AI Damage1986 Subaru GL: common problems
Owners of the 1986 Subaru GL filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 36% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 21% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 14% of all complaints
- 5 Seats 7% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 7% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- 8 Wheels 7% of all complaints
- Suspension: 5 complaints (36% of all).
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (21% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Seats: 1 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 14 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 5 mph, a sound of rust ripping was heard, resulting in a slight loss of vehicle control. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact noted that the rear subframe had cracked on both sides of the vehicle.
Left front tire broke off, causing damage to undercarriage. (ohio state police report)
The vehicle was in motion and the vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment.
Front frame rail is corroded, has two holes in it. Tt consumer found this failure when having front end of vehicle aligned, the company refused to perform an alignment because the failure prevented them from putting vehicle on a lift, vehicle was involved with recalls 90v086 and 92v001 and feels the same thing that…
The bolt that holds the driver side seat has cracked from the anchor. Tt
Rear inner arms corroded, involved in initial recall for corroded inner arms. Tt
Rust hole on inner control arm next to wheel bearing/shock spring mount.
The two window rear seat belt retractor will not let the belt come out. Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,551 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GL has 7 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 14, above average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1986 Subaru GL?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, seat belts, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (29%), seat belts (14%), overheating, coolant loss (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1986 Subaru GL?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1986 Subaru GL from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1986 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.