Subaru GL complaints by model year
78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1987 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1986 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1985 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1981–1993. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1993 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Subaru GL recalls (5)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one GL model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95V103006 | May 24, 1995 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES | 1988 | — |
| 92V001000 | Dec 2, 1992 | SUSPENSION:SINGLE AXLE:REAR | 1985, 1986, 1987 | — |
| 90V086000 | May 7, 1990 | SUSPENSION:SINGLE AXLE:REAR | 1981–1986 | — |
| 89V103000 | Jun 23, 1989 | FUEL:FUEL SYSTEMS | 1987 | — |
| 88V052000 | Apr 5, 1988 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:SEAT BELT INSTRUCTIONS | 1988 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Where to next
Subaru GL FAQ
How many recalls has the Subaru GL had?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns that cover at least one Subaru GL model year from 1981 to 1993. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Subaru GL year has the most complaints?
Among the last 10 model years with settled counts, the 1988 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (17) and the 1993 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Subaru GL problems?
Across the 1981–1993 model years, owners most often name the seat belts, suspension, engine and engine cooling in complaints filed with NHTSA.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.