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1986 Subaru Gl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
14Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
19834
19847
198514
198617
198717
19889
1989
Compare all Gl years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
5Seat Belts
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Structure
2Seats
1
All reported categories
Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Structure complaints

2 reports
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160,000 miles · Aug 29, 2006
Structure

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, A SOUND OF RUST RIPPING WAS HEARD, RESULTING IN A SLIGHT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME HAD CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR WHEELS WERE ALSO BOWED IN AT THE TOP, CAUSING THEM TO TOUCH THE SPRINGS, REN…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, A SOUND OF RUST RIPPING WAS HEARD, RESULTING IN A SLIGHT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME HAD CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR WHEELS WERE ALSO BOWED IN AT THE TOP, CAUSING THEM TO TOUCH THE SPRINGS, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI #10166868

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1995
StructureSuspensionWheels

FRONT FRAME RAIL IS CORRODED, HAS TWO HOLES IN IT. TT CONSUMER FOUND THIS FAILURE WHEN HAVING FRONT END OF VEHICLE ALIGNED, THE COMPANY REFUSED TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE FAILURE PREVENTED THEM FROM PUTTING VEHICLE ON A LIFT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED WITH RECALLS 90V086 AND 92V001 AND FEELS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED I…

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FRONT FRAME RAIL IS CORRODED, HAS TWO HOLES IN IT. TT CONSUMER FOUND THIS FAILURE WHEN HAVING FRONT END OF VEHICLE ALIGNED, THE COMPANY REFUSED TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE FAILURE PREVENTED THEM FROM PUTTING VEHICLE ON A LIFT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED WITH RECALLS 90V086 AND 92V001 AND FEELS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED IN THE RECALLS HAS HAPPENED WITH THE FRAME RAIL. WHILE DRIVING, THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE CONTROL ARM BROKE. WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BROKE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #974545

Official recalls

2

92V001000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 2, 1992

THE INNER ARMS OF THE REAR SUSPENSION ARE SUBJECT TO CORROSION IN AREAS WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED HEAVILY IN WINTER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OPERATION AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE ADVERSELYAFFECTED BY CORROSION OF THE INNER CONTROL ARMS.

Remedy: RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THE INNER CONTROL ARMS AS NECESSARY.

90V086000 · Suspension:rear

May 7, 1990

CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT COULD CAUSE CORROSION OF REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, ESPECIALLY THE INNER ARMS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CORROSION COULD AFFECT THE OPERATION AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: RUST PROOF OR REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION, AS NECESSARY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.