Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Brat.
The 1983 Subaru Brat was a compact utility vehicle that combined a small pickup bed with Subaru's passenger car platform, typically powered by a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, and it offered a no-frills approach to trucking that appealed to buyers seeking economical, functional transportation; this model year held 4.2 quarts of engine oil with a recommended viscosity range of 10W-30, 10W-40, or 10W-50 meeting API SM standards, reflecting the straightforward maintenance philosophy that characterized the Brat throughout its production run, and as part of the vehicle's earlier production years, the 1983 model benefited from the engineering simplicity and proven reliability that made these vehicles favorites among owners who prioritized durability and ease of repair over modern conveniences.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
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 |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.2 qt of 10W-30 / 10W-40 / 10W-50 API SM engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 1.5 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 10W-50 · API |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.2 qt |
| Transfer Case Fluid | 75W-90 · GL-5 |
| Transfer Case Fluid Capacity | 2 Pints |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
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.
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Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.2 qt of 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SM, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.