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

What owners actually said

127 reports

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2004

Power Train

CLUTCH CHATTER ON MY 98 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON. PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. SUBARU 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM A FEW TIME UNDER WARRANTY, BUT TO THIS DAY, THERE IS SEVERE CHATTER IN THE CLUTCH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10058901

17,000 miles · Feb 14, 2004

Power Train

I HAVE HAD CONTINUOS PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH ON MY 1998 SUABRU OUTBACK. SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN PURCHASED I HAVE HAD THE CLUCH REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND IT IS NOW DUE TO GO IN AGAIN. A COMMON PROBLEM IS "BUCKING" UNDER LOAD (1ST & SECOND). THERE ARE COUNTLESS SIMILAR STORIED AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET. SUBARU NEEDS TO BE HELD ACC…

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NHTSA ODI #10058154

73,269 miles · Jan 15, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEADGASKET BURNED THROUGH. REPLACED HEADGASKET, HAD HEADS MILLED. NOW EXACTLY 1 1/2 YEARS LATER IN APRIL 2003 THE CAR IS OVERHEATING, EVERYONE SAYS THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DOING THAT, BUT IT IS. IT IS ALOT OF MONEY FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY 5 YRS. OLD AND HAVING MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10068853

68,000 miles · Jan 12, 2004

Vehicle Speed Control

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING AT A LOW SPEED ENGINE REVVED TO 4 RMPS AND JERKED INTO SECOND GEAR. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO NO REMEDY WAS FOUND.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10053793

121,000 miles · Jan 12, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

APPEARS I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON MY 1998 2.5L OUTBACK. COOLANT CONTAINS OIL , COOLANT RESERVOIR FILLS UP RAPIDLY WITH COOLANT WHEN DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. COOLANT NEVER RETURNS TO THE RADIATOR AFTER COOLING DOWN. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10052882

63,000 miles · Dec 30, 2003

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10052097

86,225 miles · Nov 19, 2003

Wheels

VEHICLE'S TIRES LEAKED DUE TO CORROSION/OXIDATION ON THE RIM WHERE THE TIRE MET THE ALUMINUM WHEEL. *MR THE CORROSION IS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO AFFECT THE SEAL BETWEEN THE TIRE AND THE RIM. THE TIRES LOSE ABOUT TWO POUNDS OF AIR PER WEEK. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10048448

89,500 miles · Oct 25, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR OVERHEATED. TOWED TO GARAGE. THEY REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND TESTED. RAN OK FOR ABOUT 20 MILES. OVERHEATED AGAIN. TOWED TO GARAGE. NOW THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT I NEED A NEW HEAD GASKET. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FLAWLESSLY. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043556

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2003

Power Train

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INTERMITTENTLY, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL AND WILL CONTINUE TO REV UP TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5500 RPM AND REDLINE BEFORE IT SHIFTS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST YEAR. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME IT IS DRIVEN. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO SUBARU OF SANTA CRUZ IN THE PAST AND THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. WHEN THE 'CHECK ENGINE' AND 'AT OIL TEMP' LIGHTS CAME ON, WE TOOK IT TO SUBARU OF SANTA CRUZ. THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONCE REPLACED, THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS, BUT THEN BEGAN OCCURRING AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10041305

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2003

Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED, RESULTING IN NO RESTRAINT FOR CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10039981

Official recalls

01V216000 · 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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Outback problems

Subaru Outback transmission problems →Subaru Outback electrical problems →