14.7% of complaints about the 1998 Subaru Outback came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1998 vehicle — around the middle of the 180 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine cooling (44 complaints), typically at 6.2 yr or about 94,700 miles.
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 ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
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.
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.
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
CONSUMER HAD SOME PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL. LATER, CONSUMER WAS ON HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65MPH, SLOWING DOWN AND STEERING STARTED TO SHAKE. THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE, AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY FOUND A BROKEN AXLE. BOTH BOOTS ON SIDE OF THE AXLE WERE NOT DAMAGED SO THE REASON OF AXLE BREAKING WAS UNKNOWN. *AK
THE INNER AXLE BOOT IS LEAKING AND NEEDS A DIFFERENT GREASE WHICH THE SERVICE BULLETIN SAYS TO REPLACE IT WITH BUT THE GREASE IS ON BACK ORDER, THE REAR PINION BEARING IS NOISY AND CAN BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH. NLM
THE INNER AXLE BOOT IS LEAKING AND NEEDS A DIFFERENT GREASE WHICH THE SERVICE BULLETIN SAYS TO REPLACE IT WITH BUT THE GREASE IS ON BACK ORDER, THE REAR PINION BEARING IS NOISY AND CAN BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH. NLM
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH EXHAUST PUMPS. WHE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED UP, CONSUMERT CAN SMELL A SULPHUR SMELL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK