Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age, so 100% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Seat Belts, with 15 complaints.
Subaru GL years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 6 | 6 | yes | |
| 1988 | 6 | 6 | yes | |
| 1987 | 14 | 12 | yes | |
| 1986 | 12 | 11 | yes |
Among the 4 Subaru GL years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1987, 1986, 1988; the three worth hunting are 1989, 1988, 1986.
What actually fails — and at what age
Systems by number of complaints, with the age at which each typically goes. The age column is the useful one — it tells you what to expect next on a car you already own, and what to inspect on one you are about to buy.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | — | 1 | — | |
| Suspension | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | — | — | 2 | |
| Structure | — | — | — | |
| Wheels | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | — | 3 | — | |
| Service Brakes | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | — | — | — |
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Subaru GL reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.06 against 3.73 for the average car.
Which GL years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1987, 1986, 1988. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1989, 1988, 1986. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do GL problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age. The most reported system is Seat Belts, followed by Suspension.
Will the warranty cover GL problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 0% of reported failures fall inside it.
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