JF1GF4854WH8025691998 SUBARU ImprezaOUTBACK
1998 SUBARU Impreza was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. There are 3 open recalls on record — verify these have been repaired before purchase. 46 owner complaints include 1 reported injury, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.
Executive Summary
1998 SUBARU Impreza
1998 SUBARU Impreza was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. There are 3 open recalls on record — verify these have been repaired before purchase. 46 owner complaints include 1 reported injury, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.
- 3 open recalls — verify these have been repaired before purchase
- 1 injury reported across 46 owner complaints
- Common owner-reported issues: overheating
- Electrical is flagged in both recalls and owner complaints — double-confirmed failure pattern
- Manufacturer delayed recall by 10.4 years after first complaints — pattern of slow response to known defects
46 owner complaints filed — top areas: Engine/Powertrain (37%), Suspension/Wheels (33%), Electrical (11%). Common issues: overheating. 1 crash reported.
Title Brand Check
Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
Vehicle Specifications
Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database
- Make
- SUBARU
- Model
- Impreza
- Year
- 1998
- Trim / Series
- OUTBACK
- Body Style
- Wagon
- Vehicle Type
- PASSENGER CAR
- Drive Type
- AWD/All-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 2.2L
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Doors
- 4
- Manufacturer
- SUBARU CORPORATION
- Assembly
- OTA, GUNMA, JAPAN
- GVWR
- Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Assembly Plant Quality
Plant: OTA, GUNMA
No specific quality data available for this plant. No documented recall or complaint concentrations on record.
Safety Intelligence
Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data
✓ No high-risk recall components found
- ⚠3 recalls on same component: Electrical
Lemon law eligibility depends on state law, number of repair attempts, and days out of service. Consult an attorney for actual eligibility.
The same components appear in both official NHTSA recalls and owner-filed complaints — a double-confirmed failure signal.
Deferred Failure Risk
Components and defects approaching or past their known service milestones
A snapped timing belt causes immediate, catastrophic engine damage — bent valves, destroyed pistons. No warning. Replace before the interval, not after.
Worn chain tensioners cause timing chain skip or snap — common on GM 5.3L/6.2L, Ford EcoBoost, VW/Audi EA888, BMW N47/N63. Listen for cold-start rattles.
Water pump failure causes rapid overheating. If the engine overheats even once, head gasket damage is likely — turning a $400 part into a $3,000+ repair.
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
On 4WD/AWD vehicles, neglected differential or transfer case fluid causes metal-on-metal wear. Replacement costs $1,500–$4,000.
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
Worn spark plugs cause misfires that can foul and crack catalytic converters. A $150 tune-up can prevent a $1,200 catalytic converter replacement.
Dirty or failing injectors cause rough idle, reduced fuel economy, and increased emissions. Cleaning costs $100–$200; replacement $800–$1,600.
NHTSA Safety Recalls
3 RECALLSNHTSA VIN-specific recall lookup returned no data for this VIN. The 3 recalls below are model-wide and may or may not apply to this exact vehicle depending on production date. Verify at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Average repair completion across 3 recalls is ~64%. Always ask the seller for dealer service records confirming each repair.
Statistical model based on recall age, component type, and manufacturer. Not a repair confirmation. Demand dealer service records.
SUBARU has an excellent recall completion rate (93%) — owners typically receive a remedy within 15 months.
Avg time to remedy open recall: ~15 months · Source: NHTSA Recall Completion Rate Reports
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SummaryK2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."Read full details...
~36% chance this recall was never fixed
Moderate RiskSource: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SummarySABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.Read full details...
~36% chance this recall was never fixed
Moderate RiskSource: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SummaryDOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.Read full details...
~36% chance this recall was never fixed
Moderate RiskSource: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type
Recall Intelligence
Detailed analysis of recall history and severity
⚠ One or more recalls have been open for over 5 years — may never have been repaired on this vehicle.
Manufacturer Recall Response Time
Time between first owner complaint and recall issuance
First complaint was filed 10.4 years before the recall was issued — manufacturer was aware of this issue for years before acting.
Complaint Intelligence
46 complaints analyzed across 7 system categories
46% of complaints filed in Jun & Sep — may indicate temperature-sensitive or weather-related failures.
Owner Complaints
HIGH VOLUME46 safety complaints filed with NHTSA
AIR BAG RECALL AND IMPENDING SUIT AGAINST AIR BAG COMPANY
98 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5RS. I HAD THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME . AROUND A YEAR AFTER THAT,THE CAR OVER HEATED AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT I WORKED AT AND HAD THEM TEST THE CAR TO SEE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AGAIN. THEY DETERMINED THIS BY TESTING FOR ANY EMISSIONS IN THE COOLANT. THERE WAS ALSO A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR(OIL)AS WELL. SUBARU WOULD NOT WARRANTY THERE ORIGINAL WORK SO THE CAR SAT FOR A BIT BEFORE I COULD AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN I SAVED UP SOME MONEY FOR THE REPAIR, I BROUGHT IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER TO HAVE THEM DO THE WORK ON IT. I WAS EXTREMELY UPSET WITH THE WORK THEY DID BUT GOT THE CAR BACK WITH A FUNCTIONAL ENGINE. NOT MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPEN(OVERHEAT). AGAIN, I PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY TO LIMIT ANY FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. AT THAT POINT, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME AND IT SAT FOR ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE THE BAD CHOICE TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. THIS TIME I SENT IT TO BOFFO AUTO REPAIR. THEY RECOMMENDED A NEW MOTOR BECAUSE THE LAST TIME THE "HEADS" HAD BEEN DONE, THEY MILLED THE HEADS SMOOTH AND NEW "HEADS" WERE NOT TO FAR OF THE PRICE OF A USED ENGINE. BOFFO FINALLY FOUND A USED ENGINE FOR MY CAR THAT APPARENTLY IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND. THE ENGINE HAD 32K ON IT AND WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN CHECKED OVER AS A SAFE,RELIABLE MOTOR. AFTER SPENDING OVER $4000 THIS TIME AROUND, I HAD A WORKING CAR AGAIN. THE CAR CAME BACK TO ME NOT EVEN 3 MONTHS AGO. THE ENGINE OVER HEATED "AGAIN" THE OTHER DAY AND AGAIN I HAVE A HEAD GASKET LEAK(OIL INTO THE COOLANT). I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG ONE ON THE 98 VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT THAT THEY ONLY MADE THAT MOTOR FOR THE MODEL YEAR 98 ONLY. WHY IS THIS? I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY A SUBARU EMPLOYEE BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I NEED YOUR HELP. I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY THIS MORNING AND WILL HAVE HIM GET IN TOUCH WITH SUBARU. *NM
HEAD GASKET FAILURE ENGINE OVERHEATED ON 16 HOUR TRIP.. TOOK TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THEY PUT IN A NEW "STARTER BOLT" STATED IT WAS A BAD GROUND?? ON RETURN HOME CAR OVER HEATED AGAIN.. WAS REPAIRED BY SUBARU, TECH SAID IT WAS COMMON. 2ND HEAD GASKET FAILURE, TWO MONTHS LATER, OIL IN ANTIFREEZE... DRIVING 55-65 MPH FOR 10 MIN IN 75-80F WEATHER, NOT UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. FEAR THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. CURRENT RECALL ON 99-01 MODELS FOR "COOLANT ADDITIVE". POOR HEAD GASKET DESIGN IS LEADING TO FAILURE... SEEMS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM ON 98'S (2.5RS DOHC EJ25 PHASE 1) *JB
INTERMITTENT FAILURE/SHORT OF POWER TO THE MAIN COMPUTER (ECU) AT APPOX. 120K MILES. CAR WOULD NOT START, NO CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK, IT STARTS AND RUNS FINE. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAYS NOTHING WRONG. TWO WEEKS LATER, SAME THING. HOOK UP OBD II MONITOR AND IT SAYS ECU RECIEVING "NO PWR." TOWED TO SHOP. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ECU AND REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, SAME SYMPTOMS (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, "NO PWR" ON OBD II MONITOR), BUT AN HOUR LATER CAR STARTED FINE AND OBD II SHOWED NO PROBLEMS. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG. HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK LATER, MECHANIC FINDS NOTHING. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT, FAILED AGAIN, WOULD NOT START AFTER MANY DAYS AND STILL SAYS "NO PWR." TOWED TO MECHANIC, AND ONCE IT GOT TO SHOP, STARTED FINE -- MOVEMENT DURING TOWING CAUSED POWER TO BE RESTORED TO ECU. THUS, IT'S A SHORT IN THE POWER PATH THAT RUNS THE ECU. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. MECHANIC DISMANTLED FUSEBOXES AND FINDS NO APPARENT SIGNS OF SHORT ANYWHERE. SAYS IT'S A "SUBARU BUG." COST TO DATE: APPOX. $2000, AND NOT YET FIXED.
THE ENGINE KEPT OVERHEATING AND AIR WOULD APPEAR IN THE RADIATOR. ANTIFREEZE WOULD BE PUSHED OUT OF RADIATOR AND THE HEATER WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. THE CAR HAD TO BE SHUT OFF REPEATEDLY AND ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN AND THE ANTIFREEZE REPLACED. A CHECK OF THE COOLING SYSTEM DETECTED NO LEAKS. WE WERE TOOK THE CAR TO A NUMBER OF GARAGES UNTIL FINALLY ONE GARAGE TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS MOST LIKELY CRACKED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3600. ACCORDING TO THE GARAGE, THEY HAVE REPLACED A NUMBER OF ENGINES FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, SPECIFICALLY ONE WITH THE DOHC.*AK
1998 SUBARU IMPREZA 53,000 MILES AND THE AUTO TECH AT SUBARU SAYS I HAVE A PISTON SLAP, $2500.00 TO PULL ENGINE AND CHECK THIS OUT. I HAVE CHANGED OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE 30,000 MILEAGE OVER ALL CHECK UP - WHAT IS UP WITH THIS MOTOR? *JB
THIS CAR NEEDED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AT SLIGHTLY OVER 67,000 MILES. NO OTHER SUBARU I HAVE OWNED OR HEARD OF NEEDED SUCH REPAIRS. MY PREVIOUS SUBARU HAD OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO DEFECTS. THE SHOP PERSONEL AT THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OTHER IMPREZAS, AS WELL AS FORESTERS. I WROTE A LETTER TO SUBARU AMERICA, AFTER SIX DAYS I HAVEN'T RECIEVED ANY RESPONSE. I INCLUDED A COPY OF MY REPAIR BILL AS WELL AS MY RENTAL CAR FEES.
ENGINE STALLS WHEN TRYING TO TAKE OFF AFTER STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE IS ALSO A RAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE UNTIL ITS BEEN RUNNING AWHILE. *JB
THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED PREMATURELY.*JB
TRANSFER CLUTCH ON THE POWERTRAIN OF MY 1998 SUBARU IMPREZA BUCKS AND BINDS IN TURNS, APPARENTLY DUE TO THE TRANSFER CLUTCH HANGING UP AND STAYING APPLIED. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST SINCE THE 50,000 MILE MARK AND CONTINUES TO DATE. DESPITE THIS PROBLEM FALLING UNDER SUBARU'S POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, TWO SEPARATE SUBARU DEALERS HAVE REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND INSTEAD HAVE "ADDED LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL ADDITIVE" TO THE DIFFERENTIAL-A FIX I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ANOTHER SUBARU DEALER IS NOT AN AUTHORIZED FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOW FACED WITH $900 IN REPAIR BILLS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED FOR 1997 SUBARU IMPREZAS (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER SB053575).
BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR BEARINGS ON THIS CAR FAILED BEFORE IT REACHED 60,000 MILES. NO INJURIES -- I'M CAREFUL AND HEARD THEM FAILING -- BUT REPAIRS WERE VERY EXPENSIVE. MR
THE WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. NLM
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. MECHANIC STATED THAT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM CONSTANTLY, AND HAD DEALER SERVICE VEHICLE ON SAME MALFUNCTION 9 TIMES.*AK
REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED TWICE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS A POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY QUIETLY SUPERSEEDED THE OLD BALL BEARING USED IN IMPREZAS AND FORESTERS WITH A NEW ROLLER BEARING FROM THE LEGACY. PLEASE SEE THIS URL FOR MORE INFO: HTTP://WWW.I-CLUB.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=110396&PERPAGE=25&PAGENUMBER=1. *AK
CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO A STRONG FUEL SMELL AND BURNING OIL COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE/ REPAIRED AN OIL LEAK, AND REPLACED PISTON GASKETS.SOMETIMES CONSUMER HAD TRIED TO START ENGINE, BUT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AT ALL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES.*JB
CONSUMER STATES THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES.*JB
THE FLYWHEEL IS INOPERATIVE.*JB
CONSUMER STATES THE SPEEDOMETER IS INOPERATIVE.*JB
CONSUMER STATES THE STARTER FAILED.*JB
CONSUMER STATES THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED TWICE.*JB
THE FIRST CLUTCH WENT BAD AT ABOUT 6500 MILES, DEALER SAID IT WAS DRIVER ERROR, REPLACED FOR 1300.00, 2ND CLUTCH WENT BAD ABOUT 14,000 MILES DEALER SAID WAS DRIVER FAILURE BUT HONORED WARRANTY AND REPLACED, DRIVER MODIFIES DRIVING HABITS THAT MAY BE CAUSING FAILURE, 3RD CLUTCH WENT BAD ABOUT 22,000 MILES WENT TO A PRIVATE SUBARU GARAGE AND THEY RPLACED IT WITH A OLDER MODEL CLUTCH , STATED THAT MANY LATE 90'S SUBAURUS ARE COMING IN FOR CLUTCH FAILURE, 4TH CLUTCH FAILED AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES,WHEEL BEARINGS IN REAR REPLACED AFTER A MINOR ACCIDENT INVOLVING A COLLISION WITH TIRE AND POLE, 2ND REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AFTER MECHANINC NOTICED REAR WHEEL NOISE ABOUT A YEAR 10,000 LATER, HUBCAPS FELL OFF REPEATEDLY, FINALLLY GAVE UP REPLACEING, STARTER WENT BAD, IT MADE A NOISE TOOK INTO GARAGE IMMEDIATELY, IT ALREADY HAD DAMAGED THE FLY WHEEL, BOTH REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, SPEEDOMTER FAILED REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CAN'T FIX PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL IS INOPERATIVE.*JB
THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD AT APPROX 51K MILES. THE REASON THE REPORT IS BEING FILED IS THE LARGE NUMBER OF LATE MODEL SUBARU WHEEL BEARING FAILURES I FOUND ON THE INTERNET. I READ MANY REPORTS OF FAILED REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON 1998 AND LATER SUBARU VEHICLES WHICH INCLUDED THE OUTBACK, FORESTER AND IMPREZA. SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS REPORTED HAVING THE SAME BEARING REPLACED TWO AND THREE TIMES. THE ALARMING PART IS MANY WERE REPLACED AT MILEAGES BELOW TWENTY THOUSAND MILES. I'M AFRAID I'M GOING TO HAVE OTHER BEARINGS GO OR THE SAME BEARING GO AGAIN.*AK
CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS FAILURES OF LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING, CONSUMER STATES VERY NOISY AND JUST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE QUITE VIOLENTLY, CAUSING SOME DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND MOVE TO EMERGENCY LANE. *JB
AIR BAG MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM
NOISE FROM REAR STRUTS. DEALER SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REPEATED WEAR/FAILURE OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY (29033, 44724, 54813, 58637) WHICH CAUSED NOISE IN THE REAR WHEEL ARER AND VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. NLM
THE PANEL NEAR THE GAS PEDAL FELL DOWN. NLM
REPEATED FAILURES OF LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY BEGINNING AT 29, 033 MILES. MOST RECENT REPAIR AT 58, 637 MILES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY, AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY , RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY, AND SEALS. RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH; SOME HANDLING PROBLEMS DURING FAILURE AT THIS SPEED. MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE STATES THAT SUBARU CORPORATE POLICY DOES NOT REIMBURSE CONSUMER/OPERATOR FOR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES -- RENTAL TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, TAXIS, AND SO FORTH -- AS A CONSEQUENCE OF BREAKDOWN. MY CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE IS LOW; I BELIEVE THAT THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED THROUGH EITHER MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND/OR WORKMANSHIP. WILL FORWARD FULL DOCUMENTATION OF INCIDENTS AND REPAIR HISTORY TO NHTSA VIA U.S. MAIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *AK
I BELIEVE THERE IS A SUB-STANDARD PART BEING USED IN SUBARU IMPREZA REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. BESIDES MY 2 FAILURES, I KNOW OF DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE IN MY CAR CLUB WITH SIMILAR REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURES. CURRENTLY THE FAILURES ARE BEING HANDLED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT AS THE CARS AGE, THE WHEEL BEARING FAILURES SEEM LIKELY TO CONTINUE AND WILL START TO GET EXPENSIVE.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
FAULTY REAR WHEEL BEARINGS MAKE NOISE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NLM
FAULTY REAR WHEEL BEARINGS MAKE NOISE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NLM
HEATED GREASE LEAKING FROM THE AXLES CAUSING DAMAGE. MJS
INTERIOR DOME LIGHT SHORTED OUT CAUSES LAMP FAILURE. MJS
BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED CAUSING GRINDING AND NOISE. MJS
SUNVISOR CAME LOOSE FROM DETERIORATION. MJS
INTERIOR CARGO COMPARTMENT CARPET/WEAK MATERIAL RESULTING IN TEARING. MJS
ASH TRY WILL NOT STAY CLOSED, REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MJS
FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY FAILED. MJS
WHEEL HUBS CONTINUALLY FALLING OFF OF VEHICLE. MJS
COVERS THAT PROTECT THE WIRING FOR THE REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE COMING OFF. MJS
FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, CAUSES TIRES TO WEAR. MJS
DESIGN OF SEAT BELT CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN CLIPPING ON, DUE TO BEING RECESSED, ALSO VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. *TT
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO THE REAR OF VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS TWISTED BACK TOWARD THE BACK SEAT AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NO DEPLOY.
Complaint & Reliability Timeline
Annual complaints (blue) vs. composite reliability score (amber) — recall years marked in red
The blue line shows 46 total NHTSA complaints filed over 10 years, with the worst year being 2001 (18 complaints).
The amber reliability line averaged 99/100 across the vehicle's life — relatively stable, with the lowest point of 91/100 in 1998.
The red dashed lines mark recall issuance — the first recall came 10 years after owners began filing complaints, a lag that indicates the manufacturer was slow to formally acknowledge these problems.
Red dots on the amber line flag 1998, a year when complaints included crash events — these are the highest-severity incidents in the dataset.
Legal & Regulatory Actions
Known class action lawsuits, settlements, and manufacturer extended warranty programs
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $50,614 (~$844/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Negotiation Ammunition
Use these data-backed findings to negotiate the price down
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Tailored for the 1998 SUBARU Impreza — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list
Recall Probability Forecast
Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals
5% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.
Maintenance Schedule
OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle
Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.
Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.
Auction History
Public sale records from Copart, IAAI, and auction aggregators
Searching Public Auction Records
Checking Copart, IAAI, BidFax, and other sources for JF1GF4854WH802569. Results appear automatically when found.
Insurance Cost Estimate
Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
State-Specific Legal Protections
What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Complete Data Table
All decoded fields in a single flattened view
Vehicle Identity
| VIN | JF1GF4854WH802569 |
| Model Year | 1998 |
| Make | SUBARU |
| Model | Impreza |
| Trim | OUTBACK |
| Vehicle Type | PASSENGER CAR |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Wagon |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | AWD/All-Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | Automatic |
Engine
| Displacement (L) | 2.2 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | SUBARU CORPORATION |
| Assembly City | OTA |
| Assembly Country | JAPAN |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | JF1 |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | 4 |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | W |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | H |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | 802569 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 3 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 46 |
VIN Structure Decode
ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number
Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 6/19/2026, 10:04:54 AM.