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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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How this year compares

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

7 reports
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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

110,020 miles · May 6, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

UPON PURCHASE OF CAR 1-2 WEEKS PRIOR, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR, AND WAS SLIPPING AT INITIAL ACCELERATION FROM A STOP UNTIL AROUND 1500 RPM, CAUSING WHEELSPIN UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. ON THIS DATE, TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, LIMITING TOP SPEED TO LEV…

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UPON PURCHASE OF CAR 1-2 WEEKS PRIOR, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR, AND WAS SLIPPING AT INITIAL ACCELERATION FROM A STOP UNTIL AROUND 1500 RPM, CAUSING WHEELSPIN UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. ON THIS DATE, TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, LIMITING TOP SPEED TO LEVELS BELOW SAFE LIMITS ON MOST HIGHWAYS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, AND WAS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER RECOMMENDS REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, ASKING APPROXIMATELY $4000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I DIDN'T (AND STILL DON'T) HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT, SO I MANAGED TO LIMP HOME WITH IT WHERE IT HAS SAT SINCE. AT SOME POINT SINCE THEN IT HAS LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. DEALER ALSO FOUND POSSIBLE WHEEL BEARING AND FRONT ROTOR PROBLEMS, IN ADDITION TO FAILURE OF FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. WANTS ROUGHLY $6000 TO FULLY REPAIR VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10017126

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSON HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, AND CURRENTLY NEEDS ITS FIFTH TRANSMISSION, MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN SHARING THE COST OF THE BILL WITH THE CONSUMER.*JB

NHTSA ODI #562962

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKES FAILURE LIGHT, ENGINE OIL SEALS, TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TRANSMISSION COSTS $3000-$4000. MJS

NHTSA ODI #701328

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND APPLYING BRAKES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR, DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829436

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE CALIPERS LOCK UP CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ODI #538516

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHENEVER DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVER 60 MPH. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 96, SECOND TIME IN AUGUST 97, AND THE THIRD TIME IN MARCH 98. VEHICLE IS IN SHOP FOR REPAIRS SINCE JUNE29, 98. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM.THE BRAKES WILL LOCK A…

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CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHENEVER DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVER 60 MPH. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 96, SECOND TIME IN AUGUST 97, AND THE THIRD TIME IN MARCH 98. VEHICLE IS IN SHOP FOR REPAIRS SINCE JUNE29, 98. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM.THE BRAKES WILL LOCK AND VEHICLE WILL LOSE CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #825167

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.