1998 Subaru Outback from North America - Comments

I can't believe you guys and girls are complaining! I have a 2002 dodge with 83,000 miles and have did more work in the three years that I have owned it than any of you guys can think about. 10 YEARS, I can't even dream of my truck lasting that long. Now if I want to get one of these things, used of course since they last so long, which ones should I avoid?

I believe the design flaw was from 1997-2002 models. But you are right, most people complaining about the head gasket failures have 100K+ on their Subarus, granted there are a good number with less than 100K miles with problems also.

I have read all your comments and can certainly relate. I own a 2004 Forester XT with only 70,000 miles and just found out today that I need a new head gasket. I am out of warranty and fall beyond the recall. Dealer is saying it'll cost $3200 to fix. What recourse do I have? This should just not happen. I have loved my Subaru up until this point. Was even contemplating getting another one this fall. No way now, not ever.

We have a very pampered 2000 Outback in the shop right now with the blown head gasket nightmare and it only has 30,000 odd miles on it!..and we did the coolant additive bit too! Supposedly the leaks took out the injectors and plugs which now need to be replaced, and now the timing chain needs to be yanked and replaced with a total estimate of $4,000! Now after reading this we don't know what to do with this thing... wait for the head gasket on the other side to blow out? I can't see sticking four grand in a car then immediately going out and getting another car for fear that it is going to happen again, but after reading all of these posting we are completely frustrated... our income is limited and times are tight with one of us on disability. Subaru's used to be bullet proof and good for hundreds of thousands of miles. Apparently no longer. This just stinks since the expectation in getting this car when it was NEW was it would be around for a long long time...ugh. Subaru of America will be hearing from us, but that may just be an exercise in frustration.

For the last two years I've been the "proud owner" of a 98 Subaru Impreza wagon--bought it with just 45K on it. It's been a great little car--lots of room for hauling stuff, great handling, fun to drive.

About four months ago, random overheating caused a radiator replacement. A month back, suddenly my coolant resevoir was empty, and I've been driving around with jugs of antifreeze ever since: it has to be refilled at least every other day.

At my last oil change they found coolant leaking down past the oil pan, and when I took it in, the first thing the mechanic said was: "Hope it's not a head gasket."

Now reading this makes me feel better and worse--better to know it's a common problem, and worse to know what the problem may be. Waiting for call back from mechanic now. Wish me luck!

Thanks for all the info on Subaru head gasket problems. Add another 1998 Legacy Outback to the list (85K miles).

I just searched the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) web site, and don't see very many of these reported to the Feds, and on the very public domain.

Remember the TREAD Act? Firestone tires and all that? This is your chance to record the facts so the stats DO add up. Go to the NHTSA web site and enter the component of ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/Consumer.cfm

This is a secure web site and you can keep your information private.

I just purchased a used 2007 Forester (2.5L) with 6200 miles on it. It had been a rental for 6 months. After I got it home I saw oil pooling on top of the driver side engine block. I took it back and the dealer diagnosed a blown head gasket. The entire service dept staff seemed very surprised to find this problem on a 2007. It is being repaired under warranty, and the dealer gave me a free loaner. Still a pain in the neck though and it kind of makes me wonder about Subaru's reported reliability.

I own a 1998 Legacy Outback. I have had it since 90k miles, it now has 145k. I have loved the way this car has performed. However, after spending $1100 to have the timing belt and 90k maintenance done, I have had the following issues:

Leaking oil seals all over the engine with smoking ($700)

Blown spindle on the left front wheel ($500)

Blown thermostat ($200)

Blown bearings and hub on left front wheel ($500)

^^^ problem reoccurred six months later in SAME wheel, haven't fixed it yet and thank God, because:

Just today, I get the random overheating problem while I'm in the middle of f'n nowhere. Towed 40 miles to a shop, they think its the head gasket. Anyone want a subie for parts, cheap?

I was a Toyota man before, and never again will I stray from the path. Now that I read all the posts in this forum all I can say is "Up yours, Subaru!"

These cash cows are as bad as VW's.

After reading page after page of basically the same issue of blown head gaskets on a small range of years of Subaru engines, I think the one that makes the most sense is the one dated July 24th regarding filing a complaint with the NHTSA. Our car is a 97 Subaru Legacy with 80K + miles. We're having the same issue with overheating, blown head gaskets and the dealer from which we bought the car wanting to charge over $3000 to fix it. This is not the only site listing the same problem with these cars. Please take a minute to submit a complaint to the NHTSA via email or phone call.

Https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/Consumer.cfm.

Unhappy Subaru owner in SF Bay Area.

Thank you people for your comments. I'm glad I found this site. I was about to buy a 1998 Outback for 5300, from a friend of a friend. I was already warned that it would over heat going up the mountains where I live. I'm assuming this is a precursor to a blown head gasket leaving me broke and without transportation.

I've decided to get a used Toyota Camry instead.

I own an auto repair shop in Belvidere, NJ. I had a Subaru in my shop with a strange over heating problem, just like many of you described. Doing some research I found this helpful site and determined we had the 2.5 L head gasket failure. Repaired my customers car and added a comment on December 7, 2006. Since then I have had about 6 or 8 calls asking for advice. Two of them were not that far away and came in and had me repair their vehicles. None of them had warped heads or blocks, like I see many of you had. Their cars are running great and I made some new customers. Please see my original post in column 31--45. I can repair your over heating problems at a very reasonable cost.

Marshall'S Garage LLC

635 Water St

Belvidere, NJ 07823

(908) 475-1509.

Thank god I found this website. My '96 Acura Integra LS has 450K kms and still going so my GF and I thought it be best to start looking for another car just in case. Not surprisingly the Integra is now consuming oil and I have a coolant leak that comes and goes. I can't complain since I put 350K on it since I got it used in 1999, original motor and tranny. We saw a good deal on a '98 Subaru Legacy wagon w/250K kms in the local Kijiji advertised as just needing a new head gasket. All the major stuff was recently done (timing belt, water pump, rad hoses, master cyl) but after reading all these horror stories that still seem to come back after the inital fix we're probably going to look at something else. I've always been a fan of Subaru but with these problems, maybe we should look at 2003 and newer after the design flaws were worked out. Besides, who really wants to deal with a re-ocurring head gasket problem anyways.

More Head Gasket Problems: Ours is a 2001 Subaru Forester that has been serviced on schedule over its lifetime by the dealership. In spite of them adding the "preventative" special coolant per the recall notice, it started overheating and apparently requires replacement of the head gaskets. Naturally, it has 112,000 miles on it, thus failing to meet the 100,000 extended warranty limitation. Obviously, the "special coolant" is NOT going to prevent the problem in the near term, let along the long run.

As I sit here reading hundreds of Subaru head gasket nightmare stories, my 2003 Outback with 65,000 miles is sitting at the dealership leaking coolant on their shop floor via its blown head gasket. I have called SubaruAmerica and started the process to get the company to contribute "in goodwill" toward the repairs. Given all the background on bad head gaskets, I'm not hopeful that the Corp. will give me a penny. Presently I'm driving my 1994 Toyota Corolla wagon with 240,000 miles and original head gasket...

Obviously by reading the complaints on this board, not many of you have owned american made cars. I have a 98 Outback limited that is awesome. If you could make it to 100K in an Astro Van or another all wheel drive american made vehicle, you probably would have spent at least $1500-$2500 on brakes and rotors, and all the other things that go wrong on an american made vehicle with over 30K miles on it. It sucks that the gaskets go, but if you make it to 90K and want to keep the car, be proactive and have them done before it blows. I still love my Subaru even though I know I'll will be replacing the head gaskets some day.