1998 Subaru Forester transmission problems
The 1998 Subaru Forester has 28 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 20% of the year's total, and the first year with meaningful reports in this category.
28
Transmission complaints
20%
Share of year
1
Crash-involved
0
Related recalls
Transmission complaints by year
What owners report
“YESTERDAY AFT. MY CAR DROVE ITSELF INTO A STORE WINDOW WITH ME AT THE WHEEL. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL DISASTER. I WAS ALREADY PARKED THERE, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT TOOK OFF WITHOUT MY TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. IN FACT, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME…”
Common questions
How many transmission complaints does the 1998 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the 1998 Subaru Forester transmission — 20% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Related
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.