1998 Subaru Legacy GT from North America - Comments

Overheats randomly on the highway.

Replaced head gaskets at 105000

replaced radiator at 105500

replaced timing belts, water pump at 99000

replaced thermostat twice at 104000

replaced radiator cap at 99000

replaced clutch at 105000.

This car is great in the snow

the reliability is unacceptable

the overheating problem renders a good car undrivable.

My 1998 Subaru overheats at highway speeds after about one hour. I have replaced the head gaskets, radiator, timing belts, and radiator cap, not to mention the thermostat and water pump twice, and still am having this problem. I don’t trust it at all and have not been able to take it anywhere since March, partly because it has a new home at my mechanic’s, and partly because none of these repairs have fixed the problem. The only bright spot has been that the annoying gurgling sound in the heater core disappeared with the gasket repair. My friends tell me my car defines “lemon.” Like everyone else, I’m off to become a loyal Toyota fan. Goodbye Subaru, I was so hopeful you would be reliable.

I have owned 2 1995 Subaru Legacy wagons for a short period and both were annoyingly problematic cars around the same mileage as yours. Both cars burned through temperature sensors and oxygen sensors, which were surprisingly expensive parts considering what those parts cost for other vehicles. These cars are insanely uncomfortable and dangerously slow, especially the AWD, 2.2L, automatic equipped models.

I had a 2000 Legacy with the 2.5 with automatic from 68,000 kms til about 105,000kms and that's when things went wrong. I as well went through that "gurgling from the dash" phase. I also had to replace my rad cap. I started to smell coolant burning and eventually found that my head gasket didn't entirely fail as it was a pin hole exterior leak. I used a rad sealer and it took car of the leak, but I was always on edge of when it was going to actually fail and overheat. I love how the dealer's servic team act like its all new to them.

I really enjoyed the car, but ended up trading it in for something more reliable.

At 144,000+ miles my 1998 Suburu Legacy GT has never left me stranded, which is a good thing considering much "outback" and long distance driving. All major mechanical annoyances--main oil seal, two bad wheel bearings--were repaired early in its life, although not early enough to be covered by warranty.

For a wagon, the car has been extremely accommodating and comfortable, the 2.5 engine just peppy enough, and its looks still draw complements.

What brought me to this page though, was a search for comments and info re temperature issues. At 144k I'm not disappointed in this vehicle's performance, but I do want to get to the bottom of a sudden overheating issue, possibly facilitated by the 115 degree (F) temps over the last couple of weeks.

I have a 98 legacy gt sedan with 144000 miles and its never given me a problem. I bought it new and changed the oil myself every 2500 miles and nothing has ever gone wrong. I also have a 2002 outback limited that is having the same overheating problem on the highway after about an hour. still loyal for subaru though. my last 4 cars have been scoobies.

I use to have Jeep and a Ford Tarus that would randomly overheat and I tried everything under the sun as far as the cooling system. I finally replaced the fuel pump of all things and it worked. Even though every mechanic told me when an electric pump goes bad it just quits. Not true, the pump it self can overheat and slow down. This creates a very lean mixture of fuel and overheats the engine. This really made sense when it dawned on me that the problem got worse when I was low on fuel. I never had a problem since, ten years later.

I love my Subaru Impreza RS 2.5, but occasionally, when gas is at 1/4, the gas needle would drop rapidly. Usually on a hot day when driving it hard. The manual states keep gas above 1/4 full, but now that the car is 110,000+ miles, the frequency is increasing. The previous post taking about the gas pump might be the answer. Thanks for the tip. I can't complain about this as many parts are still original. Been a great car to drive for the last eight years. This is my third Subaru in 27 years!

I have been having this problem with my 98 Subaru Legacy Outback, and it seems as every one is having this problem. My question is how do you stop it? It's that annoying overheating problem. If I change my head gaskets, will it stop?

I have had 3 Subaru Legacy wagons, each from a different series - a 1990, a 2001, and, most recently, a 1997 GT. They all eventually had overheating problems which were immediately solved with a head gasket replacement at a local shop. I really love these cars in bad weather, and use the good towing capacity several times a year. This gasket problem is a real weakness, though. The local shop did have the heads machined at each replacement, which may be why they were successful when some here report they were not.

My 1997 legacy ran good for a long time, until 183000 km, then that was it the clucth went, then the head gasket and a bearing. so I looked up other problems people have, and its all the same. so now I will enjoy bring it to the auto wreckers and watch it be crushed.

I have a 2001 lawn ornament... I mean Legacy GT LTD Sedan. At 70,000 miles, the head gasket was changed (under the service bulletin campaign). Now, at 76000 miles, I have a useless motor due to the NEW head gasket failing causing the engine to overheat immediately and without warning. Temp gauge went from middle to pegged at the top in the blink of an eye. Now, I have a completely blown engine and the local Subaru Dealership won't admit that they did something wrong. Car overheated, the overflow cap got so pressurized from the pressure in the cylinder that it blew off and almost every drop of coolant was either on the ground, or under the hood on the fire mat. Either way, wasn't helping my engine at all!!! So, now I am fighting with the dealership to get them to cover what THEY broke.

Come to find out from my local mechanic (not at the dealership), the heads and block are so sensitive that there is only TWO ways to clean it properly without causing damage to them and voiding the warranty.

Let's go Subaru, I want to play and you're going to pay for leaving my family and I stranded over 200 miles from home!