Model year record

1991 Subaru Loyale recalls & problems

The 1991 Subaru Loyale has 2 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (5 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints13filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

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.

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 Wagon 4WD

20mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 20 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 / 22 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	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	5	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Webbing	3	1	2	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	3	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch	2	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0	—
Suspension	1	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Fuses and circuit breakers	1	0	0	—
VisibilityPower window devices and controls	1	0	0	—
Equipment	1	0	0	—
Engine	1	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Seat belts
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.
Jul 2, 2024 · 309,000 miles
Equipment
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.
Dec 1, 2021
Power train › Automatic transmission
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
Dec 20, 2006 · 135,000 miles
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
THE HOOD CAME UNLATCHED AND WAS FOLDED BACK AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD BY THE WIND WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH
Aug 30, 2001
Seat belts
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
Sep 5, 2000
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
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…
Jan 1, 1992
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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
Feb 2, 1999
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
Jul 1, 1998

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