IllustrationWHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT DIMS THE HEADLIGHTS FOR A SECOND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
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
What owners actually said
127 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH THE VEHICLE'S STEERING CAPABLITY WAS LOST. DEALER STATED THAT INNER TIE ROD WAS BENT. *AK
I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN IN SECOND GEAR AND PREPARING TO STOP WHEN THE ABS APPARENTLY TOOK CONTROL OF MY CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE THE INTERSECTION AND NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR. I DID NOT FEEL THAT THE ROAD CONDITIONS WARRENTED THE ABS RESPONSE (THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY WET) AND I DID FEEL THAT I WAS IN CONTROL OF MY CA…
Read full complaint
I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN IN SECOND GEAR AND PREPARING TO STOP WHEN THE ABS APPARENTLY TOOK CONTROL OF MY CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE THE INTERSECTION AND NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR. I DID NOT FEEL THAT THE ROAD CONDITIONS WARRENTED THE ABS RESPONSE (THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY WET) AND I DID FEEL THAT I WAS IN CONTROL OF MY CAR BEFORE THE ABS TOOK OVER. I WAS TRAVELING UNDER 10 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR IN CONSIDERABLY WORSE WEATHER AND WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO ANTICIPATE MY STOPPING DISTANCE. THE ABS LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. INFO THAT MAY BE RELEVENT...I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A MINOR CAR ACCIDENT BUT I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD'VE AFFECTED THE BRAKES. I ALSO HAD MY CAR REALIGNED TODAY AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS COULD HAVE ANY AFFECT ON THE ABS.
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
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.
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM OF A BURNING ODOR COMING INTO THE VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT INTERMITTENTLY WITHIN A DAY. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER `INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING COULD BE FOUND AND AT TIME REFUSED TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION/ DRIVESHAFT FAILURE.
MANUAL STATES THAT NO CHILD YOUNGER THAN AGE 12 BE SEATED IN FRONT BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE INJURY WHICH CAN OCCUR DURING DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. CONCERN ABOUT AIR BAG SAFETY (OTHER THAN SHORT PERSON). ADDED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
THERE HAVE BEEN THREE EPISODES IN WHICH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND DRAMATICALLY REVVED AND CAR SURGED, ONCE WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, TWICE WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR APPROACHING A CURVE. I HAD TO TURN CAR OFF, AND IN SEVERAL INSTANCES, WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED THE RPM WENT UP TO OVER 7000.
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.