IllustrationNO SUMMARY
1992 Subaru Svx
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Svx years →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 reportsWHEN I BOUGHT CAR 30,000 MILES AGO, THEY SAID TRANNY WAS REPLACED. I NOW LEARN THERE IS ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 1992-1994 1/2 SUBARU SVXS. I AM DISABLED DUE TO AN AUTO ACCIDENT AND DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SHELL OUT ON TRANSMISSIONS THIS OFTEN. I HOPE THAT SOMEONE TALKS TO SUBARU AND MAKES THEM ACCOUNTABL…
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WHEN I BOUGHT CAR 30,000 MILES AGO, THEY SAID TRANNY WAS REPLACED. I NOW LEARN THERE IS ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 1992-1994 1/2 SUBARU SVXS. I AM DISABLED DUE TO AN AUTO ACCIDENT AND DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SHELL OUT ON TRANSMISSIONS THIS OFTEN. I HOPE THAT SOMEONE TALKS TO SUBARU AND MAKES THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. IT NOT ONLY LOOKS BAD THAT THEY DESIGNED SOMETHING THIS POOR IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM AND ARE NOT TAKING THE PROPER STEPS TO FIX IT WITH THE CARS THEY SOLD FOR AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
LESS THAN 20K ON REBUILT TRANS W/O ABUSIVE DRIVING HABITS. NO OPTIONS FROM DEALER EXCEPT TO SEND IT FOR ANOTHER REMANUFACTURE. WHERE IS MY OPTION IN REPAIR AND EXPLANATION OF METAL SHAVING SOURCE?
HAD JUST PUT KEY IN IGNITION & STARTED VEHICLE WHEN THE BATTERY EXPLODED UNDER THE HOOD, LIKE A BOMB. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. RPM'S JUMPED FROM 2.5K TO 4.5K WITH A LOSS OF POWER. TRANSMISSION NOW NEEDS AN OVERHAUL. REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT, HAVE ALSO PREMATURELY WORN OUT AND FAILED. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THESE TWO PROBEMS TO BE COMMON FAILURES IN THE SUBARU SVX, ESPECIALLY 92-94 MODEL YEA…
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TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. RPM'S JUMPED FROM 2.5K TO 4.5K WITH A LOSS OF POWER. TRANSMISSION NOW NEEDS AN OVERHAUL. REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT, HAVE ALSO PREMATURELY WORN OUT AND FAILED. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THESE TWO PROBEMS TO BE COMMON FAILURES IN THE SUBARU SVX, ESPECIALLY 92-94 MODEL YEARS.
AS A MECHANIC, I MUST SAY THAT I NEVER HAVE SEEN SO MANY TSB'S, MODIFICATIONS, AND FAILURES FOR A TRANS THAT WAS NOT RECALLED. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS TRANS IS AS DEFECTIVE, IF NOT MORE, THAN THE SAME UNITS IN THE LEGACY AND OTHER MODELS THAT WERE RECALLE
HAVE REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS SEVERAL TIMES (4) IN THREE YEARS. TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACING. THESE A CURRENTLY KNOWN DEFECTS WITH THE SVX. THE TRANSMISSION IS A VERY COSTLY REPLACEMENT.
NO SUMMARY
CD PLAYER FAILED.*ET
TRANSMISSION FAILS TO LOCK UP IN FOURTH GEAR WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW +32 DEG F. AT ANY TEMPERATURE BELOW 0 DEF F., THE TRANSMISSION MAY NEVER LOCK UP. DROVE 900 MILES IN ONE DAY AT TEMPERATURES OF 0 TO -15 DEG F. THE TRANSMISSION NEVER DID LOCK UP. HAVE HAD IT INTO THE SERVICE DEALER 3 TIMES. THEY TEST DROVE IT IN COLD WEA…
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TRANSMISSION FAILS TO LOCK UP IN FOURTH GEAR WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW +32 DEG F. AT ANY TEMPERATURE BELOW 0 DEF F., THE TRANSMISSION MAY NEVER LOCK UP. DROVE 900 MILES IN ONE DAY AT TEMPERATURES OF 0 TO -15 DEG F. THE TRANSMISSION NEVER DID LOCK UP. HAVE HAD IT INTO THE SERVICE DEALER 3 TIMES. THEY TEST DROVE IT IN COLD WEATHER AND ALSO HAD LOCK UP PROBLEMS. IF THE TRANSMISSION GOES ABOVE 140 DEG F IT WORKS OK. PROBLEM IS, WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NEVER GET ABOVE 140 DEG F. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. GAS MILAGE IS EXTREMELY POOR IN COLD WEATHER. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.