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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

Tires complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2005
TiresWheels

DT: THE CONTACT STATES ONE OF THE TIRES HAS BEEN LOSING AIR. THE SERVICE MECHANIC STATES THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. THE WHEEL ITSELF LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A CRACKED. IT IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WHEEL ON THE INNER RIM. IT HAS NOT DAMAGED THE TIRES. THE TIRE IS LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT. THE METAL ALLOY W…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATES ONE OF THE TIRES HAS BEEN LOSING AIR. THE SERVICE MECHANIC STATES THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. THE WHEEL ITSELF LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A CRACKED. IT IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WHEEL ON THE INNER RIM. IT HAS NOT DAMAGED THE TIRES. THE TIRE IS LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT. THE METAL ALLOY WHEEL IS WHAT HAS THE CRACK. THE TIRES ON THE WHEEL WERE ALMOST NEW AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10128825

94,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Tires

ALL 4 TIRES SIDEWALL SEPARATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. MICHELIN, 205/70R15. *AK THE TIRES HAD DRY ROT CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALLS. THERE WAS NO SEPERATING, JUST HUNDREDS OF CRACKS. TIRE/MODEL#XW4 *SC

NHTSA ODI #10059165

65,000 miles · Mar 23, 2004
Tires

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10064695

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2001
Tires

WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK S/W IN 1999 AND RECENTLY HAD A FLAT TIRE. UPON PLACING THE "MINI" SPARE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR AND DRIVING (UNDER 50 MPH) ONLY 19 MILES TO A TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLAT REPAIRED, THE REAR END WAS DAMAGED. IT COST $800 TO HAVE THE REAR END GEARS REPLACED. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE "MINI" SPA…

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WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK S/W IN 1999 AND RECENTLY HAD A FLAT TIRE. UPON PLACING THE "MINI" SPARE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR AND DRIVING (UNDER 50 MPH) ONLY 19 MILES TO A TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLAT REPAIRED, THE REAR END WAS DAMAGED. IT COST $800 TO HAVE THE REAR END GEARS REPLACED. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE "MINI" SPARE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT DISABLING THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE, BY FINDING AND REPLACING A FUSE UNDER THE HOOD (LISTED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPARE REMOVAL LAST ON PAGE 2 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL). OH YEAH, THE SPARE CAN ONLY BE USED ON THE REAR WHEELS. THIS INFORMATION IS ALL "HIDDEN" IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. SINCE WE HAVE AUTO INSURANCE THAT INCLUDES TOWING, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER OFF TOWING THE CAR TO THE TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLAT REPAIRED (FOR FREE) THAN USING THE SPARE PROVIDED AND PAYING $800 TO HAVE THE REAR END REBUILT. (TOWING NEEDS TO BE DONE ON A FLAT BED TRUCK WITH ALL WHELLS OFF THE GROUND.) PLEASE WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS IMPROPERLY LABLED "SPARE TIRE". ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE FROM SUBARU WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #745049

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1998
TiresFire

WHEN USING THE FACTORY PROVIDED SPARE TIRE, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CAUGHT ON FIRE. OWNER DID NOT DRIVE VEHICLE OVER 50 MILES AS STATED IN OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE.THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. FIRE WAS DUE TO THE DIFFENRENCE IN THE TIRE SIZE.

NHTSA ODI #832012

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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