1998 Subaru Forester

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

74/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Subaru Forester, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	18	16%
Suspension	14	13%
Service brakes	13	12%
Engine and engine cooling	11	10%
Vehicle speed control	9	8%
Tires	9	8%
Visibility	5	4%
Air bags	4	4%
Seat belts	2	2%
Electrical system	2	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

1. WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE CONSISTENTLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT STARTING 4 YEARS AFTER CAR PURCHASED NEW. AT 450.00 TO 500.00 EACH TIME. THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUES AND SUBARU NEEDS TO PAY OF EACH REPLACEMENT. 2. FUEL LINE LEAK. TH
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO REV DOWN. AN INDEPENDENT M
NHTSA complaint: Engine

WHEN AT THE GAS STATIONS I TRY TO PUT GAS INTO MY CAR, IT IS NOT GOING INTO THE TANK PROPERLY, IT KEEPS SHUTTING THE GAS NOZZLE OFF WITHIN SECONDS. VERY HARD TO PUT GAS INTO MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

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. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

MY '98 SUBARU FORESTER IS EXPERIENCING REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AGAIN. THESE BEARINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND FAIL OFTEN, FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE WEB. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

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 AN
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

MY 1998 SUBARA FORESTER WENT INTO A "SUDDEN ACCELERATION". LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS KILLED, BUT THE CAR SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

1998 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE IT WAS ON FIRE. *MC THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE KNOCK SENSOR 30 DAYS PRIOR. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 Subaru Forester. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Service brakes 99V040000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.

Risk: THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	85	excellent
Longevity est.	83	excellent
Maintenance	73	good
Depreciation	74	good
Performance	60	average
Efficiency	40	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 45% of other
Longevity: better than 85% of other
Running costs: better than 50% of other
Value retention: better than 77% of other

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 85: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 83: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1998 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 73: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1998 Subaru Forester?

Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 18 of them (16%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1998 Subaru Forester reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1998 Subaru Forester last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1998 Subaru Forester?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.