RoadVitals

1998 Subaru Legacy Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Sep 22, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 114 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 2005

KEY DIDN'T COME OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH. SHIFT LOCK CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10137350
Incident
Sep 21, 2005
Mileage
95,275 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 16, 2004

CONSUMER REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL REPAIRS EXPENSES FOR 1998 SUBARU LEGACY.*MR DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT HE VEHICLE'S STEERING CENTER DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. SINCE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES THE CONSUMER FEELS SUBARU SHOULD REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10089113
Incident
Jul 15, 2004
Mileage
37,546 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 11, 2003

AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY, 2003, BLOWN ENGINE IN A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5 GT. DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO COLD WEATHER IN THE NORTHEAST, AND THAT THERE WERE 4 OTHER SUBARU'S WITH BLOWN ENGINES IN HIS LOT AWAITING REPAIR. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED WITH A 1999 SUBARU AT A TRUSTED MECHANIC'S (AT A COST OF $4000), AND TODAY THE ALTERNATOR ON THIS 1999 ENGINE DIED ( THIS HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE '98 SUBARU'S). *JB

NHTSA ID
10021448
Incident
Feb 4, 2003
Mileage
78,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed Aug 20, 2001

BRAKE FAILED FOUR TIMES.

NHTSA ID
562557
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Jun 25, 2001

COMMENTS FROM THE DEALERS INVOICE: 671 MILES: CHECKED FOR OIL LEAK, FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM POWER STEERING RACK. REMOVED AND REINSTALLED RACK ASSEMBLY.671 MILES: I COMPLAINED ABOUT SMELL IN VENTS. ADVISED IT WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST. 944MILES: OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE DOWN ONTO EXHAUST. FOUND LEAK AT TOP OF ENGINE ON THE RIGHT SIDE NEAR REAR OIL GALLEY PLUG. DISASSEMBLE ENGINE COMPLETE DOWN TO SHORT BLOCK. REPLACE SHORT BLOCK AND ALL NECESSARY GASKETS AND SEALS. REASSEMBLE ENGINE. 944 MILES: I COMPLAINED ABOUT SMELL IN VENTS. THIS TIME TOLD IT WAS BURNING OIL GETTING INTO VENTS BEFORE ENGINE REPAIR.6195 MILES,03/27/98: COMPLAINED ABOUT SMELL IN VENTS. DASH ASSEMBLY DISASSEMBLED, CLEANED, REASSEMBLED. 7173 MILES: COMPLAINED ABOUT SMELL IN VENTS. WORKING WITH ZEXEL REP. ON A/C SYSTEM LOCATED LEAK AT EVAPORATOR COOLING UNIT. REMOVE AND REPLACE RECEIVER DRIER AND A/C COMPRESSOR. REASSEMBLE. 8009 MILES: I COMPLAINED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. TOLD POSSIBLE THAT FUEL TANK CAP WAS NOT ON TIGHT. 10185MILES 08/06/98: I COMPLAINED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL STAYS ON: FOUND REAR 0-2 SENSOR TO HAVE SLOW RESPONSE TIMES. REMOVE AND REINSTALL REAR 0-2 SENSOR. 8485 MILES COMPLAINED OF BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER HOOD. TOLD INNER AXLE BOOT LEAKING. INNER AXLE CV BOOT GREASE IN FRONT REPLACED. 29901MILES: RECALL CAMPAIGN WXQ74 MASTER CYLINDER. PERFORM WXQ-74 AND INSTALL LABEL. 39150 MILES: COMPLAINED ABOUT RATTLING NOISE FROM REAR AXLE. CHECKED REAR DIFFERENTIAL, HEARD PINION BEARING TO BE NOISY. REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WARRANTY EXPIRED. 45330 MILES: MY ALTENATOR FAILED. I WAS TOWED 15 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT A COST OF $140 DOLLARS, AND PAID 294.35 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPLACED. AT THE TIME I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON BOTH 1996 AND 1997 ALTENATORS BUT NOTHING ON THE 1998'S. LAST WEEK I GOT A LETTER FROM SUBARU INFORMING ME THAT SOME 1998'S MAY REQUIRE ALTENATOR REPLACEMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
747371
Incident
Jan 11, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jul 26, 2000

2ND SUBARU TO FAIL, BOTH UNDER 3 YRS OLD, UNDER 42K MILE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
726042
Incident
Feb 24, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jun 16, 2000

ALTERNATOR FAILED , CAUSING LOSS OF POWER IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC, COLLISION LUCKILY AVOIDED.*AK

NHTSA ID
724084
Incident
May 26, 2000
Electrical
Filed Feb 23, 2000

ALTERNATOR DIED WILL TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER

NHTSA ID
719114
Incident
Feb 21, 2000
Body & structureElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 17, 1998

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE AND TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.

NHTSA ID
539095
Incident
Aug 7, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .