1998 Subaru Forester Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 1about this part
- Share
- 1%of 101 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 1 complaints about the seats of the 1998 Subaru Forester, 1% of the 101 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“1. Left air/heat vent non-functional. Air/heat is pushed out with almost no force, unlike right vent, which blows with significantly greater force. Brought this complaint to dealer who said he had the same problem with his car. Said it was design flaw, did nothing to address problem. 2. A spot of oil or grease-like substance appeared on rear left seat back. At first thought it was nothing, now stain has grown to cover almost a third of the entire seat back. The leak is obvious and growing, the seat back continuosly greasy and wet. …”
NHTSA complaint #712243, filed 1999-09Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 3 | 4% |
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0% |
| 2020 | 4 | 1% |
| 2019 | 4 | 0% |
| 2018 | 30 | 6% |
| 2017 | 34 | 6% |
| 2016 | 24 | 6% |
| 2015 | 22 | 4% |
| 2014 | 14 | 3% |
| 2012 | 2 | 2% |
| 2011 | 4 | 3% |
| 2010 | 76 | 29% |
| 2009 | 16 | 9% |
| 2008 | 2 | 4% |
| 2007 | 2 | 3% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 3 | 2% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
| 2000 | 2 | 3% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
| 1998 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1998 Subaru Forester
23 complaintsSuspension
17 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsTires
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology