1998 Subaru Forester Problems
Below Average Complaints
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1998 Subaru Forester. Part of Generation 1 — 1998–2002.
Complaints
138
Crashes
9
Fires
5
Injuries
9
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Subaru Forester Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#113 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:98,332 mi
Crash-related:3
#28 complaints
Tire Defects
Crash-related:1
#36 complaints
Visibility:Windshield
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Subaru Forester.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 13 | 3 | — | 98,332 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | 88,730 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 5 | — | — | 101,943 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Multiple Axle | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 2 | — | — | — |
Unintended Acceleration
13
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
98,332
Tire Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,730
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,943
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Multiple Axle
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Subaru Forester Years
1998 Subaru Forester — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Subaru Forester reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1998 Subaru Forester has 138 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 13 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Subaru Forester?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (13 complaints, avg 98,332 mi); Tire Defects (8 complaints); Visibility:Windshield (6 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Subaru Forester?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 97,030 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Subaru Forester include 9 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Subaru Forester as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Subaru Forester?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Subaru Forester reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Subaru Forester
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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