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Subaru GLYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 78 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on record for the Subaru GL.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints78Top: Seat beltsSafety recalls51980–1993 model years

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

Best & worst years

Subaru GL 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 GL median. Tap a year for its full report.

'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'93
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1993Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1989Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls1988Not rated–/10017 complaints · 2 recalls1987Not rated–/10017 complaints · 2 recalls1986Not rated–/10014 complaints · 2 recalls1985Not rated–/1007 complaints · 2 recalls1984Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall1983Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Subaru GL problems

All model years combined: 78 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 belts264
Suspension150
Engine and engine cooling123
Structure70
Power train70
Vehicle speed control54
Service brakes, hydraulic40
Electrical system30
Wheels30
5 other systems71
5 recalls

Subaru GL 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
5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the GL

  1. TRAILING ARM CORROSIONPE90055 · 1980–1985 · closed May 14, 1990
    Led to recall 90V-086
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE89122 · 1987 · closed Jun 29, 1989
    Led to recall 89V-103
  3. OIL LEAKSPE89004 · 1984 · closed Jan 30, 1989
    No recall
  4. SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILSEA88014 · 1985 · closed Jun 29, 1990
    No recall
  5. SEAT BELT RETRACTORSPE87049 · 1985 · closed Jan 7, 1988
    No recall