IllustrationDRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. ONLY ROLLS WINDOW DOWN 2" THEN SKIPS AND WON'T ROLL BACK UP. HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY FOR 2 YEARS.*AK
1998 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Subaru Outback do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback 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
40–25K
325–50K
1250–75K
1675–100K
17100–150K
7150K+
59 reports with mileage · 68 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 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports
Visibility complaints
7 reportsWE ARE UNABLE TO RIDE IN VEHICLE WITH HEATER ON AS IT STILL HAS A VERY BAD MUSTY MILDEW SMELL INSIDE , AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE PROBLEM. EDMOND CHEV SISTER STORE SHULTS SUBARU SAID FOR US TO SPRAY LYSOL INTO THE AIR VENTS ONCA A MONTH. THAT MAKES IT WORSE AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS AS WE HAVE TALKED TO OTHER SUBARU OWNER…
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WE ARE UNABLE TO RIDE IN VEHICLE WITH HEATER ON AS IT STILL HAS A VERY BAD MUSTY MILDEW SMELL INSIDE , AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE PROBLEM. EDMOND CHEV SISTER STORE SHULTS SUBARU SAID FOR US TO SPRAY LYSOL INTO THE AIR VENTS ONCA A MONTH. THAT MAKES IT WORSE AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS AS WE HAVE TALKED TO OTHER SUBARU OWNERS THAT HAVE NO PROBLEM LIKE THIS. PLEASE HELP US ,WE LOVE THE CAR ,BUT CAN NOT RIDE ANY DISTANCE IN IT WITHOUT GETTING VERY BAD SINUS HEADACHES
CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THEY INTERMITTENTLY WORK. IN WET CONDITIONS THEY DON'T CLEAR. INSTEAD THEY SMEAR THE WINDSHEILD, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE. ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IN MOTION THEY FLY IN THE WIND. SUBARU HAS NO REMEDY & TRIED TO USE HEAVY DUTY WIPERS, BUT THEY DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. *AK *ML
IN RAINY CONDITIONS OR WHEN USING THE DEFROSTER, THE VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE MILDEW CAME THROUGH THE VENTS WHICH CAUSED OCCUPANT NOT TO USE THE DEFROSTER. MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. IN COLD WEATHER THE TRAPPED MOISTURE IN THE SYSTEM CAUSES ICE TO FORM INSIDE THE WINDSHIELD MAKING DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE…
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IN RAINY CONDITIONS OR WHEN USING THE DEFROSTER, THE VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE MILDEW CAME THROUGH THE VENTS WHICH CAUSED OCCUPANT NOT TO USE THE DEFROSTER. MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. IN COLD WEATHER THE TRAPPED MOISTURE IN THE SYSTEM CAUSES ICE TO FORM INSIDE THE WINDSHIELD MAKING DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE. MILDEW AND BACTERIA ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE WHEEZING AND BURNING EYES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO HELP. *AK *ML
GEAR SHIFT LEVER FAILED.
CONSUMER HAS POOR VISIBILITY. WHENEVER IT RAINS ALL GLASS GIVES A FILM AND STREAKING WHEN USING THE WIPERS. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BECAME TANGLED WITH WIPERS ON DRIVER'S SIDE, BECAUSE OF A LOOSE BOLT. THIS DISTRACTION ALMOST CAUSED DRIVER TO CRASH. THE WIPERS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. *AK *NLM
Official recalls
201V216000 · 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.
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.