IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH OR MORE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, CV BOOTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DEALER STILL CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION. *AK
1985 Subaru Gl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Gl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reportsRIGHT REAR WHEEL ROTATED TO THE NEAR HORIZONTAL POSITION, MAKING THE VEHICLE INOPERATBLE.
DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY IN THE FAST LANE, TIMING BELT BROKE. *AK ALSO FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED.*JB
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED AT THE WELD WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING AND THE WHOLE LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, UNABLE TO LATCH SEAT BELT. TT
W/MANUAL TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES UNWANTED ACCELERATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
CORROSION THROUGH OUT THE FRAME. TT
Official recalls
292V001000 · Suspension:rear
Dec 2, 1992
THE INNER ARMS OF THE REAR SUSPENSION ARE SUBJECT TO CORROSION IN AREAS WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED HEAVILY IN WINTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OPERATION AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE ADVERSELYAFFECTED BY CORROSION OF THE INNER CONTROL ARMS.
Remedy: RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THE INNER CONTROL ARMS AS NECESSARY.
90V086000 · Suspension:rear
May 7, 1990
CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT COULD CAUSE CORROSION OF REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, ESPECIALLY THE INNER ARMS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CORROSION COULD AFFECT THE OPERATION AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: RUST PROOF OR REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION, AS NECESSARY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3PE90055 · Trailing Arm Corrosion
Opened Mar 12, 1990 · Closed May 14, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA88014 · Seat Belt Retractor Fails
Opened Jan 13, 1988 · Closed Jun 29, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:retractor
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ISPECULIAR TO 1985 GL 4DOOR SEDAN AND STATIONWAGON.INSTALLED TO IMPROVESENSITIVITY AND LIMIT WEBBING MOVEMENT.REPLACED IN PRODUCTION BY NEW UNITTO PROVIDE 'COMMON USAGE WITH OTHER MANUFACTURERS'.PART SALES WERE NEARLYTWICE 1984 AND 1986 MODEL SALES (WHICH FIT OTHER VEHICLES).SOME 15 PARTNUMBERS WERE ISSUED FOR THIS SINGLE YEAR COMPONENT.ANALYSIS:THE 1985 MODEL APPEARS TO HAVE A SENSITIVITY PROBLEM.OF THE 8KNOWN ODI REPORTS ON ALL 1984-1986 SUBARU MODELS, 6 ARE THE 1985 GL STATIONWAGONS, 1 IS A 1984 MODEL GL STATION WAGON, AND THE OTHER IS ANOTHER 1984MODEL.THESE REPORTS ARE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST SINCE THE FILING OF A VOQREQUIRES THAT ONE EXPERIENCE AN ACCIDENT, SURVIVE (OR SOMEONE NOTES THEPOSSIBILE FAILURE), AND THEN NOTIFY THE ODI.STATUS:PREPARE DETAILED IR.===
PE87049 · Seat Belt Retractors
Opened Aug 20, 1987 · Closed Jan 7, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:retractor
SUMMARY OF MANUFACTURER INFORMATION:SUBARU CLAIMS IT HAS NO IDENTIFIABLEPROBLEMWITH THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS.HOWEVER, THE 1985 RETRACTOR ISUSED ONLY ON THE 1985 MODEL 4 DOOR AND STATION WAGON.PART SALES FOR THERETRACTOR ARE NEARLY DOUBLE 1984 AND 1986 MODEL RETRACTOR SALES.SIMILARLY15 PART NUMBERS WERE ISSUED FOR THE 1985 RETRACTOR.THE PRIMARY REASONFOR SUBARU TO USE THE 1985 MODEL RETRACTOR OVER THE 1984 MODEL WAS TOIMPROVE SENSITIVITY.THE 1985 RETRACTOR ONLY FITS 1985 MODELS, WHILE BOTHTHE 1984 AND 1986 MODELS FIT NUMEROUS OTHER MODEL YEARS.THE GL STATIONWAGON AND 4 DOOR RETRACTOR IS USED ONLY IN THOSE VEHICLES.ANALYSIS:THE 1985 MODEL RETRACTOR APPEARS TO HAVE A SENSITIVITY PROBLEM.OF THE 8 ODI REPORTS, 6 ARE 1985 MODEL SUBARU STATION WAGONS.THE OTHERREPORTS ARE 1984 MODELS.THESE REPORTS ARE EXTAORDINARILY IMPORTANTBECAUSE A COMPLAINT REQUIRES AN ACCIDENT FIRST, AND THEN EITHER SURVIVAL OROUTSIDE CONCERN TO REPORT TO THE ODI.STATUS: RECOMMEND CLOSING THE PE AND FOCUSING FURTHER IN AN EA ENVIRONMENT.===