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Problems · NHTSA complaints

1998 Subaru Legacy problems

Owners filed 116 complaints about the 1998 Subaru Legacy with NHTSA between Aug 1997 and Mar 2022. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (28).

Full 1998 Legacy research
Complaints
116
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  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
  10. Structure7
  11. Tires7
  12. Equipment6
  13. Visibility4
  14. Service brakes3

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19972
199810
199924
200017
200110
20028
20033
200411
20056
20066
20072
20084
20092
20104
20110
20122
20130
20140
20150
20160
20173
20181
20190
20200
20210
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

28 reports1 fire1 related recall
“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
More engine and engine cooling reportsRecall: Engine and engine cooling: engineGet this fixed

Power train

14 reports1 fire1 related recall
“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
Recall: Power train: gear position indication (prndl)Get this fixed

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
Get this fixed

Service brakes, hydraulic

10 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 1998 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was a delayed failure in the braking system. The contact notified the local dealer regarding the failure and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 99V040000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) for which the vehicle was included. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 307,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2022Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11458828
Recall: Service brakesGet this fixed

Vehicle speed control

10 reports3 crashes
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED IT TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2010Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10313562
Get this fixed

Fuel system, gasoline

8 reports
“FUEL (GASOLINE) FILLER NECK FOR THE 1998 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON RUSTS OUT BECAUSE THE TUBE IS BEHIND A PLASTIC MOLDING THAT ACCUMULATES DIRT, SALT, WATER, AND ROTS THE TUBING CAUSING A CHRONIC LEAK OF GASOLINE POTENTIALLY OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. RECALL AND REPAIR IS NEEDED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2010Fuel system, gasolineODI 10344688
Get this fixed
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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