Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1982 Brat.
The 1982 Subaru Brat stands out in the model's history for an exceptionally clean reliability record, with just a single owner complaint logged across the entire model year and zero recalls issued. The lone complaint area centers on tires, suggesting that whatever concerns surfaced were isolated rather than systemic to the vehicle's design or powertrain. For a researcher tracking the Brat's trajectory, this places 1982 among the more trouble-free years in the model's run, meaning surviving examples from this model year likely sidestepped the kind of widespread mechanical or structural issues that can undermine vintage vehicle ownership.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 169.3 in |
| Overall width | 63.4 in |
| Overall height | 57.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 96.5 in |
| Curb weight | 2224 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Brat of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | GL Regular Cab (5'3" Bed) 1.8L F-4 | 14.30 sec | 19.40 sec | 73 hp | 4WD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1982 Subaru Brat dominate in one area — the tires, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the tires pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 10 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-302-22 | 2022-08-23 | Equipment | This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as… |
| 01-167-08R | 2022-08-23 | Equipment | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the… |
| 15-192-22R | 2022-03-18 | Electrical System | This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential… |
| 01-167-08R | 2021-06-17 | Electrical System | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the… |
| 09-51-08R | 2021-06-07 | Equipment | This bulletin is to advise of SOAâs revised catalytic converter recycling program… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.