1.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
139,686 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Subaru Outback:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #2

May 172012

Outback 4-cyl

  • 180,420 miles
I was driving on interstate 90 in Idaho at 62 mph when the hood latch failed. The hood was secured down all the way before the incident and had not been opened in two weeks. There had been over 100 miles of highway driving over 60 mph since the hood was last opened. The hood flew up with no safety catch or hesitation and slammed into the windshield. The windshield was shattered, the hood bent and the roof dented. The rear view mirror flew off inside. I was able to get to the side of the road and the person following me on the interstate pulled over and helped me tie it down to be able to leave the scene. We both determined it was latch failure. It had the potential to cause a serious accident as my front vision was completely blocked.

- Harrison, ID, USA

problem #1

Jul 252009

Outback

  • 98,951 miles
Driving on highway ~60 mph. Hood latch released spontaneously. Hood flew back, shattering windshield. I started to lose control, as I couldn't see, but recovered and, peering through small area under hood was able to get off onto the shoulder before we got killed because of this unexpected defect.

- Cumberland, MD, USA