1998 Subaru Outback from North America - Comments

My 97 Outback blew the head gasket last night 2 miles below Donner Pass. $430 to tow back to Reno, now I'm googling for what to do and realize everyone is in the same boat - suck up the $1500 repair and hope to get some mileage out of an old car (unfortunately I bought it only 1.5 years back! : () or ditch it and move on to something reliable.

Does anyone know how long repaired head gaskets last? Double the mileage I'm at (154k) or is it a problem that develops quickly due to other systems aging?

I've only googled for outback head gasket issues - is there something else major that I should be aware of?

I bought a 2000 Subaru Outback after hearing wonderful things about them friends. The car had high mileage 140,000 and I was told it was a baby.

A month after I got it, I noticed radiator fluid leaking, and smelling like exhaust and fluid when under pressure... I asked the mechanic at the dealer who said it was just a hose. At the same time, front end parts seemed to be clunking whenever I went over a bump. I had him replace the front end parts.

Two months later, I went over a small bump and a major piece of the front end completely came off and had to be re-welded.

A month later, the rear axle broke and had to be replaced. At that time the mechanic said he put more stop leak in the radiator to keep the head gasket from completely going.

A week after that the 4-wheel drive component in the transmission broke. Driving home from the shop, I noticed clicking in the front end when I turned either way. Apparently now my C-V joints were blown... I am up to 4500 in repairs... Do I fix the C-V joint or junk the car??? I know the head gasket is a ticking time bomb...

I will never recommend a Subaru to anyone! I am going to get a Toyota next time around!

Am interested in finding out whether or not a 2.2l subby motor will bolt up to the manual tranny of a 2.5l subby motor? Am trying to avoid the repeated 2.5l head gasket etal problems.

Hi all! Sorry to hear about the head gasket problems. I just put a deposit down on a 1997 Legacy Outback Limited with 150,000. The total price is $3500.00. I came home and found this site and am now scared to go ahead with the deal. The car is in immaculate physical shape and ran beautifully. Are there any people out there who have NOT had problems with head gasket?

Thanks in advance.

Marsha.

I hate Subaru and would never buy one or recommend to anyone... I have had nothing but trouble with my '99 Outback from gear box, engine knock, wheel bearings and stud axle. And now the thermostat, just too mention a few!! NEVER AGAIN!!

I have a 1998 Outback wagon with 153K that just blew a head gasket. Took great care of it. Garage kept, changed the oil religiously every 3K, serviced every 30K. Look where it got me. Quotes to fix run from $1500 to $3000. I think I'll give the thermagasket a try. If that does not work I'm getting a Honda. No more Subarus.

Headgasket issues were common for the '96 to '99 Legacy motors, but knock on wood, I've not had any trouble with my 98' Outback Limited 30th Anniversary and it's got 124k on it now. Gonna have the timing belt and water pump replaced as preventative maintenance. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in buying one.

Today, I join this elite subby-owner group with another blown h/d, my 1998 Outback, at 118k, too has popped the cherry... so much for Subaru reliability of "at least 200-300K miles"... those who advertise this should be held accountable for fraud, and as far as SUBARU goes ... SHAME ON YOU!!! dp/nj.

My 98 30th anniversary outback with 174K miles just started overheating. I was prepared to do the thermostat and the water pump until I read the stories on this board.I'm not sure what I am going to do. The AWD in the winter is a savior. However, I can't afford a new vehicle and I can't pay 2-3 grand for new head gaskets. More than likely, I will find another used AWD, but not a Subaru. Thanks for all of the comments. They saved me a little cash for the water pump and the thermostat. I jumped from 2007 until 2009 and missed out on if there was any type of organized action taking place. If someone could add a comment surrounding this topic, I would appreciate it.

I agree with all of the complaints re: head gasket problems.

I just had a head gasket job done at the tune of $3800 after a year of spending money on thermostats, coolant replacement, etc.; even had the 2000' recall service at the dealership.

Auto runs well now, but I still feel uncertain every time I see that gauge needle move up. This is an Outback with 110,000

miles on it, so much for the reliability of a Subaru.

Otherwise, the auto is terrific for Maine winter driving and the quality of handling is very good for a "station wagon".

Unfortunately, Subaru is more interested in gearing their vehicles to the young and hip crowd rather than keeping their promise for reliability. Hope these new purchasers have a hefty savings account for repairs.

I have a 99 Outback Legacy with 114K that I bought in Dec 08 at 102K.

My daily commute is at least 30 minutes each way at 60-80 mph, about 2000 miles a month and overheating never occurred unless I had.

I have an overheating problem that has started with 90+F days this summer.

1. New water pump done as old one popped its warning weep hole

2. No change in overheating, but no more leaks except from the overflow overfilling during overheats

3. New thermostat, no change (tested both thermostats on stove afterwards, both opened fine)

4. Removed thermostat, has been driving normally, without the slightest overheating issues, for a solid week.

I was ready to put my head in a vice, and replace the head gaskets after reading so many blogs on the net...

But I took it to a racing mechanic that I was lucky to know and had him check it out before all that grief.

Lucky thing too, a bad gasket would mean oil in the coolant, and/or coolant in the oil (little water bubbles on your dipstick),,.

Before anyone instantly condemns their gaskets really double check.

Saved me time, money, and pain.

Still don't know my problem, but maybe:

- Better thermostat

- Checking the return line to the heater core and throttle body (a loop in the coolant system that never reaches the radiator)

- Fixing a low idle speed?

Reference image of coolant system flow:

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/attachment.php?s=6e113482a48afb5264d2a6fb18c393e9&postid=158737

'98 Outback with 139,000 miles. Just started to randomly overheat on hot days and after hard driving. The coolant overflow is filled with dark stuff it did not have before. I'm checking the oil tonight. One question though, if the car is overheating, shouldn't the electric fans be buzzing the whole time?

It sounds like head gasket, the dark stuff is oil from your engine.

Good luck.

To naysayers: I am on my 2nd Subaru; 1st was an '86 that lasted to 165K miles. Current one is a '96 and has 204K miles and runs better than any I recently test drove at dealers up to the model year 2002.

Head gaskets go on all cars, period. One problem with Subarus is if your engine is a DOHC vs. SOHC. The '96-98, maybe '99 have DOHC. These are bigger/better engines except they are double the cost to repair than the SOHC. I highly recommend these cars, but if you're buying a used one, especially one with 100K miles or more, you need to know how the previous owner (s) took care of it. Religious oil changes are key and I use synthetic in mine and have it tuned up every 30K miles without fail. I bought it in 2001 with 83K.

I'm about to buy another, a 98 30th anniversary edition that already had the gaskets done. By the way the oil/coolant mixture is often referred to as a "milkshake". Watch out for scumbag mechanics who pour oil in your coolant overflow tank and try to convince you to spend money needlessly. Almost happened to me back at 130K miles. I told him to kiss off and haven't had a problem with it.

I am based in Australia and purchased a 1999 Subaru Outback 2.5L in 2003 with 63,000km. At about 175,000km started overheating. Noticed water was down and topped it up. From then on, needed topping up every few weeks. Thought we had a radiator issue. Had it serviced a few weeks ago and the mechanic advised we had an issue with our heads and that it was leaking out, not in, which wasn't too bad (not good either!). Suggested we monitor it, as it would need to be dealt with soon. Was hoping to get it through to the 200,000km service when the timing belt needed to be replaced.

After the service, radiator needed topping up every two days. Yesterday, it overheated and the radiator didn't need topping up. Mechanic has advised that the block is warped and there is nothing to do but replace the engine. AU$8,000. The car isn't worth that much, and worth less now as there isn't even a working engine.