Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Subaru Legacy
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Subaru Legacy has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 114 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #01V216000 SUBARU/FRONT COIL SPRINGS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00I002000 SUBARU/ALTERNATOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V040000 SUBARU/COLD WEATHER/ABS MASTER CYLINDER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V127000 SUBARU/PUROLATOR OIL FILTERS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V042000 SUBARU/AUTO TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 28 complaints
- Power Train 14 complaints
- Air Bags 11 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 10 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 10 complaints
- Electrical System 8 complaints
Of the 114 complaints on file, 17 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 114 complaints, owners report 12 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Subaru Legacy struggles with reliability issues, evidenced by numerous recalls and complaints. Common failures include engine, alternator, and suspension issues, which are relatively costly to repair, making ownership expensive over time.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 90,000–120,000 miles | $1,000–$3,000 | very common |
| Alternator | 80,000–110,000 miles | $300–$700 | common |
| Front Coil Springs | 70,000–100,000 miles | $400–$900 | common |
| Master Cylinder | 100,000–130,000 miles | $200–$450 | occasional |
| Transmission | 90,000–120,000 miles | $1,200–$3,500 | 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 change every 3,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Coolant flush every 30,000 miles
- Replace timing belt every 60,000 miles
- Transmission flush every 50,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine overheating frequently
- Sticking ignition key
- Brake pedal goes to the floor
- Shift lever feels loose
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Subaru Legacy at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.