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Subaru Brat VIN Check

NHTSA holds 1 owner complaints on the Subaru Brat from 1 production runs; the worst run has 1, the typical one 1.

NHTSA complaint records · 1 complaints · 1 runs · 1982–1982 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Brat run is JF2AT53B1CE (1982 builds) with 1 complaints, 1× the typical run. Tires problems make up 100% of reports.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Subaru Brat has 1 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 100% of every Brat complaint on file.

FIG.01·Subaru Brat — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
JF2AT53B1CE••••••19821——
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 100% of everything Subaru Brat owners report: Tires, 1 of 1 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Subaru Brat — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Tires1——
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

FIG.06·Subaru Brat — complaint severity
OutcomeSubaru BratAll vehicles
Complaints filed11,115,966
Involved a crash0 (0%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire0 (0%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported058,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 100% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Subaru Brat share of that is 1 complaints over 1 runs, 0% of everything on record.

Everything on the Subaru Brat
Recalls1 campaignsFuel economy25 mpg bestReliability4.5/5Common problems1 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1981–1986

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Subaru Brat VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 1 NHTSA complaints from 1 Brat runs and 0 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Brat production run has the most complaints?

JF2AT53B1CE, a 1982 build, with 1 complaints. The typical Brat run has 1.

How many Brat complaints involve a crash?

0% of 1 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 0 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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