Sign inCreate free garage
Research · Compact Cars

1998 Subaru LegacyRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 116 owner complaints for the 1998 Subaru Legacy. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (28) and power train (14). The EPA rates it 20–24 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
20–24mpg
EPA · 10 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Jun 2001
Owner complaints
116
Top: engine and engine cooling
Fuel cost / yr
$2,600est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: coil springs

Free remedy

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.

SuspensionReported Jun 25, 2001NHTSA 01V216000

Electrical system: alternator

Free remedy

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 CHARGING CAPABILITY.

Electrical systemReported May 15, 2000NHTSA 00I002000

Service brakes

Free remedy

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.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Mar 3, 1999NHTSA 99V040000
See all 5 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

116 complaints filed with NHTSA · Aug 1997 – Mar 2022
  1. Engine and engine cooling28
  2. Power train14
  3. Air bags12
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic10
  5. Vehicle speed control10
  6. Fuel system, gasoline8
  7. Steering8
  8. Electrical system8
  9. Suspension7

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Legacy model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996129
1997143
1998116
199997
200094
200180
200258
2005184
200687
200733
200865
200965
2010150
2011167
201290
201366
201453
2015160
2016147
2017119
2018117
2019123
2020121
202131
202234
202310
202417
20256
Crashes reported
17
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
12
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine and engine cooling

28 reports1 fire
“IT SEEMS AFTER 5 MINUTES OF INVESTIGATION THAT THERE IS THOUSANDS OF 1997 TO 2002 SUBARU OWNERS WHO ARE HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH OVER HEATING AND HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. SUBARU REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AN ISSUE OR DESIGN FLAW AND IS MAKING THE CUSTOMER BARE THE COST OF REPAIRING A FAULTY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. EVEN REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET DOES NOT INSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE DEALT WITH AND NO FURTHER TROUBLE WILL BE HAD. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2008Engine and engine coolingODI 10228990

Power train

14 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THEN UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,025. UPDATED 05/31/17*LJ *AS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2017Power trainFire reportedODI 10965763

Air bags

12 reports9 crashes
“VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A FIRE HYDRANT. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE HYDRANT DID BREAK AWAY AS DESIGNED. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2010Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10359674
All 1998 Legacy problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

10 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engines
2.2L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Legacy
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212924$2,600370
Legacy Wagon
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212924$2,600370
Legacy AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202723$2,700386
Legacy AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202723$2,700386
Legacy Wagon AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202723$2,700386
Legacy Wagon AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202723$2,700386
Legacy AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192521$2,950423
Legacy Wagon AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192521$2,950423
Legacy AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182420$3,100444
Legacy Wagon AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182420$3,100444
  • Legacy
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    21 city · 29 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    21 city · 29 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    19 city · 25 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    19 city · 25 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy Wagon AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1998 Subaru Legacy as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 3892
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1998 Legacy questions

How many recalls does the 1998 Subaru Legacy have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1998 Subaru Legacy problems?

Owners filed 116 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (28), power train (14), air bags (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1998 Subaru Legacy get?

The EPA rates the 1998 Subaru Legacy at 20–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (10 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026