Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Subaru Impreza
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Subaru Impreza has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 30 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 10 complaints
- Power Train 7 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 6 complaints
- Air Bags 3 complaints
- Electrical System 2 complaints
- Unknown or Other 2 complaints
Of the 30 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 30 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Subaru Impreza has a moderate number of complaints and three recall campaigns mainly related to aftermarket lighting. Complaints focus on suspension, power train, and engine issues, but the evidence is limited in scope.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | Unknown | $200–$1,000 | common |
| power train | Unknown | $500–$2,500 | occasional |
| engine | Unknown | $300–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Air filter replacement
- Battery replacement
- Timing belt service
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Suspension noise
- Transmission slipping
- Engine overheating
- Lighting issues
- Airbag warning light
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Subaru Impreza at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.