1998 Jeep Wrangler vs 1998 Subaru Forester
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1998 Jeep Wrangler | 1998 Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 265 | 101 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 75 | 31 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 23 | 7 |
| Fire reports | 9 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–17 | 20–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 75,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Jeep Wrangler | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 53 | 14 |
| Electrical System | 58 | 6 |
| Power Train | 33 | 23 |
| Air Bags | 46 | 6 |
| Suspension | 26 | 17 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 15 |
| Structure | 25 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 40 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 19 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 8 | 0 |
| Water leaks | 8 | 0 |
| Stalling | 7 | 6 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 5 |
1998 Jeep Wrangler
1998 Subaru Forester
Compare all Jeep Wrangler vs Subaru Forester years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.