Most common 1998 Subaru Outback problems
Share of the 127 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Outback complaints by model year
Best Outback years: 1996, 2004, 2003. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2017, 2018, 2022. Compare all years →
1998 Subaru Outback recalls (2)
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
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,…
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission shift lever assemblies (except the handle grip).
What 1998 Subaru Outback owners say
Engine & cooling all 40 →
1998 Subaru Outback showed signs of overheating as temperature gauge rose up past the usual midline and cold air inside car from air conditioner suddenly got warmer. I pulled over and coolant was over flowing from overflow reservoir through the cap. I drove with the heater on full power and made it to a repair facility and remove the thermostat which had seized. Replaced the thermostat and radiator cap ($30) and everything was fine until four months later (March 2004) when car showed signs of over heating again (rise in inside air conditioned air temperature from cold to warm). Took car to rallysport engineering in costa mesa, ca and mechanic could not find symptoms of head gasket failure although this is what he thought it was. …
Engine overheating started 10 months ago on long trips only. Overheating was common when engine was under heavier than normal loads for long periods of time(climbing hilss, etc.). Fluid in radiator was eventually deplented leading to sharp rise in engine temperature. Lately this has been worse as only 30 miles of normal driving will cause the same symptoms. The fault turned out to be a head gasket failure on Subaru r2.5l type 1 engines. The coolant was being forced out of the radiator by the slow leak of exhaust gases in the coolant around the radiator. This vechicle has been serviced since new by only the local Subaru dealer. A search on the internet for Subaru 2.5l engines 1996-1999 (legacy) turned up multiple hits for owners with this same problem. Failure is as low as 40K miles to over 100K for the same problem. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The automatic transmission failed with just 61,000 easy miles. The failure was in the clutch assembly (it would not decelerate when taking pressure off the gas pedal). I took it to the dealer and the manager told me that the drive train was technically out of warranty and that I would be responsible for a new transmission. (before 60,000 I had the dealer check out the whole car and they could find nothing. When the transmission failed I took it in again and the mechanic told me "nothing is wrong"... I am not kidding; they were not competent enough to know that the transmission was not performing properly!!). After that experience there was no way I was going to replace the transmission with another Subaru product. I took it to aamco for a rebuild. …
1998 Subaru Outback - steering becomes jerky when backing or going forward at slow speeds and while making tight turning radiuses. Local repair shop called a local Subaru dealer and they said that they have seen some incidents of this problem but know of no fix. It was said that the vehicle is safe to drive. The suspected problem is thought due to uneven regulation of the wheel speed in the all wheel drive regulator as one turns sharply. In a sharp turn the wheels on the inner curve of the travel of path need to travel at a slower RPM than the wheels of that are on the outer curve of the path of the vehicle. This jerky motion even if not unsafe devalues the car for any possible resale value thus compromising my investment in it. …
Brakes
On October 6, 2004, I was coasting into a parking space in my 1998 Subaru legacy Outback. My headlights were facing a curb, sidewalk, and cement brick building, and I touched the brakes to prevent bumping the curb. As soon as my foot hit the brake, the car vroomed as if the throttle had been fully opened, and the car continued moving forward. I pressed the brake harder, but the car seemed to take off on it's own and was totally out of my control. The all-wheel drive vehicle easily bumped up the curb, and the car flew into the air and crashed into the side of the building. The car was totaled by the insurance company. Fortunately, I was wearing my seat belt (the air bags did not deploy). The entire incident happened very fast and was totally unexpected. …
On March 19, 2013, I was returning to my place of employment after picking up my Outback from bloomington Acura Subaru, bloomington, mn after a clutch replacement when the hydraulic brake system had a total failure resulting in a near catastrophic collision with several vehicles. This vehicle was taken back to the dealer for evaluation. Dealer inspection confirmed that the right rear brake line by the fuel tank protector had excessive corrosion resulting in severe fluid release thus not allowing the hydraulic system to properly pressurize resulting in a complete failure of the brake hydraulic system. The brake lines replaced were part number 26522aa010 and 26522aa020 (right and left). On March 27, 2013, the NHTSA issued campaign number 13V110000 for Subaru legacy outbacks regarding "brake lines May fail due to corrosion". This recall pertains to model year 2005 to 2009. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Subaru Outback a good car?
Based on 127 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Outback rates average: 32% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Outback at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Subaru Outback?
The engine & cooling — 40 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (19) and brakes (15).
How many recalls does the 1998 Subaru Outback have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1998 Subaru Outback, the most recent from June 25, 2001 (coil springs). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Outback?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996, 2004 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2017, 2018 and 2022. See the full Subaru Outback years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Subaru Outback problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 91,000 miles; 12% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.