IllustrationALTERNATOR FAILED , CAUSING LOSS OF POWER IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC, COLLISION LUCKILY AVOIDED.*AK
1998 Subaru Legacy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Subaru Legacy do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Legacy years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
00–25K
525–50K
250–75K
775–100K
11100–150K
7150K+
32 reports with mileage · 82 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports2 fire reports11 injury reports
What owners actually said
114 reportsWHEN MAKING A TURN, TURN SIGNALS STAY ON CONSTANTLY. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN SIGNALS OFF MANUALLY. SUBARU SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH DRIVER SWERVED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE WHEN DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY IMPACT DONE TO VEHICLE. DUE TO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS ,DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
ON TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS, 4/15 AND 4/16, WHILE STOPPING FROM A <5 MPH SPEED, THE CAR SURGED AHEAD 2-4 FEET, STOPPED, AND IMMEDIATELY SURGED AHEAD 2-4 FEET AGAIN, AND STOPPED. THE FIRST TIME IT ALMOST PUT ME OUT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANED HIGHWAY. THE SECOND TIME I WAS PULLING INTO MY DAUGHTER'S DRIVEWAY AND WAS STOPPING WHEN…
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ON TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS, 4/15 AND 4/16, WHILE STOPPING FROM A <5 MPH SPEED, THE CAR SURGED AHEAD 2-4 FEET, STOPPED, AND IMMEDIATELY SURGED AHEAD 2-4 FEET AGAIN, AND STOPPED. THE FIRST TIME IT ALMOST PUT ME OUT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANED HIGHWAY. THE SECOND TIME I WAS PULLING INTO MY DAUGHTER'S DRIVEWAY AND WAS STOPPING WHEN IT SURGED AHEAD TAKING OUT THE POST SUPPORTING THEIR FRONT PORCH, STOPPED, THEN IMMEDIATELY SURGED AHEAD TAKING OUT THE LATTICE WORK UNDER THEIR PORCH. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS ON AN UPHILL INCLINE. DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE INCLUDED THE RIGHT FRONT FOG LIGHT, POPPED OUT AND PUT A "WRINKLE" IN THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPED AND SCRATCHED THE HOOD. THE MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATE BECAUSE THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERS. WHEN I CALLED TO CHECK ON IT 4/19 THEY HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE IT AND STATED THEY HAD ONE MORE TEST TO RUN AND THEN I COULD PICK IT UP. THAT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! *AK
LOUD ENGINE KNOCKING AT START-UP/SUBARU HAS "INTERNAL" SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE PISTONS?*AK
ALTERNATOR DIED WILL TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER
THIS IS AN AIRBAG CUTOFF SWITCH COMPLAINT. I COULDN'T FIND ANY OTHER PLACE ON YOUR WEBSITE TO LODGE IT. WE GOT OUR CUTOFF SWTICH AUTHORIZATION ALMOST A YEAR AGO. THE SUBARU SWITCH WAS TO BE READY 12/98. NOW THERE'S NO DATE EVEN GIVEN. THIS IS UNFAIR. YOU FORCE THEM TO MAKE THE BAG AND US TO BUY IT, CAN'T YOU FORCE THEM TO MAKE T…
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THIS IS AN AIRBAG CUTOFF SWITCH COMPLAINT. I COULDN'T FIND ANY OTHER PLACE ON YOUR WEBSITE TO LODGE IT. WE GOT OUR CUTOFF SWTICH AUTHORIZATION ALMOST A YEAR AGO. THE SUBARU SWITCH WAS TO BE READY 12/98. NOW THERE'S NO DATE EVEN GIVEN. THIS IS UNFAIR. YOU FORCE THEM TO MAKE THE BAG AND US TO BUY IT, CAN'T YOU FORCE THEM TO MAKE THE CUTOFF SWITCH? THEY ADVISE WE NOT USE A GENERIC. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO CRAM 4 KIDS IN MY BACKSEAT SHARING BELTS. IS THAT SAFE? *AK
FAILURE OF BOLT IN SHEAR RESULTED IN LACK OF POWER STEERING. YH
TIRES REPEATEDLY LOSE AIR, ESPECIALLY IN REAR. STEEL BELT BEGAN SHOWING AND A LARGE SIDEWALL BULGE APPEARED IN ONE REAR TIRE AT ABOUT 15,500 MILES. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AT APPROXIMATELY 15,580 MILES, WITH MICHELIN TIRES, BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES WERE NOT SAFE AND DID NOT WANT REPLACEMENTS OF THE SAME MAKE T…
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TIRES REPEATEDLY LOSE AIR, ESPECIALLY IN REAR. STEEL BELT BEGAN SHOWING AND A LARGE SIDEWALL BULGE APPEARED IN ONE REAR TIRE AT ABOUT 15,500 MILES. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AT APPROXIMATELY 15,580 MILES, WITH MICHELIN TIRES, BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES WERE NOT SAFE AND DID NOT WANT REPLACEMENTS OF THE SAME MAKE THAT MIGHT FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER IN THE FUTURE.( DOT NUMBER: OBJ6PJA417 TIRE SIZE: 185/70 R14 )
HOT BURNING SMELL IN THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE OF CAR,SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE SHOP. *AK
Official recalls
401V216000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Jun 25, 2001
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, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
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 NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
99V040000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Mar 3, 1999
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
98V127000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Jun 8, 1998
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY CAN RESULT IN OIL VAPOR IGNITION BY THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THESE ENGINE OIL FILTERS.
98V042000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Feb 20, 1998
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.