Total Complaints
11 filings
SUBARU DL · model year
1988 SUBARU DL
11 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988SUBARUDL carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 DL is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 1 filings, followed by power train:clutch assembly (1) and power train:axle assembly (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1988 DL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
11
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020827CrashSEAT BELTS
WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT BUMBER. DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DIDN'T HOLD, RESULTING IN DRIVER SUSTAININ SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20001108CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE ENGINE REVED HIGH WHEN THE DRIVER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR STICKING AND THE DRIVER STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN AND OTHER VEHICLES. *YH
19980305FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VEHICLE HARD TO START IN COLD OR WET WEATHER.
19951102POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.
19951102POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
REPLACED E AXLES.
19951102ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
REPLACED TIMING BELT.
19951102ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
REPLACED WATER PUMP
19951102FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS ENCRUSTED WITH COOLANT, CAUSING CARBURETOR LEAK. *AK
19951102ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR.
19951102POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
REPLACED 5 CV BOOTS.
19950523SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE APPEAR TO BE FASTEN, BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT COMES UNFASTENED. TT
Compare 1988SUBARUDL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
PE19009Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure
PE15012Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Passenger Front Air Bag Suppression
PE11011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Front suspension control arm failure
EA09007Engineering AnalysisClosed
FUEL PUMP LEAKS
PE09017Preliminary EvaluationClosed
FUEL LINE LEAK
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 SUBARU DL have?▼
The 1988 SUBARU DL has 11 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 SUBARU DL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 SUBARU DL is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY and POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1988 SUBARU DL safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.