Model year record

1990 Subaru Loyale recalls & problems

The 1990 Subaru Loyale has 4 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (5 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints13filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsMay 24, 1995

Front › Buckle assembly

Recall 95V103006100,825 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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 SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

Power trainMar 23, 1994

Manual transmission

Recall 94V05200031,295 vehicles

Problem: 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 REAR OIL SEAL, CAUSING TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKAGE. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN BURN THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 trainJun 11, 1991

Automatic transmission

Recall 91V09100019,763 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE MAY BE INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED AND WOULD NOT BE ENGAGED IN A FULL PARK POSITION WHEN PLACED IN PARK.
Risk: 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.
Fix: REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM.

Power trainMay 30, 1991

Automatic transmission

Recall 91V08200076,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: UNDER CERTAIN LOAD CONDITIONS, THE PARK GEAR MAY NOT DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE.
Risk: DELAYED RELEASE OF TRANSMISSION FROM PARK CAUSES DELAYEDAND POSSIBLY ABRUPT VEHICLE MOVEMENT THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: INSTALL A MODIFIED PARKING BRAKE PAWL TO PREVENT DELAYED RELEASE INTO REVERSE GEAR.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Loyale

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Loyale Wagon

24mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Loyale Wagon 4WD

23mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Loyale 4WD

23mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Loyale

22mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Loyale Wagon

22mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Loyale

20mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Loyale 4WD Turbo

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Loyale Wagon

20mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Loyale Wagon 4WD Turbo

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Loyale Wagon 4WD

20mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Loyale 4WD

20mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	5	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Buckle assembly	5	—
TiresTread/belt; Sidewall	3	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines	2	—
Electrical systemHorn	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Tires › Sidewall
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. # MKEV5BHR 195. *YH
Jan 12, 2000
Tires › Tread/belt
FIRESTONE TIRE (P185 70 R13) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC
Sep 5, 2000
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
CAR LEAKS OIL ON TAIL PIPE, CAUSING OIL TO BURN AND SMOKE. *AK
Jul 1, 1997
Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
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.
Mar 24, 1999
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
POWER SEAT BELT MOTOR FAILED.
Dec 1, 1994
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE WATER PUMP BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK
May 6, 1993
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
ENGINE HEADS CRACKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/OIL LEAKS. *SKD
May 24, 1995
Seat belts
2 FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ARE NOT LOCKING UP IN SUDDEN STOPPING SITUATION. TT
Mar 1, 1995

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILUREClosedLed to recall 95V103006
There is no summary currently available
EA95008 · opened Mar 10, 1995 · closed Aug 2, 1995
HOOD LATCH FAILUREClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE94051 · opened Jun 29, 1994 · closed Oct 31, 1994
REVERSE DELAYED ENGAGEMENTClosedLed to recall 91V082000
There is no summary currently available
PE91039 · opened Jan 23, 1991 · closed May 30, 1991