RecallMyCar

1998 Subaru Outback Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1998 Subaru Outback, and owners have filed 127 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
127
owner complaints to NHTSA
9 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire

2 safety recalls for the 1998 Subaru Outback

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. 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).

127 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Subaru Outback have filed 127 complaints with NHTSA; 9 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 92,867 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 22 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“While driving in the city streets, i came to a stop and realized the car would not stop. When i took my vehicle to the mechanic he said 3 brake lines on my subaru outback 1998 had broken. I live in pe”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 3, 2014 · Service brakes

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 4, 2013 · Service brakes

Compare Subaru Outback model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Subaru Outback12
1996 Subaru Outback246
1997 Subaru Outback479
1998 Subaru Outback2127
1999 Subaru Outback1111
2000 Subaru Outback1207
2001 Subaru Outback3171
2002 Subaru Outback4143
2003 Subaru Outback1493
2004 Subaru Outback1090
2005 Subaru Outback9273
2006 Subaru Outback7277
2007 Subaru Outback8129
2008 Subaru Outback8226
2009 Subaru Outback13106
2010 Subaru Outback18360
2011 Subaru Outback16652
2012 Subaru Outback16292
2013 Subaru Outback12297
2014 Subaru Outback10208
2015 Subaru Outback5510
2016 Subaru Outback4643
2017 Subaru Outback4917
2018 Subaru Outback3813
2019 Subaru Outback31,035
2020 Subaru Outback6899
2021 Subaru Outback4296
2022 Subaru Outback4465
2023 Subaru Outback289
2024 Subaru Outback0103
2025 Subaru Outback081
2026 Subaru Outback016

Checking a specific 1998 Subaru Outback

How do I know if my 1998 Subaru Outback 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 1998 Subaru Outback; 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.