1985 Subaru GL
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1985 Subaru GL, covering suspension, and 7 consumer complaints received since 1995.
The component named most often is suspension: 300 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 38.4 per 1,000 across all 1985 model-year vehicles and against 151.5 per 1,000 for the Subaru GL line as a whole.
That is about the same as the average of 7.1 complaints per model year across the 11 Subaru GL model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 1995 (3); the most recent in the file is dated 29 Sep 1999.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 3 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: The inner arms of the rear suspension are subject to corrosion in areas where road salt is used heavily in winter.
Consequence: Operation and control of the vehicle can be adverselyaffected by corrosion of the inner control arms.
Remedy: Rustproof or replace the inner control arms as necessary.
Filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC..
Defect, as filed: Continuous exposure to road salt could cause corrosion of rear suspension components, especially the inner arms.
Consequence: The corrosion could affect the operation and control of the vehicle.
Remedy: Rust proof or replace rear suspension, as necessary.
Filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC..
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1985 Subaru GL (black) against all 1985 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1985 | GL line | All 1985 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 300 | 151.5 | 38.4 |
| Structure | 100 | 80.8 | 44.8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 100 | 50.5 | 47.8 |
| Seat Belts | 100 | 272.7 | 78.8 |
| Wheels | 100 | 30.3 | 8.9 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 100 | 181.8 | 134.9 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1985 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 3 | 300 | 151.5 | 38.4 |
| Structure | 1 | 100 | 80.8 | 44.8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 100 | 50.5 | 47.8 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 100 | 272.7 | 78.8 |
| Wheels | 1 | 100 | 30.3 | 8.9 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 100 | 181.8 | 134.9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 100 | 40.4 | 56.1 |
| Power Train | 1 | 100 | 80.8 | 75.3 |
7 unique complaints, 10 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE90055 | Preliminary evaluation | TRAILING ARM CORROSION | suspension | 12 Mar 1990 | 14 May 1990 | 90V086000 |
| EA88014 | Engineering analysis | SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS | seat belts:front:retractor | 13 Jan 1988 | 29 Jun 1990 | — |
| PE87049 | Preliminary evaluation | SEAT BELT RETRACTORS | seat belts:front:retractor | 20 Aug 1987 | 7 Jan 1988 | — |
Other Subaru GL model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 285,000 |
| 1981 NHTSA | 1 | 2 | 285,000 |
| 1982 NHTSA | 1 | 2 | 285,000 |
| 1983 NHTSA | 1 | 5 | 285,000 |
| 1984 NHTSA | 1 | 4 | 285,000 |
| 1985 | 2 | 7 | 432,000 |
| 1986 | 2 | 14 | 432,000 |
| 1987 | 2 | 17 | 204,000 |
| 1988 | 2 | 17 | 160,825 |
| 1989 NHTSA | 0 | 9 | — |
| 1993 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Subaru GL model years · Subaru: 29 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1985 Subaru GL have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 92V001000, was reported to NHTSA on 2 Dec 1992 and concerns suspension:rear. Across all model years the Subaru GL line has 5 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1985 Subaru GL?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 3 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 1985 Subaru GL complain about most?
Suspension: 3 of 10 component mentions (300 per 1,000). Next is structure with 1. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.