The 1990 Subaru Loyale has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 227,883 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS95V1030061995-05-24100,825 affected
Defect
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…
POWER TRAIN94V0520001994-03-2331,295 affected
Defect
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN CONTINUOUSLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES (-22 DEGREES F.) AND HIGH HUMIDITY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION BREATHING (AIR) VENT CAN BE BLOCKED DUE TO MOISTURE FREEZING AT THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE. IF THIS OCCURS, PRESSURE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE WILL INCREASE AND PUSH OUT THE…
Consequence
SUDDEN STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN AROUND THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE OIL GAUGE PIPE AND MODIFY THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE (DIPSTICK) OR REPLACE IT, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF DIPSTICK IN THE VEHICLE.
POWER TRAIN91V0910001991-06-1119,763 affected
Defect
TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE MAY BE INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED AND WOULD NOT BE ENGAGED IN A FULL PARK POSITION WHEN PLACED IN PARK.
Consequence
IF TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM IS NOT IN PARK WHILE THEVEHICLE IS RUNNING OR ON AN INCLINE, A RUNAWAY SITUATION WOULD OCCUR WHICHCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM.
POWER TRAIN91V0820001991-05-3076,000 affected
Defect
UNDER CERTAIN LOAD CONDITIONS, THE PARK GEAR MAY NOT DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE.
Consequence
DELAYED RELEASE OF TRANSMISSION FROM PARK CAUSES DELAYEDAND POSSIBLY ABRUPT VEHICLE MOVEMENT THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
INSTALL A MODIFIED PARKING BRAKE PAWL TO PREVENT DELAYED RELEASE INTO REVERSE GEAR.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
SEAT BELTS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
1
Total complaints16
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Out of the four new tires that were purchased two tires in the rear blewout while consumer was driving. Contacted dealer and they were not willing to do anything. Replacement tires, 50000 miles, p175/70r13, mounted on a subaru, royal, 1990. *ak consumer state tire side wall blew out. Dot. #…”
“Transmission leaks fluid/ horn has no sound when it's hit and right front tire makes grinding noise, like metal to metal. Had taken to dealer at least 6 times. Nothing was found that could be corrected.”
“Transmission leaks fluid/ horn has no sound when it's hit and right front tire makes grinding noise, like metal to metal. Had taken to dealer at least 6 times. Nothing was found that could be corrected.”
“Transmission leaks fluid/ horn has no sound when it's hit and right front tire makes grinding noise, like metal to metal. Had taken to dealer at least 6 times. Nothing was found that could be corrected.”
“Car leaks oil on tail pipe, causing oil to burn and smoke. *ak”
“Engine heads cracked, causing vehicle to stall/oil leaks. *skd”
“2 front automatic seat belts are not locking up in sudden stopping situation. Tt”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95008 Opened 1995-03-10 · closed 1995-08-02
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE91039 Opened 1991-01-23 · closed 1991-05-30
REVERSE DELAYED ENGAGEMENT
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE91039 Opened 1991-01-23 · closed 1991-05-30
REVERSE DELAYED ENGAGEMENT
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE94051 Opened 1994-06-29 · closed 1994-10-31
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Subaru Loyale as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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