1998 Subaru Legacy: engine overheating

Filed Jul 24, 2007 · Engine · 85,000 miles · CA

1 x overheated on a hot day, heading up a hill. Noticed high temp and turned on heater, waited for car to cool, added h2o. 2 months later, driving on a hot day with AC on, sudden clicking, check engine light, lost power, smoke, stopped. Towed to garage that specializes in subaru and they found hole in head gasket. Repairs to cost $3k and this is something they see 2x a week with subaru vehicles. Found a web site where dozens of people complain of the same issue over the years. Subaru apparently has a recall on 1999-2002 vehicles, but not others with the same issue. Subaru should be paying for the parts on this widespread and known issue!

Filed Dec 14, 2006 · Engine · 144,000 miles · WA

My 98 subaru legacy outback 2.5 liter, 144k miles was sporadically overheating while driving on the highway through a snow/rain storm. The temperature gauge would go up, and the cabin heater would start producing cool air. I pulled over and let it cool down, filled the radiator back up with water (it had overflowed) and drove slowly home. When I took it to the mechanic, he suggested when hearing the symptoms that it was a blown head gasket, and that this subaru engine was notorious for this. He even suggested a class action suit. After he checked it out, it was indeed a blown head gasket. After some web research on car forums, I found several other people with exactly the same problem with this particular engine.

Filed Jul 4, 2005 · Engine · 150,000 miles · WV

Car overheated, took to dealership. Called next day and informed the head gasket was blown. After discussing, they said they had to replace both head gaskets. Knowing about cars, this seemed strange to me that both were blown at same time - it was at this time that dealership pointed out to me that subaru is having problems with head gaskets and that this is not an ususual problem. Replacement cost was $2200.

Filed Apr 20, 2004 · Engine · 108,000 miles · NY

Coolant leaked from the engine head gasket. The consumer took the vehicle to dealer, and they replaced the gasket head/gas, and holes. *ak

Filed Oct 10, 2001 · NY

A tire went flat, so consumer put on spare, this resulted in damage to the rear differential and transfer case, these parts overheated and had to be quickly hosed down with water to prevent a fire, in the owners manual it states that the all wheel drive system needs to be disengaged if a spare tire is ever used, however consumer did not notice these special instructions and feels this damage would not have occurred if a warning sticker would have been on the spare tire, consumer is requesting reimbursement.