Total Complaints
19 filings
SUBARU LOYALE · model year
19 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991SUBARULOYALE carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 1991 LOYALE is power train:automatic transmission with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (2) and seat belts (2). 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 1991 LOYALE. 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.
Total Complaints
19 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
The contact owns a 1991 Subaru Loyale. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the automatic seat belt continuously opened and retracted independently, failing to secure the contact inside the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the automatic seat belt tightener system and observed an oil gasket leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 309,000.
Mileage: 309,000
The contact owns a 1991 Subaru Loyale. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the automatic seat belt continuously opened and retracted independently, failing to secure the contact inside the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the automatic seat belt tightener system and observed an oil gasket leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 309,000.
Mileage: 309,000
The contact owns a 1991 Subaru Loyale equipped with a replacement CV-axle from Master Pro, Part Number: SB8003. The contact indicated that while driving in reverse, the vehicle suddenly stopped moving and would not drive forward or backwards. The vehicle was towed to the residence and examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the CV-axle had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the failure had also occurred on a second vehicle using the same part. The failure mileage was unknown.
TL* - ON A COLD DAY WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE THE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN THE REVERSE GEAR. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR THE VEHICLE TO WARM UP, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR SOMETIME, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT HAS THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDY TRANSMISSION WHERE THEY WILL REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT FELTTHAT VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER NHTSA RECALLCAMPAIGN 94V052000.*AK
Mileage: 135,000
THE HOOD CAME UNLATCHED AND WAS FOLDED BACK AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD BY THE WIND WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH
THE HOOD CAME UNLATCHED AND WAS FOLDED BACK AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD BY THE WIND WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH
2 FRONT AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS DON'T RETRACT/ AUTOMATIC WINDOWS ALL 4 WON'T COME DOWN/ REAR BACK UP LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON, AND 4 -WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT WORK. *AK
2 FRONT AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS DON'T RETRACT/ AUTOMATIC WINDOWS ALL 4 WON'T COME DOWN/ REAR BACK UP LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON, AND 4 -WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT WORK. *AK
2 FRONT AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS DON'T RETRACT/ AUTOMATIC WINDOWS ALL 4 WON'T COME DOWN/ REAR BACK UP LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON, AND 4 -WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT WORK. *AK
2 FRONT AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS DON'T RETRACT/ AUTOMATIC WINDOWS ALL 4 WON'T COME DOWN/ REAR BACK UP LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON, AND 4 -WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT WORK. *AK
EXHAUST FAILURE DETAILS: VERY SOON AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, WE DISCOVERED THAT WHENEVER WE TOOK A CLOVERLEAF-TYPE OFFRAMP WHICH REQUIRED A QUICK DECCELERATION AND THEN A QUICK ACCELERATION, A THICK BLACK CLOUD OF SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE ONLY WAY I FOUND TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WAS TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, IF DISTANCE ALLOWED, AND ALLOW THE CAR TO DECOMPRESS BEFORE ACCELERATING. A VERY LITTLE PERCENTAGE OF MY DRIVING INVOLVES THIS TYPE OF OFFRAMP, AND ESTIMATES I REQUESTED FOR THIS REPAIR RANGED CLOSE TO $1000.00. MY HUSBAND ONCE HEARD A MAN CALL INTO AN AUTO-REPAIR RADIO STATION INTERVIEW WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN HIS SUBARU LOYALE WAGON. MY AXLE PROBLEM HAS BEEN A REAL NUISANCE. I NEVER DO ANY OFF-ROAD DRIVING, ONLY REGULAR CITY DRIVING, AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE AXLE THREE TIMES, AND HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THE AXLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, AND THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I THINK THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE OCCURRENCE FOR REGULAR CITY
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKS AND VIBRATES. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD A LEAKAGE. CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKS AND VIBRATES. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD A LEAKAGE. CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN SUDDENLY, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER PUT 4 REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS, AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
TRANSMISSION REPLACED 5 TIMES.
OIL LEAK FROM THE SEAL AT THE TIMING BELT. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, JUST STOPS COMPLETELY. *AK
THE DRIVERS AND FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING FURTHER INJURY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
UPON STARTING ENGINE RACES UP TO 3000 RPM'S FOR APPOX. 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT SETTLES DOWN, DEALER'S MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT, WAS TOLD TO LIVE WITH IT.
Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure
Passenger Front Air Bag Suppression
Front suspension control arm failure
FUEL PUMP LEAKS
FUEL LINE LEAK
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.