RecallMyCar

1998 Subaru Forester Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 1998 Subaru Forester, and owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
101
owner complaints to NHTSA
7 / 5
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–21
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 1998 Subaru Forester

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Master cylinder (service brakes)

    NHTSA 99V040000 Reported 221,987 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles equipped with anti-lock braking system (ABS). (the 1999 2.2 liter legacy vehicles are excluded). In extremely cold weather, the brake pedal goes to the floor and the vehicle stopping distance is increased.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder.

101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Subaru Forester have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA; 7 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 91,634 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 20 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“1. Wheel bearings have consistently needed replacement starting 4 years after car purchased new. At 450.00 to 500.00 each time. This is a design issues and subaru needs to pay of each replacement. 2.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 24, 2020 · Fuel/propulsion system

“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 subaru forester. The contact stated that the service engine indicator illuminated and the engine revved up and down. The vehicle would need to accelerate in order to rev do”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 11, 2018 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 Subaru Forester (Forester AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–21 mpg
City / Highway18–19 / 24–25
FuelRegular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Subaru Forester model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Forester model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1998 Subaru Forester1101
1999 Subaru Forester1131
2000 Subaru Forester075
2001 Subaru Forester0139
2002 Subaru Forester188
2003 Subaru Forester3189
2004 Subaru Forester2219
2005 Subaru Forester193
2006 Subaru Forester288
2007 Subaru Forester174
2008 Subaru Forester150
2009 Subaru Forester17178
2010 Subaru Forester17262
2011 Subaru Forester16147
2012 Subaru Forester15105
2013 Subaru Forester1277
2014 Subaru Forester2403
2015 Subaru Forester3615
2016 Subaru Forester3415
2017 Subaru Forester1587
2018 Subaru Forester3498
2019 Subaru Forester3833
2020 Subaru Forester0601
2021 Subaru Forester0209
2022 Subaru Forester198
2023 Subaru Forester174
2024 Subaru Forester229
2025 Subaru Forester396
2026 Subaru Forester324

Checking a specific 1998 Subaru Forester

How do I know if my 1998 Subaru Forester has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1998 Subaru Forester; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 99V040000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.