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
Exterior Lighting complaints
3 reportsALL TURN SIGNALS ARE FLASHING AT SAME TIME, TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD SIGNAL ARE WORKING AT SAME TIME.*AK DEALER PUSHED THE HAZARD SIGNAL BUTTON AND THE CONDITION STOPPED AND COULD NOT BE REPLICATED, CONSUMER HAD TRIED PUSHING THE HAZARD BUTTON HIMSELF, HOWEVER THE SIGNALS KEPT BLINKING WHEN HE ATTEMPTED, PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED…
Read full complaint
ALL TURN SIGNALS ARE FLASHING AT SAME TIME, TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD SIGNAL ARE WORKING AT SAME TIME.*AK DEALER PUSHED THE HAZARD SIGNAL BUTTON AND THE CONDITION STOPPED AND COULD NOT BE REPLICATED, CONSUMER HAD TRIED PUSHING THE HAZARD BUTTON HIMSELF, HOWEVER THE SIGNALS KEPT BLINKING WHEN HE ATTEMPTED, PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE. *SLC
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT DIMS THE HEADLIGHTS FOR A SECOND. DEALER HAS BEEN 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.