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1998 Subaru Outback
2 recall campaigns and 127 complaints are on NHTSA's register for the 1998 Subaru Outback; the recalls concern suspension and power train.
The component named most often is engine and engine cooling: 278.8 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 124.5 per 1,000 across all 1998 model-year vehicles and against 59.2 per 1,000 for the Subaru Outback line as a whole.
That is about the same as the average of 132.9 complaints per model year across the 29 Subaru Outback model years on this register; 9 complaints reported a crash and 2 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2004 (22); the most recent in the file is dated 3 Jul 2014.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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: 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.
Filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC..
- 98V042000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)Reported 20 Feb 1998 · 19,386 units
Defect, as filed: 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: 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).
Filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC..
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1998 Subaru Outback (black) against all 1998 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1998 | Outback line | All 1998 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 278.8 | 59.2 | 124.5 |
| Power Train | 127.3 | 120.7 | 90.9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 84.8 | 28.7 | 107.5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 84.8 | 73.2 | 43.3 |
| Air Bags | 66.7 | 109.2 | 49.3 |
| Visibility | 42.4 | 15.4 | 56.5 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 46 | 278.8 | 59.2 | 124.5 |
| Power Train | 21 | 127.3 | 120.7 | 90.9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 84.8 | 28.7 | 107.5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 84.8 | 73.2 | 43.3 |
| Air Bags | 11 | 66.7 | 109.2 | 49.3 |
| Visibility | 7 | 42.4 | 15.4 | 56.5 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 42.4 | 83.1 | 82.5 |
| Tires | 5 | 30.3 | 21.2 | 52.1 |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 24.2 | 52.8 | 21.7 |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 24.2 | 10.9 | 22.5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 24.2 | 50.7 | 27.3 |
| Suspension | 4 | 24.2 | 52.2 | 82.7 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 4 | 24.2 | 4.4 | 12.4 |
| Wheels | 4 | 24.2 | 15.2 | 10.9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 24.2 | 20.4 | 36.4 |
| Steering | 3 | 18.2 | 46.5 | 55.7 |
| Structure | 2 | 12.1 | 28.7 | 45.5 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 12.1 | 2.4 | 4 |
| Equipment | 2 | 12.1 | 7.1 | 22.9 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 12.1 | 33.4 | 3.4 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 7.5 |
127 unique complaints, 165 component mentions; 8 injuries and 1 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Subaru Outback model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 NHTSA | 1 | 2 | 180,000 |
| 1996 | 2 | 46 | 209,442 |
| 1997 | 4 | 79 | 289,943 |
| 1998 | 2 | 127 | 199,386 |
| 1999 | 1 | 111 | 180,000 |
| 2000 | 1 | 207 | 170,000 |
| 2001 | 3 | 171 | 470,144 |
| 2002 | 4 | 143 | 471,396 |
| 2003 | 14 | 93 | 1,916,339 |
| 2004 | 10 | 88 | 1,580,644 |
| 2005 | 9 | 244 | 1,672,351 |
| 2006 | 7 | 243 | 1,666,189 |
| 2007 | 8 | 106 | 1,766,316 |
| 2008 | 8 | 189 | 1,766,316 |
| 2009 | 13 | 82 | 1,988,974 |
| 2010 | 18 | 282 | 3,242,605 |
| 2011 | 16 | 441 | 3,115,845 |
| 2012 | 16 | 172 | 2,142,573 |
| 2013 | 12 | 184 | 2,061,376 |
| 2014 | 10 | 139 | 1,944,601 |
| 2015 | 5 | 265 | 124,244 |
| 2016 | 4 | 160 | 55,009 |
| 2017 | 4 | 116 | 49,018 |
| 2018 | 3 | 138 | 475,806 |
| 2019 | 3 | 25 | 366,282 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | 504,336 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 215,118 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 214,610 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 100,141 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Subaru Outback model years · Subaru: 29 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1998 Subaru Outback have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 01V216000, was reported to NHTSA on 25 Jun 2001 and concerns suspension:front:springs:coil springs. Across all model years the Subaru Outback line has 71 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1998 Subaru Outback?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 1998 Subaru Outback complain about most?
Engine and Engine Cooling: 46 of 165 component mentions (278.8 per 1,000). Next is power train with 21. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.