AI DamageSubaru Loyale: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Subaru Loyale across 6 model years: 66 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 29% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 21% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 8% of all complaints
- 7 Equipment 6% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 19 complaints (29% of all).
- Seat belts: 14 complaints (21% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 13 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (9% of all).
- Fuel system: 5 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1990–1994
- 1.8 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 1990
- automatic, 3-speed 1990–1994
- automatic, 4-speed 1990
- manual, 5-speed 1990–1994
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 66 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 14 | 4 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* the contact owns a 1994 subaru loyale. The contact stated that the sun visors were too small and as a result, were obstructing her view of the roadway. Due to the failure, the contact was involved in a crash where she sustained soft tissue damage to the left leg and minor bruising.
Vehicle was involved in a 20-25 mph frontal collision in which the driver and passenger air bags did not deploy . Please give any further details. Nlm
Upon impact, both front seat belts failed to lock into place. Both driver & passenger side seat belts sustained minor injuries.
After putting vehicle into drive, the throttle stuck, causing the vehicle to increase speed, resulting in a collision/injuries.
Vehicle was involved in a collision , theseat belt on the drivers side did not properly restrain the driver, causing head and chest injuries.
Abs brake sfailed, resulting in a clash; also clock malfunctioned.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other models of this make
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.