Subaru GL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
142,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1980 to 1989 model years. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 55 complaints (23.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.6% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 13 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 3 |
| Suspension:Rear | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 13; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Structure:Frame And Members: 3; Suspension:Rear: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
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: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 53 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 40 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 40; 1996: 11; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. 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 965225 · 1995-05-12 (May 12, 1995)
W/MANUAL TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES UNWANTED ACCELERATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 982565 · 1996-04-10 (April 10, 1996)
FAILURE ON THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELEARATED CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 985184 · 1996-06-03 (June 3, 1996)
UPON PRESSING THE PEDAL BEEPING NOISE OCCURS DUE TO POWDER BUILD UP ON BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 754518 · 2001-11-14 (November 14, 2001)
BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT ~100,000 MILES. BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND PADS AS WELL AS REAR DRUMS AND SHOES. ALL DONE BY SUBARU DEALER IN SPING OF 98. AS OF SPRING OF 01 AND LESS THAN 12,000 MILES LATER THE BRAKES HAVE SELF DESTRUCTED DO TO RUST. NEVER HAVE WE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR BEFORE. ONLY SINCE RECENT YEAR SUBARU BRAKE ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. SUBARU IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS. WILL HAVE THIS JOB DONE AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP THAT WILL STAND BEHIND THEIR BRAKES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 754518 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 2 |
| 1986 | 2 |
| 1987 | 2 |
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1989 | 0 |
1980: 1; 1981: 1; 1982: 1; 1983: 1; 1984: 1; 1985: 2; 1986: 2; 1987: 2; 1988: 2; 1989: 0