Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

Subaru XT recalls by model year

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

8 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1985 to 1991 model years. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1985
2
1986
1
1987
1
1988
1
1989
1
1990
1
1991
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19852
19861
19871
19881
19891
19901
19911

1985: 2; 1986: 1; 1987: 1; 1988: 1; 1989: 1; 1990: 1; 1991: 1

Year-by-year records

Subaru XT model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198502Not available
198631-1
1987110
1988110
1989210
1990010
1991110

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

85V132000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control

Reported: 1985-10-21 (October 21, 1985) · Model years: 1985

EXCESSIVE TOLERANCE VARIATION MAY HAVE CREATED A GAP BETWEEN THE BUMPER BRACKET RAIL AND THE RIGHT FRONT FRAME OF THE REAR SIDE MEMBER. THIS COULD RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT SPOT WELDING ADHESION AT THIS LOCATION. UNDER REAR IMPACT CONDITIONS, BUMPER COULD BREAK LOOSE AND DAMAGE THE AIR VENT HOSE. THIS MAY CAUSE FUEL TO LEAK IN ACCESS OF THE MAXIMUM REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS 301. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LEAKAGE CAUSED BY A REAR END COLLISION MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A FIRE IF A SOURCE OF IGNITION IS PRESENT.

Remedy: INSTALL A PROTECTOR KIT ON THE AIR VENT HOSE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
92V001000 · Suspension:Rear

Reported: 1992-12-02 (December 2, 1992) · Model years: 1985, 1986, 1987

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
88V052000 · Seat Belts

Reported: 1988-04-05 (April 5, 1988) · Model years: 1988

OMISSION OF INFORMATION SPECIFIED BY FMVSS 210 FROM OWNER MANUAL.

Consequence: FAILS TO MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 210 REGARDING CHILDRESTRAINT SYSTEMS.

Remedy: ADHESIVE BACKED INSERTS WILL BE FURNISHED WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
91V082000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Reported: 1991-05-30 (May 30, 1991) · Model years: 1989, 1990, 1991

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

8 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 8 records
75.0%Valid incident date6 / 8 records
100.0%Valid filing date8 / 8 records
75.0%Ordered incident and filing dates6 / 8 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component1985198619871988198919901991
Seat Belts
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 508200

DRIVER'S MOTOR BELT INOPERATIVE/ALSO LOSS OF TENSION IN LAP BELT..

Look up ODI 508200 at NHTSA ↗

150.0%
ODI 959893

DRIVERSIDE MOTORIZED SEATBELT HARNESS PREMATURELY LOCKS UP WHEN EXITING FROM VEHICLE CAUSING BELT TO GRAB DRIVER'S NECK. TT

Look up ODI 959893 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 826234

AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS OPERATE VERY ERRATICALLY. SEAT BELTS WHEN LATCHED CHOKE DRIVER. ALSO SEATBELTS GET STUCK IN THE RETRACTING POSTION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Look up ODI 826234 at NHTSA ↗

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

150.0%
ODI 8011242

THERE IS OIL LEAKING SLOWING FROM THE DRAIN PLUG AREA. NO MATTER HOW TIGHT CONSUMER TIGHTENS IT THERE IS STILL A SLOW LEAK. CONSUMER FEELS THIS MAY CAUSE A FIRE. *AK *TT

Look up ODI 8011242 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 518810

HEALIGHT SWITCH FAILED TWICE. *AK

Look up ODI 518810 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Interior Lighting
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 813253

THE OWNER HAS REPLACED THE DASHBOARD SWITCH TWICE BECAUSE IT NO LONGER OPERATES. *AK

Look up ODI 813253 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Seat Belts:Front
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 508200

DRIVER'S MOTOR BELT INOPERATIVE/ALSO LOSS OF TENSION IN LAP BELT..

Look up ODI 508200 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 484708

SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT. *AW

Look up ODI 484708 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Unknown Or Other
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 537790

DIGITAL INSTRUMENT PANEL IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ DURING DAYLIGHT.

Look up ODI 537790 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

1990: 0 complaints · 1991: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
1990000
1991000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
1990000
1991010

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
ComponentSeat BeltsEngine And Engine Cooling:EngineExterior Lighting:Headlights:SwitchInterior LightingSeat Belts:FrontSeat Belts:Front:RetractorUnknown Or Other
Seat Belts—000
1
ODI 508200

DRIVER'S MOTOR BELT INOPERATIVE/ALSO LOSS OF TENSION IN LAP BELT..

Look up ODI 508200 at NHTSA ↗

00
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine0—00000
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch00—0000
Interior Lighting000—000
Seat Belts:Front
1
ODI 508200

DRIVER'S MOTOR BELT INOPERATIVE/ALSO LOSS OF TENSION IN LAP BELT..

Look up ODI 508200 at NHTSA ↗

000—00
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor00000—0
Unknown Or Other000000—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.