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1992 Subaru Svx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 231 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 200 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

231 reports
151,000 miles · Jan 16, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 SUBARU SVX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 SUBARU SVX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

NHTSA ODI #10493222

150,000 miles · Feb 14, 2009
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO SPECIFIC EVENT OR ACTIVITY LEAD TO THE FAILURE. TRANSMISSION WORSENED OVER A PERIOD OF WEEKS - ROUGH SHIFTS AND EVENTUALLY UNABLE TO GET INTO ALL GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258663

65,000 miles · Nov 18, 2008
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH 64000 MI. TRANS SHOP "REBUILT" IT AND ADDED A TRANS COOLER FOR 2200$ AS SOON AS I FIST DROVE IT I NOTICED THE CAR "BINDING UP" DURING TURNS AT SLOW SPEED. SHOP OWNER SAID HE COULDN'T REPLICATE OR FEEL ANYTHING WRONG, WITH ME IN THE CAR AND IT WAS CLEARLY BINDING DURING SLOW TURNS, HE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLED…

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TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH 64000 MI. TRANS SHOP "REBUILT" IT AND ADDED A TRANS COOLER FOR 2200$ AS SOON AS I FIST DROVE IT I NOTICED THE CAR "BINDING UP" DURING TURNS AT SLOW SPEED. SHOP OWNER SAID HE COULDN'T REPLICATE OR FEEL ANYTHING WRONG, WITH ME IN THE CAR AND IT WAS CLEARLY BINDING DURING SLOW TURNS, HE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM. ALSO THERE IS A NOISE, LIKE A BOLT INSIDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT I HEAR WHEN I AM OFF THE THROTTLE. ALSO HAVE REPLACED BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. CABIN TRUNK RELEASE HAS FAILED AND ALL OF THE HOOD/TRUNK STRUTS HAVE FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249110

120,000 miles · Nov 10, 2008
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 SUBARU SVX. WHILE DRIVING 23 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A SHIFTING DELAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE AND HAD TO BE SHIFTED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO BE RESTARTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE WOULD REV WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURES OCCURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 SUBARU SVX. WHILE DRIVING 23 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A SHIFTING DELAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE AND HAD TO BE SHIFTED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO BE RESTARTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE WOULD REV WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURES OCCURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO ERROR CODES OR FAILURES; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING. A DIAGNOSTIC COULD BE PERFORMED AT THE COST OF $180. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10248247

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2007
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204331

117,000 miles · Jan 18, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION'S SECOND GEAR IS INOPERATIVE AND THIRD GEAR IS SLIPPING. THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS UNABLE TO COOL THE TRANSMISSION WHICH LED TO THE FAILURE OF THE SECOND GEAR. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10148026

64,000 miles · Nov 23, 2005
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY SUBARU SVX 1992 YEAR MODEL. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 65K MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10143514

165,000 miles · Sep 14, 2005
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

I PURCHASES A SUBARU SVX 1992 MODEL. I TEST DROVE IT AND IT SEEMED FINE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED OVER AND IT CAME BACK CLEAN EXCEPT FOR SOME SUGGESTIONS TO CHANGE BRAKE PADS , FLUIDS ETC. THIS WAS ALL DONE. HOWEVER A COUPLE MONTHS LATER A MAJOR PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE GEAR WOULD SOMETIMES NOT SHIFT, THE CAR WOULD M…

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I PURCHASES A SUBARU SVX 1992 MODEL. I TEST DROVE IT AND IT SEEMED FINE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED OVER AND IT CAME BACK CLEAN EXCEPT FOR SOME SUGGESTIONS TO CHANGE BRAKE PADS , FLUIDS ETC. THIS WAS ALL DONE. HOWEVER A COUPLE MONTHS LATER A MAJOR PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE GEAR WOULD SOMETIMES NOT SHIFT, THE CAR WOULD MAKE A LOUD THUD SOUND IN REVERSE AND OVER REV ON HIGHWAY DRIVING. I FOUND OUT FROM VARIOUS FORUMS THAT THIS CAR HAS A FLAW , THE TRANSMISSION IS DUE TO FAILURE. EVERY CAR OWNER IN THIS FORUM HAS EXPERIENCED PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE COST TO HAVE THIS COMPLETELY FIXED COSTS OVER $4000. A PROBLEM THAT OWNERS SHOULD NOT PAY FOR BECAUSE OF FAULTY ENGINEERING. THE LATER MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT AS PRONE TO IT. WHY DID SUBARU NEVER HAVE THESE CARS RECALLED OR PARTS RECALLED? ANOTHER PROBLEM OCCURRED, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR BACK FROM THE PURCHASE LOCATION, THERE WAS A HUMMING SOUND FROM THE TRUNK, IT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER AND AT 500 MILES LATER IT WAS A GRINDING AND LOUD SOUND. MY MECHANIC LISTED IT AS A WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM. ON SUBARU FORUMS AS WELL AS ADVICE FROM MECHANICS THE SUBARU IS PRONE TO SEVER WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS. IN SOME CASES GENERATING HEAT THAT THEY HAD RECOUNTED CARS WITH MOLDED BEARINGS AND BROKEN AXLES. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE ABS SYSTEM. I GUESS THE BRAKE PUMP IS ALSO A COMPONENT THAT LEAKS. I NEED TO HAVE MY BRAKED REFILLED EVERY OTHER DAY AND THE FUEL PUMP COSTS AROUND 2000$ I WISH FOR YOU TO SEND THIS REPORT TO SUBARU TO VOICE THIS CONCERN FOR ME AND ON BEHALF OF THE MANY SUBARU SVX DRIVERS THAT ARE FACED WITH ENDURING THESE COSTLY MISTAKES DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING. SUBARU SHOULD HAVE A PROGRAM TO FIX THESE PARTS OR ALLOW A TRADE IN FOR CURRENT BLUE BOOK REFUNDS OR SOME WAY OR LETTING INDIVIDUALS KNOW THAT THEY ARE SORRY. THE CAR IS A FINE PIECE OF ART AND THESE MINOR PROBLEMS MAKES IT A PIECE OF JUNK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136544

130,000 miles · Apr 28, 2005
Power Train

1992 SUBARU SVX TRANSMISSION FAILURE. EVERYTHING ON THE CAR WORKS GREAT BUT 3RD AND 4TH GEAR.. SUBARU NEEDS TO HELP US OUT SINCE THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $4200, THAT'S MORE THEN BLUE BOOK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10118616

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2005
Power Train

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER BEING FIXED. NO WARNING THIS TIME, JUST WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE. TRANSMISSION IS BEING REBUILT BY SUBARU. IT IS A 1992 SUBARU SVX. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10111850

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.