The 1998 Subaru Legacy has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 441,679 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION01V2160002001-06-25180,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE…
Consequence
DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC99V0400001999-03-03221,987 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V1270001998-06-0820,306 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, ALSO SERVICE PARTS SUPPLIED TO SUBARU DEALERS ARE INVOLVED (LOT NUMBERS F01 J21D2, F01 J30D2, F02 J09D1, F02 J09D2, AND F02 J20D1). THE PUROLATOR OIL FILTER CANS USED ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE CAUSING A VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.
Consequence
THIS VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY CAN RESULT IN OIL VAPOR IGNITION BY THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THESE ENGINE OIL FILTERS.
POWER TRAIN98V0420001998-02-2019,386 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. DUE TO POOR WELDS, IGNITION KEYS CAN STICK, SHIFT LEVERS/LINKAGES CAN BREAK AND SHIFT LEVERS CAN MOVE.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
15
1fires
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
8
8crashes4injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
2crashes3injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
5
3crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
4
Total complaints155
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“June 26 2017 I went to have my front brake pads replaced, because they felt spongy and difficult to stop the vehicle. The mechanic told me I needed to replace the brake pads, rotors, and outer tie rods on both ends. All these parts were dangerously worn preexisting conditions before I purchased…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 subaru legacy. While the brake pedal was depressed, the contact stated that the brake pedal felt spongy. The contact heard a rattling noise but could not determine the origin. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 subaru legacy. While the brake pedal was depressed, the contact stated that the brake pedal felt spongy. The contact heard a rattling noise but could not determine the origin. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…”
“The weld that attached the front right strut assembly to the body completely failed. The wheel collapsed into the wheel well. This happened while I beginning to make a right turn. The vehicle was not moving more than 3-4 mph. For some months before the weld failed there was vibration during…”
“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…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 subaru legacy. The contact stated that while he inspected the vehicle, he noticed that the rear brake lines were corroded due to defective steel metal. The contact believed that if the vehicle was equipped with brake master cylinders for the rear and front, the vehicle…”
“Cpsc#i1220374a. 1998 legacy subaru. Consumer stated the air bags failed to deploy in a frontal collision. *ln”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Subaru Legacy as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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