U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Subaru LEGACY problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

78 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

108,048 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 78 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	10	12.8%
Transmission and shifting	5	6.4%
Steering behavior	5	6.4%
Engine operation	3	3.8%
Fuel system concerns	2	2.6%
Electrical and battery issues	1	1.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Air Bags:Frontal

Engine And Engine Cooling

Vehicle Speed Control

Fuel System, Gasoline

Service Brakes

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	13
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	6
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	6
Air Bags:Frontal	5
Engine And Engine Cooling	4
Vehicle Speed Control	4
Fuel System, Gasoline	3
Service Brakes	3

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 13; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 7

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 46 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2012

2017

2018

2022

2000: 16; 2001: 10; 2002: 8; 2003: 3; 2004: 11; 2005: 5; 2006: 6; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2012: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10299229 · 2010-01-06 (January 6, 2010)

DEFECTIVE FRAME ON 1998 SUBARU LEGACY. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. AND A ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AS WELL. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A RUMBLING SOUND, AS WELL A STRONGER PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE FRONT LEFT CROSS-MEMBER WAS SEVERED IN THE CENTER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10299229 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10313562 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED IT TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10313562 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10087206 · 2004-08-04 (August 4, 2004)

TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR A WHILE LOWER GEARS IN TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. WHEN VEHICLE COOLED OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE VEHICLE RAN WELL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AFTER CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN , WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HOT, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. ALREADY, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087206 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10127015 · 2005-06-29 (June 29, 2005)

I HAVE A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN IT GETS HOT (I LIVE IN HOUSTON!!!) THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL GET SPONGY AND EVENTUALLY STICK TO THE FLOOR. I HAVE TO LIFT IT UP WITH MY FOOT. IF I HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME LIKE THIS, I EVENTUALLY LOSE THE ABILITY TO GET THE CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND LET IT COOL OFF (FOR ABOUT AN HOUR) AND IT WILL FIX ITSELF. I HAVE HAD TO SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR, WAITING FOR IT TO COOL DOWN! IT FIRST HAPPENED IN 1999. SUBA…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127015 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10089113 · 2004-08-16 (August 16, 2004)

CONSUMER REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL REPAIRS EXPENSES FOR 1998 SUBARU LEGACY.*MR DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT HE VEHICLE'S STEERING CENTER DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. SINCE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES THE CONSUMER FEELS SUBARU SHOULD REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 37,546 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089113 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10296541 · 2009-12-21 (December 21, 2009)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. THE DRIVER-SIDE CROSS MEMBER THAT CONNECTS THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO THE MAIN FRAME HAD CORRODED. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO MAKES A CLANGING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT RESPOND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND IT REQUIRES A TOW TRUCK TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. ALL REPAIRS WILL BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 254,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 254,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296541 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10087521 · 2004-08-09 (August 9, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BLOW OUT. *AK UPDATED 02/24/06

Owner-reported narrative. 72,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087521 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10099441 · 2004-11-04 (November 4, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099441 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 747371 · 2001-06-25 (June 25, 2001)

COMMENTS FROM THE DEALERS INVOICE: 671 MILES: CHECKED FOR OIL LEAK, FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM POWER STEERING RACK. REMOVED AND REINSTALLED RACK ASSEMBLY.671 MILES: I COMPLAINED ABOUT SMELL IN VENTS. ADVISED IT WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST. 944MILES: OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE DOWN ONTO EXHAUST. FOUND LEAK AT TOP OF ENGINE ON THE RIGHT SIDE NEAR REAR OIL GALLEY PLUG. DISASSEMBLE ENGINE COMPLETE DOWN TO SHORT BLOCK. REPLACE SHORT BLOCK AND ALL NECESSARY GASKETS AND SEALS. REASSEMBLE ENGINE. 944 MILES: I COMPLAINED ABOUT SMELL IN VENT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 747371 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 879087 · 2001-01-26 (January 26, 2001)

GAS LINES TO GAS TANK ARE LOCATED UNDER AND FRONT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AS STEPPING INTO VEHICLE. CONSUMER PUNCTURED THEM VERY EASILY WHEN JUST TRYING TO HOOK UP SOME LIGHTS. WITHIN MINUTES, THERE WAS ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF GAS IN BACKSEAT. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE.*AK THE POURING OF GAS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN GAS LINE BREAKS IS UNSAFE DESIGN. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 879087 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 719114 · 2000-02-23 (February 23, 2000)

ALTERNATOR DIED WILL TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719114 at NHTSA ↗