AI Damage1992 Subaru Loyale: common problems
Owners of the 1992 Subaru Loyale filed 23 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 23
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 35% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 22% of all complaints
- 3 Seat belts 22% of all complaints
- 4 Equipment 13% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 13% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 9% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 8 complaints (35% of all).
- Powertrain: 5 complaints (22% of all).
- Seat belts: 5 complaints (22% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Equipment: 3 complaints (13% of all).
- Structure: 3 complaints (13% 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
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 23 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 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
Upon impact, both front seat belts failed to lock into place. Both driver & passenger side seat belts sustained minor 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.
Tl contact owns a 1992 subaru loyale. The spare tire was a nokian nordman (na), size 165/80r1383q (na) mud and snow tire. The spare tire was in the trunk of the vehicle and it had 21 bulges, three inches in height in the sidewall. The tire was not taken to a mechanic and had not been replaced.
The automatic seat belt motor has stop working. Please provide any additional information. Dealer is aware of the problem. Ph
While traveling on highway and without prior warning engine check light came on dashboard. Also, transmission went out.
Bead separated from sidewall while car was parked. ( dot number: )
Center piece where the hold bracket is located the metal is very hot. Consumer states that is very unsafe.
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 7,735 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 21% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Loyale has 11 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 23, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- 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 1992 Subaru Loyale?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, seat belts. Total complaints: 23. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (17%), loss of power / limp mode (4%), vibration (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1992 Subaru Loyale?
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 1992 Subaru Loyale 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 1992 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.