Subaru DL Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints across the 1 model years of the Subaru DL (1988–1988) that have at least 5 complaints. 1988 has the most, with 5. Across all years, the part named most often is seat belts (2 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All DL model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 5 | — | 2 | 10 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Seat belts2 29%
- Fuel system2 29%
- Vehicle speed control1 14%
- Transmission and drivetrain1 14%
- Engine cooling1 14%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1988: “While traveling at 25 MPH another vehicle ran a stop sign and hit consumer's vehicle on the right front bumber. Driver's side seatbelt didn't hold, resulting in driver sustainin serious injuries. Please provide any further information.”
NHTSA complaint #8017316, filed 2002-08Other Subaru models
9,776 complaintsSubaru Forester
6,527 complaintsSubaru Legacy
3,182 complaintsSubaru Impreza
2,649 complaintsSubaru Crosstrek
1,191 complaintsSubaru Ascent
1,038 complaintsSubaru WRX
969 complaintsSubaru SVX
279 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology