1987 Subaru XT

The 1987 Subaru XT sits at the front end of its generation with only one reported federal complaint—specifically regarding seat belts—while the available data for subsequent years (1990–1991) shows a modest but consistent pattern of recalls (two per year) and technical service bulletins (ten per year), alongside minimal complaints. This suggests the 1987 model year avoided the early teething issues that often surface in later production runs, though the lack of complaints may also reflect lower initial reporting volume rather than inherent reliability. The recall trend remains stable in later years, indicating systemic rather than year-specific concerns, while the single investigation in 1990 doesn’t specify a root cause tied to the 1987 build. With no crash or fire complaints recorded for 1987, the data implies this year may have been a relatively trouble-free entry point for the XT. However, the absence of earlier-year data limits full contextual comparison. **Takeaway: The 1987 Subaru XT appears to be a reasonable buy among its peers, provided seat belt functionality is verified, though broader generation-wide recall risks should still be addressed.**