1988 Subaru Subaru truck problems
The Subaru Sambar is a cabover truck and microvan manufactured and marketed by Subaru as Japan's second truck compliant with the country's strict Keitora (軽トラ) or Kei vehicle tax class, after the Kurogane Baby. Introduced in 1961 in microvan and Kei pickup configurations, the Sambar remains in production, now in its eighth generation — beginning with the sixth generation as a rebadged Daihatsu Hijet.
Since its introduction, the Sambar has used a rear engine, rear wheel drive layout with body-on-frame rather than unibody construction. The first two generations used the air-cooled engine from the Subaru 360 and later generations used the water-cooled engine from the Subaru Rex, Vivio and the Pleo. Four-wheel drive became optional in 1980. Sambar models were manufactured in China as the as well as in Finland in a joint venture with Elcat Automotive. Passenger variants of the Sambar were later marketed as the Subaru Dias Wagon.
With the Sambar, named after a species of deer, Subaru may have borrowed from the Type 2 (1951-1967) van — using a marketing name very similar to the Volkswagen's upper trim level, the Samba, and using a similar rear-drive, rear air-cooled engine, cabover configuration. The Sambar was the second Kei truck (after the Kurogane) and was the last Kei-compliant vehicle to use a rear-engine, rear-drive layout.
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Common 1988 Subaru Subaru truck problems
The Subaru Sambar, a popular small van produced for many years, is known to have several common issues that can affect its performance and reliability. One such issue is engine misfires, which can be caused by various factors such as worn-out spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor cap and rotor, air filter, and fuel filter. A fuel delivery problem, such as a clogged fuel injector or a faulty fuel pump, can also cause engine misfires. Regular maintenance and inspection of the engine components can help prevent engine misfires. Another issue that was present in some second-generation models of the Subaru Sambar, produced from 1973 to 1982, was related to the carburetor. The carburetor could become clogged or dirty over time, leading to rough idling or stalling. This issue could be addressed by cleaning or rebuilding the carburetor. In later years of the second generation, there were some issues with rust and corrosion, particularly in areas where road salt was used in the winter. This could cause structural damage to the vehicle and impact its overall safety and durability. Some models of the Subaru Sambar were prone to overheating, especially in hot weather or when the vehicle was heavily loaded. This issue could be addressed by ensuring proper maintenance of the cooling system, including regular flushing and filling of the coolant. In addition to these issues, Subaru has had some more serious problems over the years, such as unintended acceleration, brake lights that refuse to illuminate, engine oil pipe that has a tendency to crack, overheating windshield wiper motor, ignition switch that unexpectedly turns off, corrosion in the brake lines, malfunctioning Starlink infotainment system, and the car may proceed to move without warning. It's important to note that these issues may not be specific to the Subaru Sambar and can be found in other vehicles as well. Regular maintenance and inspection of the vehicle can help prevent these issues from occurring in the first place and address any problems that may arise.
What years did Subaru have a bad engine?
The Group 2 head gasket issues
| Subaru head gasket issue | Car Models |
|---|---|
| External leaks between the engine block and the cylinder heads | Subaru Impreza (from 1999 to 2011) Subaru Forester (from 1999 to 2010) Subaru Legacy (from 2000 to 2009) Subaru Outback (from 2000 to 2009) Subaru Baja (from 2003 to 2006) |
What is the issue with Subaru?
Some top Subaru Outback problems include weak windshields, poor cooling systems, oxygen sensor failure, excessive oil consumption due to oil leaks, and faulty airbags.
What fails on Subaru engines?
Common issues include oil starvation, coolant leaks, and head gasket failure. Fortunately, most of these issues can be addressed with regular maintenance and repair from a qualified Subaru technician. Replace your faulty parts with quality Subaru parts from Subimods.
How long do Subaru engines last?
200,000 miles
Engine Lifespan: Subaru engines are known for their durability and longevity, with many drivers reporting engines that last well beyond 200,000 miles with proper maintenance. The key to extending the lifespan of your Subaru engine is regular maintenance, including oil changes, fluid checks, and tune-ups.
1988 Subaru Subaru truck car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Subaru Subaru truck problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Seat belts problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1988 Subaru Subaru truck vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1988 Subaru Subaru truck complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1988 Subaru Subaru truck.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1992-04-04
- VIN: PLEASE FILL
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: THE BACK SEAT BELTS JAM WHEN THE PASSENGER ATTEMPTS TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELTS. THE OWNER SAID THAT SOMETIMES THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL JAM ALSO. *AK
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1988 Subaru Subaru truck problems:
88 Justy no spark fix | Original Subaru Justy Forum
Sep 21, 2011 ... My problem was the pickup coil. $50 at O'riellys fixed it. Also unplug the wiring harness to the distributor and check the wires to distributor ...
1988 Subaru GL Reviews - Carsurvey.org
Dec 11, 2005 ... 1988 Subaru GL 1.8L F.I. from North America. Summary: Rock solid, economical, utilitarian mountain car! Faults: Replaced ...
6 Common Reasons Why Your Steering Wheel is Shaking
Jan 27, 2020 ... If you just bounce the right front tire of a pickup truck ... common problems? Well, the suspension is a ... New Subaru Car Research · New Subaru ...
2010 Subaru Outback Review, Problems, Reliability, Value, Life ...
Aug 30, 2022 ... Subaru will replace the switch on affected vehicles for free. Most of the other issues are for airbags, which are common on many SUVs from 2010.
Can they really handle the highway? | Japanese Mini Truck Forum
Feb 3, 2011 ... ... truck/van.The Subaru Domingo or one of the turbo/supercharged vans will be more suited to frequent highway use....this is mostly my opinion...
Other years of Subaru Subaru truck
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