RecallMyCar

1998 Subaru Legacy Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1998 Subaru Legacy, and owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
114
owner complaints to NHTSA
17 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–24
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 1998 Subaru Legacy

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

  1. Coil springs (suspension)

    NHTSA 01V216000 Reported 180,000 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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,…

    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…

  2. 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.

  3. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 98V127000 Reported 20,306 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, also service parts supplied to subaru dealers are involved (lot numbers f01 j21d2, f01 j30d2, f02 j09d1, f02 j09d2, and f02 j20d1). The purolator oil filter cans used on these vehicles can fracture causing a vaporized oil spray and subsequent oil leak.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace these engine oil filters.

  4. Gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 98V042000 Reported 19,386 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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).

114 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Subaru Legacy have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA; 17 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 12 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 115,770 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 24 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 1998 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was a delayed failure in the braking system. The contact notified the local dealer regarding the fai”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 29, 2022 · Service brakes, hydraulic

“The weld that attached the front right strut assembly to the body completely failed. The wheel collapsed into the wheel well. This happened while i beginning to make a right turn. The vehicle was not”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 21, 2018 · Suspension

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 Subaru Legacy/Outback (Legacy, Legacy AWD, Legacy Wagon, Legacy Wagon AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–24 mpg
City / Highway18–21 / 24–29
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engine4 cyl, 2.2/2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Subaru Legacy model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1987 Subaru Legacy01
1988 Subaru Legacy01
1989 Subaru Legacy01
1990 Subaru Legacy481
1991 Subaru Legacy378
1992 Subaru Legacy255
1993 Subaru Legacy177
1994 Subaru Legacy060
1995 Subaru Legacy2182
1996 Subaru Legacy3123
1997 Subaru Legacy5139
1998 Subaru Legacy4114
1999 Subaru Legacy394
2000 Subaru Legacy394
2001 Subaru Legacy777
2002 Subaru Legacy454
2003 Subaru Legacy1460
2004 Subaru Legacy1049
2005 Subaru Legacy9184
2006 Subaru Legacy787
2007 Subaru Legacy933
2008 Subaru Legacy965
2009 Subaru Legacy1365
2010 Subaru Legacy18150
2011 Subaru Legacy16167
2012 Subaru Legacy1690
2013 Subaru Legacy1266
2014 Subaru Legacy1053
2015 Subaru Legacy3160
2016 Subaru Legacy3147
2017 Subaru Legacy2119
2018 Subaru Legacy3117
2019 Subaru Legacy3123
2020 Subaru Legacy6121
2021 Subaru Legacy331
2022 Subaru Legacy234
2023 Subaru Legacy210
2024 Subaru Legacy017
2025 Subaru Legacy06

Checking a specific 1998 Subaru Legacy

How do I know if my 1998 Subaru Legacy 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 1998 Subaru Legacy; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

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 01V216000).

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.