1998 Subaru Outback from North America - Comments

We have a 1999 Subaru Outback with 100,000 miles on it. About 500 miles back I noticed the temp gauge hit the red zone. I checked the coolant reservoir and it was empty. I thought it was my fault for not checking it very often. Soon we started smelling coolant. We didn't see any leaking on the floor on any vapor out the exhaust. Two days ago at 100,400 miles we brought it to the dealer. They believe it is the head gasket, but can't prove it. $4000 to repair it. We read on the internet about Subaru upping the warranty for this trouble to 8 years or 100,000 miles. We don't know what were going to just yet. If the dealer can't prove it Subaru might just say "tough". Until this we had almost no trouble with our car.

I have been a Subaru owner since 1990. In that year I purchased a 1981 Subaru GL Wagon, I loved it! I sold it with a reading of 143,000 miles on the odometer. Then, in 1993 I purchased a 1984 Subaru GL Wagon (new body style) and I loved it. As a matter of fact, I drove it till it had a 174,000 miles on the odometer and I sold it to a rural mail carrier in northwest Missouri. Amazing!!! Today I write as a disappointed and frustrated owner of a 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback. My woes began in the month of February in the state of Washington. My wife and I were driving along at low speeds when suddenly the temp gauge jumped to the red zone. Being a backyard mechanic I quickly concluded the thermostat was faulty. After a quick replacement of the thermostat we continued on our journey to Oregon and then the Redwood Forest. Again, the temperature gauge rushed to the red zone. In short, through the state of California and back to Colorado Springs I have added a 50/50 mixture of coolant to the radiator multiple times. The culprit, the dreaded 2.5 head gasket failure! Yes, the symptoms are the same as all others on this survey web site: 1) Unexplained loss of coolant, 2) Air bubbles in the radiator overflow bottle, 3) Pungent smell of exhaust in the overflow bottle, 4) Constant unavoidable exchange of coolant from the radiator to the overflow bottle, and last, but not least, 5) Constant addition of coolant to the radiator. The question is, should Subaru be responsible for a car that is almost 10 years old and has 147,000 miles on the odometer? I think not, however I do believe that Subaru owes it customers and apology, and a promise to return to their earlier engineering and production standards. If not, their future will not be as profitable as their past and it is possible they will not have a future.

Hi,

Another 1997 Outback, same story, mysterious overheating problems, no obvious cause, and absolutely no satisfaction from the dealer. We bought the car new, always babied it and had maintenance done, never abused it, barely ever drove it hard or fast. But we've had more little problems over the years, rear bearing replaced, alternator recall, dash lights out, and now 2500 for a head gasket job that may, or may not, solve the slow disappearance of our coolant problem.

I repaired this car (98 Outback) after an accident and then the head gaskets blew a month after getting it on the road. Don't think it is worth the repair, but it only has 95000 on it and is otherwise in good shape... should I have it done???

Oh boy!!

I've just found this. I have a 98 Outback that I bought a couple years ago. It now has 122K miles and has overheated twice in the past week. Lower hose is cold so I was sure of thermostat until I just got home and found this page. I'm going to change the thermostat anyway this eve and will report back in what I find. Will check on the reserve tank. I notice it is always full and coolant everywhere around the front of the car/radiator.

This is my fourth Subaru, this being the newest and only with 2.5.

2000 Outback- leaking oil from head gasket at 108,000 miles. Bad rotors too. Not such a good car.

I own two Subaru's and for 7 years I've been telling anyone who would hold still how great they are; baloney! Our 1997 Legacy Outback has been impeccably maintained, but head gasket failure has struck anyway. The car is not drivable and repair estimates are from $2000 to $3000, and that's only if the aluminum heads and block have not warped; no way to tell until the engine is disassembled. Potential repairs could exceed the market value of the car. The head gasket failure on Generation 1 EJ25 Subaru engines is a problem of epidemic proportions, for which Subaru of America refuses to accept responsibility, adding insult to injury. I vow never to buy another Subaru product.

Our '98 Outback had its first (hydraulic) clutch master cylinder replaced at 36,824 miles (dealer covered cost because I insisted they document complaints about weird noises on previous work orders starting back at 22,700 miles). Then on 4/24/07, the clutch pedal went to floor, indicating repeat of cylinder failure? Towed to shop where dealership replaced cylinder, test drove, then called to say clutch was shot, around $1800 for both repairs. Husband says this is the LAST Subaru for us.

Also in Feb 2003 noticed oil leak at 45,000 miles -- they replaced front crankshaft oil seal (around $335) but it turned out to be covered under 5 yr/50,000 mile warranty. Took until June to get reimbursement. However in April 2004 the cam seals were leaking and that was OUT of warranty (~$500). Next car will be Honda or Toyota.

I sure wish I would have done this research BEFORE purchasing my '99 Legacy Outback - seemed like a good buy with only 84K on it in July of '06. Well, it almost stranded us on a long trip to a family member's funeral last week. We thought it was the thermostat when it began to overheat - after a long and frustrating limp to our destination, and 2 unsuccessful thermostat changes, a Subie dealership very quickly diagnosed it (over the phone) as blown head gaskets - now I know why he was so quickly able to tell me what the problem was - we only made it home by gutting the original thermostat so that the water would flow freely through, and by frequently stopping and using a turkey baster to remove the water from the overflow tub and put it back into the radiator. It was a very long 650 miles to say the least. I was feeling bad that I had done something wrong to create this problem, but after finding this site I see I'm just one more sucker that bought into the previous Subaru good name. I don't feel there's any use in getting the expensive repair done because its apparent that the chances of it happening again are pretty good.

I asked about the repair history on the car and the gal had the water pump and oil pump replaced at 57K and master brake cylinder at 76K - seems to me that she dumped it off at 84K just be safe cause she likely knew what was ahead for her - smart gal! Pretty pathetic craftsmanship when you can't even make it 100k without major repairs.

Last Subaru for me and I'll be warning others!!!

99 Outback. Have done the thermostat, radiator and water pump deal, it overheated again today and I left it parked. My mechanic said the next step was the head gasket and they would have to pull the engine etc to the tune of $2000 or so.

Would it be better to buy a new engine? Or get the work done and try to sell the thing?

2002 Outback Wagon, 96K miles.

Noticed the coolant was slowly getting low over the past few months, but never had the temp. gauge go above normal. I just kept checking and refilling as needed (which wasn't all that often since I only drive about 300-500 miles per month).

This past weekend finally noticed coolant leaking on the ground after smelling the distant smell of burning coolant. Sure enough, the dreaded head gasket problem... minimum of $1,000... maybe more once he gets a better look inside.

I talked to two other Suby owners at work, and both also had the problem. Are there any owners who have NOT had this?...I wonder... my story is the same as the others... This was my first Suby and had planned to be a Subaru owner for life... after seeing this page, I will reconsider.

OK, I'm in. Car overheated and steaming coming into work one morning. Thought is was the big hose top left of radiator. Wrapped it with duct tape :) and got it to the car shop with needle banging on hot (I probably did more damage).

They put on new hose and flushed the cooling system. Took it home and after 10 minutes, the needle went to hot, coolant spilling out. Brought it back (on hot again!) and guy replaced radiator cap, said that was the problem. Took it home, after 15 minutes, it got hot and started spewing coolant again.

I was thinking thermostat, new cap, etc. but now it seems I am joining this list of head gasket woes.

Just my experience in case others experience the same.

Head gasket problems on a 2002 Outback with 121,000 miles. I had the mechanic change the timing belt, idlers, water pump, tensioner, etc. in addition to the head gaskets. Over $2500 in parts and labor. I was once a very proud owner of a Subaru - now I steer everyone I can clear of buying one.

If everyone who owns a Subaru and has had problems with the head gaskets like we have, tells all of their friends/relatives (and strangers, too!) not to buy a Subaru vehicle, we can be very effective in reducing Subaru's bottom line...

Shame on Subaru for not owning up to their design flaws, and extending the warranty mileage coverage on the engines in their vehicles! Engines in today's vehicles should last much longer without major repairs!

I own a 1998 Subaru outback limited edition and just had to replace the engine at 70,000 miles. This was supposed to be a good car, but after 4,375.00 for this car! I will never buy a Subaru again. I have all records of all services advised from Subaru! At 70,000 miles a engine should keep running, but not in this case! Just remember this, the Subaru dealership will not even care about the buyer or support of the cars they make!

Just to balance out all these comments, I suffered the head gasket problem on my old 97 legacy, but just bought a new 07 impreza wagon. Remember, the design problems were from 1996-2002 models. Another thing to remember, most of the cars commented here are over 100K miles. While today's engine should last well over 100K, once you reach that mileage/age, it's anything goes.

Subaru had a design flaw and they should have owed up to it. But it seems at least they have fixed the flaw in the newer models.