RX

The Subaru RX explained

The Subaru RX is a vehicle built from 1986 to 1989.

Data · NHTSA & EPA · 1986–1989 · 4 model years · Updated Sep 10, 2026 · Not yet rated
Quick answer

The Subaru RX is a vehicle built from 1986 to 1989. Too new for a verdict, since complaints and recalls take years to accumulate — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).

1986–1989
Years
0
Recalls
Top MPG
—★
NHTSA
0
Complaints

What the RX is

The Subaru RX is a vehicle that Subaru built from 1986 to 1989 — 4 model years. Its closest siblings in the Subaru range: Outback, Crosstrek, Forester.

Subaru RX tire size, oil type & owner specs

The fitment RX owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.

Wheels & tires
Wheel sizeby VIN
Tire sizeby VIN
Bolt patternby trim
Tire pressure32–36 PSI
Engine oil
Oil typeFull synthetic
Gradeon oil cap
Capacityby engine
Battery
Main battery12V · group by trim
Key-fob cellCR2032
Wiper blades
Front bladesby generation
Rear bladeif equipped
Fuses
Fuse boxeshood + dash
Diagramon box lid
Light bulbs
Headlightby trim
Tail / brakeby trim
Fogif equipped

Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.

What engines does the Subaru RX have? Power & range

Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.

The RX by the numbers

What the federal and market records say about the Subaru RX. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.

FIG.05·Subaru RX by the numbers
TopicRXDetail
ReliabilityNot yet ratedBest and worst years
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA, EPA, HLDI and market listings

Frequently asked questions

What kind of car is the Subaru RX?

The RX is a vehicle, built from 1986 to 1989.

What is the Subaru RX warranty?

New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.

Is the RX reliable?

The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.

How do I check a specific RX?

This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.

More in Subaru

More Subaru models
ModelYearsRecallsBest MPGForCar score
Subaru Outback2005–202613729 mpg4.5/5
Subaru Crosstrek2016–20262636 mpg4.5/5
Subaru Forester1998–202612135 mpg4.0/5
Subaru Impreza1993–202618332 mpg4.0/5
Subaru WRX2015–20261724 mpg4.5/5
Subaru Legacy1990–202622230 mpg4.0/5
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA + EPA
Data sourced from NHTSA (recalls, complaints, safety ratings) and EPA fueleconomy.gov (MPG). Best/worst-year analysis is ForCar's own aggregation of complaint volume. Last updated Sep 2026. — ForCar Editorial Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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