1998 Subaru Outback reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 1998 Subaru Outback from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 165
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
- 18 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 13 reported crashes · 11 injuries · 1 death · 2 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#2,994
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
-17
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 1996-2000
-103
median 268 complaints in 623 records
Top component share
22%
Engine And Engine Cooling: 36 complaints
What owners report fails — 1998 Subaru Outback
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 18
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 11
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 7
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM 7
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1998 Subaru Outback
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1998 Subaru Outback units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Subaru Outback reliable?
NHTSA has 165 consumer complaints on record for the 1998 Subaru Outback. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling:engine (18 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1998 Subaru Outback units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Subaru Outback?
Owners most often report problems with: engine and engine cooling:engine (18), vehicle speed control (11), engine and engine cooling (11), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (7). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1998 Subaru Outback?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 1998 Subaru Outback. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.