1998 Subaru Legacy Problems, Recalls & Reliability
155 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Subaru Legacy, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 58/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 105,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 1998 Subaru Legacy sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2004, 2007, 2021–2022.
Avoid
Where 1998 sits among all Legacy years
What owners report
“I am getting a loud slapping noise from the engine on cold starts it last for about ten to fifteen minutes or untill the engine warmes up,the dealer says that it is a piston slap and that is normal. I do not agree, when i first bought the car it did not have that noise ,and it is getting louder ,i…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Legacy
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 36 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 106,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 78,000 and 149,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
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…
Fix: 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…
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ALTERNATOR PROBLEM THAT CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR WITH A MODIFIED ALTERNATOR. OWNERS WILL ALSO BE CAUTIONED THAT, SHOULD THE ALTERNATOR TELLTALE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATE, THEY MUST SEEK IMMEDIATE REPAIR TO AVOID…
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THESE ENGINE OIL FILTERS.
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).
Technical service bulletins
26 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 1998 Subaru Legacy. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Legacy TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Subaru Legacy reliable?
The 1998 Subaru Legacy drew 155 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 58/100, scored against the model's worst year (1995).
What are the most common 1998 Subaru Legacy problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Subaru Legacy are engine (30 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (16), and brakes & stability (14).
At what mileage do 1998 Subaru Legacy problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Subaru Legacy problems around 106,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 78,000 and 149,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Subaru Legacy have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Subaru Legacy. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.