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1993 Subaru Loyale

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Loyale.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1993 Subaru Loyale, equipped with its factory‑specified 4.2‑qt engine oil capacity and 5W‑30 API viscosity, pairs that powerplant with a three‑speed automatic transmission and delivers EPA‑rated fuel economy of 21/24/22 mpg. In the Loyale’s complaint history from 1990‑1994, the 1993 model year logged 13 owner complaints, with the most frequent issues arising in the Engine & Engine Cooling category and a single recall recorded. This places the 1993 Loyale well below the 1992 high of 47 complaints and above the 1994 low of just one, reflecting a clear trend of improving reliability as the model line approached its end.

Model year1994 1993 1992 1991

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy21/24/22 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	176.8 in
Overall width	65.4 in
Overall height	54.7 in
Wheelbase	96.9 in
Curb weight	2403 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	21 / 24 / 22 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	88 cu ft
Cargo volume	15 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.6 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF
Transfer Case Fluid	80W-90 · GL-5

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi.

At 3,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Hill Holder System (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
At 105,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In 1993 the Loyale recorded 13 complaints and one recall, down from 47 complaints and one recall in 1992 and further to one complaint in 1994. The complaint trajectory shows a sharp decline after the 1992 peak, indicating improving reliability in later model years. The 1993 model’s top complaint categories are engine & engine cooling (3), air bags (1), latches/locks/linkages (1) and fuel/electrical/visibility (1), with two crash‑related complaints and none for fire. The federal record does not specify a root cause for any of these issues, so no definitive defect pattern can be asserted. Given the low overall complaint count and absence of fire or major safety recalls, 1993 appears to be a reasonable year to purchase, though buyers should verify service history for any engine‑cooling work.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92’93’94

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 13 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling3

Air Bags1

Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Fuel System, Gasoline,Electrical System,Visibility1

Vehicle Speed Control,Unknown Or Other1

Wheels1

Fuel System, Gasoline1

Seats1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94V052000Power Train:Manual TransmissionReported 23/03/1994

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… Remedy: 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 11 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…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Loyale. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.2 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Loyale take?

4.2 qt of 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Loyale have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Loyale get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 24 highway / 22 combined mpg.