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Subaru DLYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 10 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on record for the Subaru DL.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints10Top: Seat beltsSafety recalls51980–1989 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Subaru DL years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the DL median. Tap a year for its full report.

'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1989Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1988Not rated–/1005 complaints · 2 recalls1987Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls1986Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1985Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1984Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1983Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Subaru DL problems

All model years combined: 10 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Seat belts41
Fuel system, gasoline30
Engine and engine cooling20
Vehicle speed control11
Power train10
Electrical system11
Suspension10
5 recalls

Subaru DL recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Front: buckle assembly95V-103 · 1988 · May 24, 1995 · 100,825 vehicles–Suspension: rear92V-001 · 1985–1987 · Dec 2, 1992 · 147,000 vehicles–Suspension: rear90V-086 · 1980–1986 · May 7, 1990 · 285,000 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline89V-103 · 1987 · Jun 23, 1989 · 57,000 vehicles–Seat belts88V-052 · 1988 · Apr 5, 1988 · 60,000 vehicles
4 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the DL

  1. SEAT BELT FAILUREDP96010 · 1988 · closed Oct 24, 1996
    No recall
  2. TRAILING ARM CORROSIONPE90055 · 1980–1985 · closed May 14, 1990
    Led to recall 90V-086
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE89122 · 1987 · closed Jun 29, 1989
    Led to recall 89V-103
  4. EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF MACPHERSON STRUT FRDP85023 · 1974 · closed May 30, 1985
    No recall