1998 Subaru Forester Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report driveline and chassis wear: repeated wheel bearing replacement, clutch chatter when cold, and automatic transmission problems. Brake complaints center on a pedal that can travel to the floor and on rotor pulsation, and a number of owners describe coolant loss and head gasket failures on the 2.5L engine. Many reports come in under 100,000 miles, and some symptoms appear cold-weather related.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Repeated wheel bearing noise and failure

   • 15 complaints (15%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2020

   Owners describe a growing grinding or humming noise from one corner of the car, most often the rear, that leads to a wheel bearing replacement. Several reports say the same bearing or axle has been replaced more than once, sometimes within a few years or a few tens of thousands of miles. Some dealers replaced the bearing and sometimes the axle or a control arm as well, while one owner reported being told the repeated failures were common. Others mention a diff vent that seeps fluid. Reported from roughly 30,000 miles upward, with several owners noting repeat replacements every 30,000 to 40,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive the car and listen for a rhythmic hum or grind that changes with speed or cornering. Ask for service records showing which bearings were replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 98 Forester had the right rear bearing changed 3 times by non dealer chain. Started making noise again. When I went to Subaru, the mechanic told me that it's common. He has been replacing them with legacy bearings and has not had any complaints. Also the vent on top of rear differential blows or sweats diff fluid out onto differential. Potential for freeze up of differential once all fluid is gone. Mechanic claims he would have to open differential and notch some metal guard in there to prevent this. This along with bearings-$600.”

   NHTSA complaint #10207577, filed 2007-10, 120,000 miles

   “Increasing grinding noise from rear of car; dealer inspected and found failing right real wheel bearing; repair found failed seal on axle; one control arm replaced along with axle and bearing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10242202, filed 2008-09, 84,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration or surging at low speed

   • 20 complaints (20%)
   • median 102,500 mi at 8.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2018

   Several owners describe the car lurching or accelerating on its own while parking, starting up, or shifting into reverse, sometimes with the brake applied. Others report hesitation at low rpm followed by a surge, with one owner citing a service bulletin on engine control module logic. Some complaints also mention cruise control dropping speed or disengaging. Reports appear from the late 1990s through the 2000s, with mileage ranging from under 100,000 to about 140,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask if the engine control module was updated and whether any throttle or cruise control work was done. During a test drive, check for hesitation around 2,000 to 3,000 rpm and any surge when idling in gear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Yesterday aft. My car drove itself into a store window with me at the wheel. Fortunately no one was hurt but it could have been a real disaster. I was already parked there, put the car in reverse and it took off without my touching the accelerator. In fact, my foot was on the brake the whole time (automatic transmission). My braking wouldn't stop it, so I managed to get it into a forward gear. Had I not, the car might well have driven further into the store and hurt the several shoppers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #749137, filed 2001-07

   “My 1998 Subaru Forester hesitates on acceleration in the low RPM range. Once over about 3000 RPM, it runs fine. According to a technical service bulletin released by Subaru in jan 1999, #11-53-98, this is caused by the engine control module incorrectly interpreting vibrations in the engine as skipping and readjusting the fuel flow rate. The fix requires installing an upgraded ECM--to the tune of well over $1000. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10064082, filed 2004-03, 98,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Clutch chatter and poor engagement when cold

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2003

   Owners of manual cars describe shuddering or chatter when letting out the clutch, most noticeable on the first start of the day and in cold weather, and it can make pulling away from a stop hesitant or cause a stall. Some report the pedal staying on the floor after being depressed, traced to a broken clutch pivot part. Complaints say dealers either could not duplicate the symptom or told owners the clutch was not covered. Noted from under 10,000 miles in one report, with many owners describing it within the first 30,000 miles, mostly in cold conditions.

   What to check: On a manual car, start it cold and try several slow starts from a stop; feel for shudder or a clutch that grabs only near the floor. Ask whether the clutch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The clutch does not engage properly when the engine is cold and for extended periods in cold weather. Clutch chatters making it difficult to start up from rest without hesitation and/or stalling. Potentially dangerous in traffic. Clutch seems not strong enough to handle the torque of the engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #725476, filed 2000-07

   “While at a stop light, consumer depressed the clutch pedal and it stayed on the floor, consumer was informed that a bolt in the transmissions clutch pivot ball that broke at the point that enters the transfer case.”

   NHTSA complaint #785747, filed 2001-10
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor; rotor pulsation

   • 19 complaints (19%)
   • median 59,997 mi at 6.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2004

   Several owners describe the brake pedal traveling all the way down with little or no braking effect, in some cases during a stop or after the car rolled, and one report links the condition to extremely cold weather. Others describe pulsing or vibration through the pedal and repeated rotor resurfacing rather than replacement. One owner reported ABS squeak. Reports span low and higher mileage, with one owner noting the pedal-to-floor event in very cold weather and rotor work done around 21,000 and 30,000 miles.

   Recall 99V0400001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test the brakes firmly from speed and feel for pulsation; press and hold the pedal to see whether it sinks. Ask whether the master cylinder campaign was completed and whether rotors were replaced or only resurfaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer was parking on an upgrade. Consumer stated that they put vehicle in park attempted to exit when vehicle began to roll backwards. Consumer applied brakes, pedal went to the floor. Which resulted in vehicle crossing a residential street and stopping in someones yard. Consumer feels this was very dangerous, someone could have been hit. Please provide any further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #10001063, filed 2002-12

   “Security system goes off when hazard lights are engaged/ABS brakes squeak. In addition, while pulling out of parking spot, vehicle lunged forward unexpectedly, and engine check light comes on.”

   NHTSA complaint #541483, filed 1998-09
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Coolant loss, overheating and head gasket failure

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 86,825 mi at 6.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2006

   Owners report periodic overheating, coolant boiling over and white steam from under the hood, with the cause identified as a failed head gasket on the 2.5L engine. One owner describes a cylinder wall crack that led to complete engine failure. Others mention snow and ice packing into the front grille and causing the cooling system to fail, and a thermostat replacement after a burning smell and poor heater performance. Typically reported between about 70,000 and 105,000 miles; the grille snow-packing report described only a few inches of snow.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue or oil in the overflow tank, and watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive. Ask whether the head gasket has been replaced and whether the timing belt shows rubbing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1. Engine failure due to a manufacturer's defect -- the cylinder walls are being bored into to place the engine bolts on the Subaru 2.5l engines. In this case the cylinder wall cracked through the entire section where it was substantially bored into on the number 1 cylinder causing the engine to fail completely. Each of the 4 cylinder walls on my vehicle were bored into to some degree. I have a 1998 Subaru Forester l. With 72,000 miles. There was never an indication of a problem prior to engine failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10078992, filed 2004-06, 72,000 miles

   “(1) noticed periodic overheating on 1998 Forester with 2.5l dohc engine. (2) head gasket failed temperature spiked and coolant boiled over, large amount of white steam from hood. (3) dealer said problem was head gasket and the engine was repaired for $1800, Subaru of america was notified and denied any problems with this year engine in spite of a large number of similiar head gasket.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096493, filed 2004-10, 100,150 miles

Buying note. This model year draws a wide range of age-related complaints, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on wheel bearings, brakes, clutch behavior and cooling system condition matters more than mileage alone. Ask for service records that show whether bearings, the clutch, or the head gasket have already been addressed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.