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Model file · SubaruUpdated · 8 sources

Selling an old Subaru Justy

Seat belts come up in 20 of the Justy's 49 NHTSA complaints, more than the engine, brakes and transmission put together. If your Justy is done, you don't have to strip it. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US.

A silver three-door Subaru Justy hatchback parked on fallen leaves under trees on a city street
Photo: Rutger van der Maar · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Model years (EPA)
1987-1994
Engines (Wikipedia)
997 cc EF10 and 1189 cc EF12 three-cylinder
Transmissions (Wikipedia)
5-speed manual or NCVT
Complaints to NHTSA
49
Naming seat belts
20 of 49
Recall campaigns
4
Restyled
1989, all models

One generation, two looks

Wikipedia lists the first-generation Justy from 1984 to 1994, with a 997 cc EF10 or 1189 cc EF12 three-cylinder engine. Transmissions were a 5-speed manual or the NCVT. American versions arrived in 1987, and every model was restyled in 1989. The EPA lists the Justy, Justy 4WD and Justy AWD from 1987 to 1994.

1987-1988: four recalls on the early car

The 1988 has only 4 complaints but four recall campaigns.

  • 88V029: alternator wiring could rub against a bracket and short. Dealers removed the bracket. 3,000 vehicles.
  • 88V052: the owner's manual left out seat belt information a federal standard requires. Dealers supplied stick-in pages. Its 60,000 vehicles include the XT.
  • 89V028: on 1988-1989 manual cars, the dipstick design could leave the 4WD extension housing bearing short of oil. The fix was a new dipstick. 15,000 vehicles.
  • 95V103: on 1987-1991 cars, the red front buckle buttons marked PRESS can break and jam the buckle. Its 100,825 vehicles include the Loyale, so that is not a Justy-only number.

1989-1994: the restyled car

Complaints peak here. The 1989 has 11, split between seat belts (4) and the power train (4), and its complaints record 2 deaths. The 1990 has 16, with 9 naming seat belts. The 1991 has 9, including one fire and 3 injuries. After that, complaints thin out to a handful a year.

Complaints and recalls by model year

These totals come from NHTSA complaint records, current to October 10, 2026. Late Justys were on the road for a shorter stretch, which keeps their counts down. NHTSA also files one complaint under a 1995 Justy, past the EPA years.

YearComplaintsCrashes / firesInjured / deathsNamed mostRecall campaigns
198840 / 00 / 0Fuel, locks, engine (1 each)4
1989111 / 00 / 2Seat belts, power train (4 each)2
1990160 / 00 / 0Seat belts (9)1
199192 / 13 / 0Seat belts (3)1
1992-199591 / 12 / 0Seat belts (3)0

Is it worth fixing?

A Justy is small, simple and old. A Justy repair bill only makes sense next to what a running Justy sells for near you.

  • CVT slipping or not engaging? See failing CVT before paying for a rebuild.
  • 4WD whine on a 1988-1989 manual? That's the bearing recall 89V028 was about. Check the VIN at NHTSA's lookup.
  • Just tired out? Read old or high mileage.

Selling a Justy whole

  1. Find the title and VIN. Note whether it's the manual or the CVT, and whether it's 4WD.
  2. Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
  3. Say where the Justy is parked and if it rolls. This little three-door fits most trucks, though a flat tire or a locked brake changes how we load it.
  4. Leave it complete. If parts are gone, the offer shifts, so tell us what's been taken off.

See the Loyale, XT, or every Subaru we cover.

Questions people ask

What do Justy owners complain about most?
Seat belts. Justy owners named them in 20 of 49 NHTSA complaints, per a count on October 10, 2026. The power train comes next with 11. No year tops the 1990, with 16 complaints, and seat belts come up in 9 of them.
Which Justy years were recalled?
The 1988 is covered by all four campaigns. Recall 89V028 also covers the 1989, and the seat belt buckle recall 95V103 covers 1987 through 1991.
Will you buy a Justy with a dead transmission?
Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US. Say whether it's the manual or the CVT, and whether the car rolls.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.

  1. EPA fuel economy data: Subaru Justy model years and versions fueleconomy.gov
  2. NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
  3. NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
  4. NHTSA recall 88V029: alternator wiring, 1988 nhtsa.gov
  5. NHTSA recall 88V052: seat belt information in owner manual, 1988 nhtsa.gov
  6. NHTSA recall 89V028: 4WD extension housing bearing, 1988-1989 nhtsa.gov
  7. NHTSA recall 95V103: front seat belt buckle buttons, 1987-1991 nhtsa.gov
  8. Wikipedia: Subaru Justy (engines, transmissions, 1989 restyle) en.wikipedia.org