Does the 1998 Subaru Outback have any recalls?

2 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: suspension, power train. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.

How do I check if my 1998 Subaru Outback recall has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Subaru dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 1998 Subaru Outback?

127 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.

1998 Subaru Outback recalls

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

2 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026

For the 1998 Subaru Outback. These apply to the model and year, not to one particular vehicle: check your VIN to see whether yours is included and whether it has been repaired.

Has your Subaru been repaired?

Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.

Check your VIN with NHTSA

NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Subaru dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.

1998 Subaru Outback recalls, newest first

June 25, 2001NHTSA 01V216000180,000 vehicles potentially affected

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs

Summary: 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: 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.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

February 20, 1998NHTSA 98V04200019,386 vehicles potentially affected

Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)

Summary: 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: 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).

This recall on nhtsa.gov

Owner complaints

Owners have filed 127 complaints about the 1998 Subaru Outback with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public; NHTSA uses them to decide what to investigate.

Crashes reported: 9
Fires reported: 2
Injuries reported: 8
Deaths reported: 1

Most complained-about components

Engine and engine cooling › Engine18
Service brakes16
Engine and engine cooling11
Vehicle speed control11
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system7

Other 1998 Subaru models

Most recalled 1998 vehicles

1998 Honda Accord (19 recalls)
1998 Ford F-150 (18 recalls)
1998 Honda Civic (18 recalls)
1998 Dodge Ram (17 recalls)
1998 Blue Bird TC2000 (17 recalls)

All of 1998’s most recalled vehicles

Questions

Does the 1998 Subaru Outback have any recalls?: 2 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: suspension, power train. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.
How do I check if my 1998 Subaru Outback recall has been fixed?: Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Subaru dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 1998 Subaru Outback?: 127 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.