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS $2500.00. QUITE A FINANCIAL DRAIN FOR ME. SOME TALK ON DISCUSSION GROUP WONDERING IF A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE. SUBARU EMAILED ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS AND THAT ALL MECHANICAL THINGS FAIL WITH TIME, SOME SOONER AND SOME LATER. ON THE SUBARU DISCUSSION GROUP, A NUMBER OF THE HEAD GASKETS WERE AT LOW MILEAGE. MINE WAS AT 94,000 MILES
SAFETY ISSUE: SEAL FAILURE CAUSES OIL TO LEAK ONTO HOT EXHAUST (FIRE HAZARD). MR
THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, WHICH RESULTED IN COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDER WALLS. WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE ENGINE, WHICH IS A 2.5 LITER, MUST BE REPLACED. THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE HAS A HISTORY OF ENIGINE FAILURE. HAS ANYONE MADE A CLAIM? HAS THERE BEEN RESEARCH OR A RECALL OF ANY KIND?*AK
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON SUBARU 2.5L ENGINES. CONTACT SUBARU MECHANICS TO OBTAIN UNUSUAL HIGH NUMBERS. *AK
ON 1/15/01 BEARD SUBARU DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED MY ENGINE FOR AN OIL LEAK. I PAID $654.50 FOR THEM TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION AND RESEAL BAFFLE PLATE AS WELL AS RESEAL OIL PUMP, QUESTIONABLE CAM SEALS (REFERRING TO PAPERWORK FROM DEALER). ON 3/23/01 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND SIMULTANEOUSLY CAR…
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ON 1/15/01 BEARD SUBARU DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED MY ENGINE FOR AN OIL LEAK. I PAID $654.50 FOR THEM TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION AND RESEAL BAFFLE PLATE AS WELL AS RESEAL OIL PUMP, QUESTIONABLE CAM SEALS (REFERRING TO PAPERWORK FROM DEALER). ON 3/23/01 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND SIMULTANEOUSLY CAR COMPLETELY DIED. BEARD SUBARU DIAGNOSED ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO DROP IN PRESSURE W/IN ENGINE. UPON SEVERAL CONTACTS W/ SUBARU OF AMERICA, THEY HAVE OFFERED TO PAY 50% TO REBUILD ENGINE, WHICH HAS BEEN VERBALLY ESTIMATED AT $2,500. BEARD SUBARU UNABLE TO EXPLAIN CAUSE OF ENGINE SEIZE, BUT DENIES IT IS RELATED TO RECENT REPAIR OF ENGINE LEAK. SUBARU OF AMERICA REQUIRES ME TO ACCEPT OR DENY OFFER TO OF "COURTESY FOR MY PATRONAGE" 50% BY WED. 4/4/01. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW AT BEARD SUBARU AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT FAITHFULLY. I QUESTION A DEFECT WITHIN MY VEHICLE, OR A DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE RECENT WORK CONDUCTED BY BEARD SUBARU. I REQUESTED WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION. THEY DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE ON 3/27/01. ON 3/30/01 I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM BEARD SUBARU THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO ME "NEXT WEEK". THEY ARE AWARE I BEGIN A NEW JOB ON 4/2/01 REQUIRING ME TO RENT A VEHICLE UNTIL MY SITUATION IS RESOLVED. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS OFFERED TO PAY 50% CAR RENTAL FEE FOR 5 DAYS. IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE A SECOND OPINION BEFORE I AM REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO SUBARU OF AMERICA'S DEADLINE BY 4/4/01? I AM WEARY TO ACCEPT AN AGREEMENT THAT NO ONE HAS PROVIDED A SECOND OPINION, THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE OF WHAT I WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY "AFTER JUST PAYING $654.50 FOR AN ENGINE LEAK" AND I AM BEING TOLD I MUST RESPOND TO THE OFFER BY 4/4/01 OR I WILL NOT BE ASSISTED.*AK
POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING CAUSING ODOR IN VENTS. NLM
EGR SOLONOID FAILED. *SLC
EXHAUST SYSTEM LEAKS FUMES INTO THE VENTILLATION SYSTEM.
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH EXHAUST PUMPS. WHE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED UP, CONSUMERT CAN SMELL A SULPHUR SMELL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
Official recalls
201V216000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.