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1998 Subaru Outback repairs by problem area
Chart based on 46 repairs.
Chart based on 44 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
1998 Subaru Outback
Engine not specified
| Subaru in Washington, United States Apr 2009 - Jun 2011 | |||
| May 2009 100000 mi US $900 |
Failed R front CV joint | ||
| Sep 2009 101000 mi US $400 |
Replaced other CV joint. | ||
| Subaru in Illinois, United States Aug 2011 - Dec 2011 | |||
| Dec 2011 77000 mi |
When sold had slight oil leak that would need repair but not for awhile. | ||
| Subaru in Pennsylvania, United States Nov 2012 - Jun 2013 | |||
| Dec 2012 108000 mi US $1450 |
Replace intermediate exhaust pipe. Replace crank and cam seals. | ||
| Subaru in Maine, United States May 2015 - Jun 2015 | |||
| Jun 2015 159000 mi US $400 |
total engine failure. would turn over but not start. repair shop suggests that i not attempt to have the car repaired because of known reliability problems with 4 cam engine and mysterious breakdowns | ||
| Subaru in Oregon, United States Oct 2013 - Oct 2013 | |||
| Oct 2013 | Metal brake lines rusted out. | ||
1998 Subaru Outback 4-door
4-cylinder manual AWD
| Subaru in California, United States Feb 2011 - Apr 2011 | |||
| Apr 2011 124000 mi US $125 |
replace driver side headlight bucket | ||
| Subaru in Virginia, United States Jun 2011 - Nov 2021 | |||
| Jul 2011 96000 mi US $700 |
Timing belt jumped 2 teeth on cam drive cyl's 1&3. Replaced with belt kit,pulleys and hyd. tensioner. Front brake rotors and pads replaced also (worn) | ||
| Aug 2011 97000 mi US $255 |
During replacement of timing belt kit a cam drive bolt was loosened. The next day when the kit was installed, different tech didn't retorque that bolt. At dissy. insp., bolt retorqued and we made a GOOD 1600 mi. trip the next day. | ||
| Oct 2011 100000 mi US $220 |
Due to 2 previous dissy's of harmonic balancer for timing belt replacement, woodruff key was damaged and failed so that balancer/pulley spun on end of crankshft. Shop did weld repair, and replaced some new parts. I hope this is over. | ||
| Feb 2012 106000 mi US $118 |
valve cover gaskets - both had drips- both replaced with OEM kits from dealer. | ||
| Feb 2013 117000 mi US $140 |
CV joint had made some noise on right turns, garage looked at front while changing oil and spark plug wires. The rubber boot was torn. I believe CV was original to the car.Replaced with a lifetime wrnty. unit. | ||
| Jun 2013 119000 mi US $1775 |
curse of the Subi's of certain years and milage...the head gasket(s)- New "Felpro" gasket set -new timing belt/kit. Heads sent out to check for flatness and cracks (none), also oil change and fresh anti-freeze & lower radiator hose. | ||
| Nov 2017 170000 mi US $1600 |
Head gasket s and bad oil leak due to that | ||
| Subaru in Hawaii, United States Apr 2010 - Jun 2010 | |||
| May 2010 108000 mi US $1600 |
blown head gasket, took so long to repair because subaru has issued multiple replacement head gaskets and getting the right one, shipped to hawaii was costly and time consuming.argh. | ||
| Subaru in California, United States Mar 2010 - Jun 2011 |
| Subaru in Michigan, United States Jan 2009 - Aug 2012 | |||
| May 2009 132000 mi US $215 |
Front drive axle replaced due to worn CV joint | ||
| Jan 2010 142000 mi US $1000 |
Had clutch, ball joint and wheel bearing replaced | ||
| Aug 2010 140000 mi US $340 |
New rear rotors, pads, and passenger side caliper installed. Front rotors resurfaced. | ||
| Subaru in California, United States Jan 2009 - Mar 2009 | |||
| Feb 2009 88000 mi |
Blown head gasket. Cost estimate was "at least $1000." Online research shows this to be a common problem which can cost up to $3K to fix. Since car is worth about $3000, decided not to repair, but to instead buy new car and donate car to charity. | ||
| Subaru in Pennsylvania, United States Jan 2009 - Sep 2012 | |||
| Feb 2009 197000 mi US $270 |
Needed to have the mid-pipe replaced in the exhaust system. | ||
1998 Subaru Outback 4-door
4-cylinder automatic AWD
| Subaru in Ontario, Canada Jan 2009 - Aug 2009 | |||
| Mar 2009 170500 mi C $250 |
Rear struts. | ||
| Aug 2009 175460 mi |
Multiple problems when car sold. Head gasket... slippy transmission... exhaust | ||
| Subaru in California, United States Jun 2012 - Oct 2017 | |||
| Jul 2013 152000 mi US $20 |
Corroded clamps near starter | ||
| Subaru in New York, United States Jan 2009 - Oct 2012 | |||
| Sep 2010 167000 mi US $150 |
Exhaust pipe rusted out | ||
| Jan 2011 177000 mi US $200 |
replaced valve cover gaskets | ||
| Apr 2011 184000 mi US $700 |
Change AC compressor and dryer | ||
| Nov 2011 200000 mi US $500 |
Replaced front CV shafts | ||
| Jan 2012 206000 mi US $250 |
Needed new transmission mount | ||
| May 2012 215400 mi US $1700 |
Blown head gasket valve job new radiator | ||
| Subaru in New York, United States Jun 2011 - May 2012 | |||
| Apr 2012 83000 mi US $20 |
driver-side window switch (window would go down but not up) | ||
| Subaru in North Carolina, United States Feb 2010 - Jul 2018 | |||
| Aug 2011 216000 mi US $200 |
Purchased rebuilt engine several years ago. Had oil leak from the start. Finally leaking so bad, it had to be fixed. Found oil leaking from oil pump. Replaced O-Ring that had been crimped when engine rebuilt. Replaced timing belt as well. | ||
| Subaru in Arizona, United States Jan 2011 - Feb 2011 | |||
| Feb 2011 195000 mi US $8000 |
Blown head gasket, overheating, knock sensor | ||
| Subaru in Michigan, United States Jan 2010 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Feb 2010 168000 mi US $300 |
Both front wheel bearings replaced | ||
| Apr 2011 181000 mi US $80 |
CEL came on, code indicated problem with knock sensor. Replaced knock sensor. | ||
| Sep 2011 184000 mi US $1800 |
Tranny/Diff seal blown, replaced seal and other wear items in transmission during repair. | ||
| Jan 2013 180800 mi US $1200 |
Replaced Worn Struts | ||
| Feb 2013 200100 mi US $4200 |
Failure of connecting rod bearing, replaced engine with remanufactured engine. | ||
| Dec 2017 227000 mi US $1500 |
AC compressor seized, replaced. Chattering when turning under power, Front diff fluid and transmission fluid flushed and replaced | ||
| Subaru in Missouri, United States Apr 2009 - Jun 2011 | |||
| Apr 2010 96000 mi US $1576 |
Replace complete exhaust system. | ||
| Subaru in California, United States Jan 2009 - Mar 2010 | |||
| Feb 2009 106000 mi US $110 |
Rear window washer intermittently spraying on own but not in response to driver controls. The reservoir of washer fluid, which usually lasts 4-6 months, was emptied in less than 2 months. New part (pump?) ordered- not a plugged valve as was suspected. | ||
| Jun 2009 107000 mi US $2200 |
Brought car in for oil change (told that was what was "due" when I made the appointment) but told needed timing belt. Later called and said back brakes required service. | ||
1998 Subaru Outback 4-door
4-cylinder automatic 2WD
| Subaru in Oregon, United States Nov 2010 - Jul 2011 | |||
| Jul 2011 112000 mi US $330 |
starter was failing, replaced | ||
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