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1988 Subaru Gl problems

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1988 Subaru Gl

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Common 1988 Subaru Gl problems

Based on the information from the sources provided, here are common problems reported by owners of the 1988 Subaru GL:

  • Check Engine Light: Some owners have encountered issues with the check engine light illuminating on the dashboard, indicating potential engine or system problems that require attention.
  • Overheating and Gasket Issues: A Subaru Leone GT Turbo owner mentioned experiencing overheating and gasket failures, which could be a common problem in the 1988 Subaru GL as well. This issue can lead to engine damage and reduced performance.
  • Turbocharger Problems: Given that some models of the 1988 Subaru GL were equipped with turbo engines, turbocharger issues like lack of performance, reliability concerns, or maintenance challenges could be common complaints among owners.
  • Aging Components: Due to the age of the vehicle, general wear and tear on components like suspension, brakes, and electrical systems might lead to various issues such as poor handling, brake problems, and electrical malfunctions.
  • Rare Parts Availability: Owning a less common vehicle like the 1988 Subaru GL might pose challenges in finding replacement parts, leading to delays in repairs and increased maintenance costs.

These reported problems highlight some of the issues that owners of the 1988 Subaru GL may face. Addressing these concerns promptly through proper maintenance and timely repairs can help ensure the longevity and performance of this classic vehicle.

1988 Subaru Gl engine

1988 Subaru Gl car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Subaru Gl problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Seat belts problems
  • Engine and engine cooling problems
  • Suspension problems
  • Service brakes problems
  • Hydraulic problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1988 Subaru Gl vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1988 Subaru Gl complaints

The NHTSA has received 21 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1988 Subaru Gl.

1999-01-28

SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1998-10-10
  • Components: SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: THIS AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS FAILED AFTER BEING REPAIRED TWICE. THE TURBO -CHARGER UNIT ALSO HAS FAILED AFTER BEING REPAIRED TWICE. *AK
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1998-06-26

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: TIMING BELTS BREAK ABOUT EVERY 40000 MILES.
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1997-02-04

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: SEAT BELT FAILED TO STOP OR LOCK DURING ROLLOVER, RESULTING IN INJURIES.
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1996-11-05

SUSPENSION PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1994-07-01
  • VIN: JF2AN53B8JE
  • Components: SUSPENSION
  • Summary: STRUTS FAILED DUE TO BEING WORN OUT.
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1996-11-05

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-06-01
  • VIN: JF2AN53B8JE
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: FRONT AXLES FAILED DUE TO WEAR.
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1996-06-03

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-12-03
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: UPON PRESSING THE PEDAL BEEPING NOISE OCCURS DUE TO POWDER BUILD UP ON BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
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1996-03-25

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-11-01
  • Number Of Injuries: 1
  • Crash: 1
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD DRIVER IN POSITION DURING VEHICLE ROLLOVER, CONTRIBUTING TO INJURY.
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1996-02-16

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-05-14
  • Crash: 1
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: DRIVER SEATBELT BUCKLE LOCKED UP IN LATCH POSITION, AFTER AN ACCIDENT SEATBELT HAD TO BE CUT OFF. TT
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1996-02-16

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-05-14
  • Crash: 1
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: DRIVER SEATBELT BUCKLE LOCKED UP IN LATCH POSITION, AFTER AN ACCIDENT SEATBELT HAD TO BE CUT OFF. TT
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1995-12-01

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • VIN: JF2AN75B2JH
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DON'T LOCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
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1995-07-21

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1994-01-01
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: SEAT BELTS DO NOT LATCH PROPERLY AS RECALL STATES IN OTHER SUBARU MODELS BUT MANUFACTURER OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE. TT
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1995-07-17

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1994-11-25
  • VIN: JF1AX4327JC
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GRIND/SQUEAK UPON BRAKING. *AK
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1995-07-17

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1994-11-25
  • VIN: JF1AX4327JC
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: VEHICLE STALLS/HESITATES. *AK
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1995-07-17

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1994-11-25
  • VIN: JF1AX4327JC
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: UPON ACCELERATING, A ROTTON EGG SMELLOCCURS FOLLOWED BY A BURNING BELT SMELL. *AK
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1995-07-15

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-07-15
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: JF1AF43B3JC
  • Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
  • Summary: SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ONE ACCIDENT. *SKD
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1995-05-08

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: DRIVERS SEAT BELT MAY STICK NOT RETRACTING OR EXTENDING PROPERLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
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1995-03-28

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-03-28
  • VIN: JF2AN53B1JF
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE,IT BECAME UNLATCHED. TT
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1995-03-24

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1994-01-01
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: DRIVER SIDE LAP/SHOULDER WILL NOT RETRACT. TT
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1995-03-16

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1990-07-01
  • VIN: JF2AN53B9JE
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES SOMETIMES APPEAR TO BE LOCKED, BUT IT COME LOOSE. TT
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1995-03-10

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-02-10
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILURE, UNABLE TO UNLATCH SEAT BELT. TT
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1995-03-07

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: PASSENGER BUCKLE FAILS TO ENGAGE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
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1988 Subaru Gl recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 1988 Subaru Gl.

2005-10-05
  • Manufacturer: SPX FILTRAN
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COUPE, HATCHBACK, SEDAN, WAGON, BRAT, DL, GL, GL-10, RX, XT, AND XT6 PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 90-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F300-S2, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 19983-1994 SUBARU VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE FILTER DUE TO NON-CONFORMING BRAZING WELDS WHERE THE INLET TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER CAN.
  • Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.
  • Remedy: SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6698.
1995-05-24
  • Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  • Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
  • Summary: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
  • Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
  • Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
1988-04-05
  • Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: OMISSION OF INFORMATION SPECIFIED BY FMVSS 210 FROM OWNER MANUAL.
  • Consequence: FAILS TO MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 210 REGARDING CHILDRESTRAINT SYSTEMS.
  • Remedy: ADHESIVE BACKED INSERTS WILL BE FURNISHED WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION.
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1988 Subaru Gl photo