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U.S. public vehicle records

1987 Subaru GL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

11 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

125,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 11 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation19.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
Electrical System:Ignition
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline2
Electrical System:Ignition1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys1
Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter1

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 1; Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
7
1996
3
2004
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19957
19963
20041

1995: 7; 1996: 3; 2004: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 980568 · 1996-03-12 (March 12, 1996)

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT, THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT COUGHT FIRE, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980568 at NHTSA ↗