The most-reported XT run is JF1AX43B1GB (1986 builds) with 2 complaints, 1.7× the typical run. Seat belts problems make up 29% of reports; NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for XT model years 1985–1991.
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 XT has 6 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 86% of every XT complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JF1AX43B1GB•••••• | 1986 | — | — | |
| JF2AC75B6GF•••••• | 1986 | — | — | |
| JF2AX75B3HD•••••• | 1987 | — | — | |
| JF1AX9425JH•••••• | 1988 | 1 | — | |
| JF1AX732XJD•••••• | 1988 | — | — | |
| JF1AX4327KB•••••• | 1989 | — | — |
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 29% of everything Subaru XT owners report: Seat Belts, 2 of 7 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | — | — | |
| Steering | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | — | — |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 5 recall campaigns on the Subaru XT; the 5 below cover build years 1985 to 1991. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 05E065000 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 1985–1991 |
| 91V082000 | Power Train:automatic Transmission | 1989–1991 |
| 92V001000 | Suspension:rear | 1985–1987 |
| 88V052000 | Seat Belts | 1988 |
| 85V132000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control | 1985 |
The XT against its rivals
The XT draws 1.2 complaints per production run; the BMW 325iS 1.3 and the Audi 90 1.2. That is the lowest rate of the 3.
How serious were they
Of the 7 reports on the Subaru XT, 14.3% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Subaru XT | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 7 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 1 (14.3%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 0 (0%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 147% 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 XT share of that is 7 complaints over 6 runs, 0% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Subaru XT VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 7 NHTSA complaints from 6 XT runs and 5 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which XT production run has the most complaints?
JF1AX43B1GB, a 1986 build, with 2 complaints. The typical XT run has 1.2.
Does the XT get more complaints than the BMW 325iS?
No: 1.2 complaints per production run for the XT against 1.3 for the BMW 325iS.
How many XT complaints involve a crash?
14.3% of 7 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 0 involved a fire.
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