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Subaru Loyale VIN Check

NHTSA holds 42 owner complaints on the Subaru Loyale from 41 production runs; the worst run has 2, the typical one 1.

NHTSA complaint records · 42 complaints · 41 runs · 1990–1994 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Loyale run is JF1AC4228NC (1992 builds) with 2 complaints, 2× the typical run. Seat belts problems make up 25% of reports; 1992 is the worst model year at 1.1 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for Loyale model years 1990–1993.

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 Loyale has 41 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 14% of every Loyale complaint on file.

FIG.01·Subaru Loyale — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
JF1AC4228NC••••••19922——
JF1AC4222LC••••••19901——
JF1AN4224LB••••••19901——
JFZAN57B3LH••••••19901——
JF1AC4218LC••••••19901——
JF2AN5283LD••••••19901——
JF2AN52B8LD••••••19901——
JF2AN52B3LD••••••19901——
JF2AN5286LD••••••19901——
JF2AC52B9LD••••••19901——
JF2AN52B1RF••••••199411—
JF2AN52BXMF••••••19911——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 29 Loyale runs has 1 complaint or fewer.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Subaru Loyale the gap between build years is 1.1×: a 1992 car draws 1.1 complaints per run, a 1990 one 1.

FIG.02·Subaru Loyale — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
199311010—
19921.115143
19911771
1990199—
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 1992 at 1.1 complaints per run; lightest is 1990 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 25% of everything Subaru Loyale owners report: Seat Belts, 11 of 42 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Subaru Loyale — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Seat Belts113—
Engine And Engine Cooling10——
Power Train7——
Electrical System5——
Tires4——
Visibility31—
Vehicle Speed Control2——
Structure2——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 4 recall campaigns on the Subaru Loyale; the 4 below cover build years 1990 to 1993. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Subaru Loyale — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
94V052000Power Train:manual Transmission1990–1993
91V091000Power Train:automatic Transmission1990–1991
91V082000Power Train:automatic Transmission1990
95V103006Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly1990
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

94V052000 was opened in 1994 on cars built from 1990: 4 years on the road before the recall.

How serious were they

Of the 42 reports on the Subaru Loyale, 11.9% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Subaru Loyale — complaint severity
OutcomeSubaru LoyaleAll vehicles
Complaints filed421,115,966
Involved a crash5 (11.9%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire0 (0%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported658,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 105% above 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 Loyale share of that is 42 complaints over 41 runs, 0% of everything on record.

Everything on the Subaru Loyale
Recalls9 campaignsFuel economy25 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems90 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space35 cu ftWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1990–1994

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Subaru Loyale VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 42 NHTSA complaints from 41 Loyale runs and 4 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Loyale production run has the most complaints?

JF1AC4228NC, a 1992 build, with 2 complaints. The typical Loyale run has 1.

Which Loyale years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 1992 is heaviest at 1.1 complaints per run and 1990 lightest at 1.

How many Loyale complaints involve a crash?

11.9% of 42 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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