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
Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1999
Power Train
MANY SUBARU SVXS HAVE HAD PROPBLEM TRANSMISSIONS BUT SUBARU IGNORES THE PROBLEMS. MY PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS THAT THE TRANNY DOES NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THE ENGINE RPM RISES SIGNIFICANTLY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. MOST OF THESE SVXS, ESP. FROM '92-'94 HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. M…
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MANY SUBARU SVXS HAVE HAD PROPBLEM TRANSMISSIONS BUT SUBARU IGNORES THE PROBLEMS. MY PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS THAT THE TRANNY DOES NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THE ENGINE RPM RISES SIGNIFICANTLY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. MOST OF THESE SVXS, ESP. FROM '92-'94 HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. MY TRANSMISSON, AS WITH MANY OTHERS, IS GOING OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO DEFECTS.
NHTSA ODI #708385
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 1999
Wheels
MY STATE IS BC AND MY ZIP IS V2M 6H4 AND MY COUNTRY IS CANADA. NO SAFETY DEFECT INCLUDED IN SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #708190
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
DEAR NHTSA, PLEASE LOOK INTO THE CASES INVOLVING REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURES BECAUSE UNDER THIS SEARCH IN YOUR COMPLAINT FILE I SAW MANY. THE NUMBERS MAY NOT BE OVERWHELMING BUT THAT IS BECAUSE SUBARU ONLY PRODUCED AROUND 20000 OF THESE VEHICLES. I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND SURGING WHICH I SEE AS A SAFETY …
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DEAR NHTSA, PLEASE LOOK INTO THE CASES INVOLVING REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURES BECAUSE UNDER THIS SEARCH IN YOUR COMPLAINT FILE I SAW MANY. THE NUMBERS MAY NOT BE OVERWHELMING BUT THAT IS BECAUSE SUBARU ONLY PRODUCED AROUND 20000 OF THESE VEHICLES. I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND SURGING WHICH I SEE AS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT. IF YOU WANT MORE INFO AND DATA YOU CAN CHECK OUT WWW.KINETICCONCEPTS.COM WHICH IS TAKING A SURVEY ON CAR OWNERS AND THEIR PROBLEMS. I FIND IT HARD TO DISMISS THE PERCENTAGE OF 136 PEOPLE RESONDING 41% HAD TO AT LEAST REPAIR ONE WHEEL BEARING AND ALSO 40% HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION. SO PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE PROBLEMS THAT SUBARU HAS HAD WITH THEIR SVX WITH CONCERN FOR THE CONSUMER AND FOR THEIR SAFETY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #707380
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Power Train
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #707344
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 1999
Power Train
REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS HAS GONE OUT 4 TIMES IN LAST 20,000 MILES, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #838901
Mileage unknown · May 26, 1999
Suspension
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS MAKING NOISE WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER, ABOUT 14 THOUSAND MILES IT'S MAKING NOISE AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #782374
Mileage unknown · May 17, 1999
Latches/locks/linkagesPower TrainUnknown Or Other
LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING COMPLETELY DEFECTIVE - HAVE HAD REPLACED. WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT OPERATE UNTIL THE CAR HAS WARMED UP AT LEAST 5 MINUTES. ENGINE SOMETIMES DIES WHEN CAR IS PUT INTO REVERSE GEAR. GEARS CHANGE WITH A JOLT AND CAR JERKS WHEN TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. TRUNK LATCH IS INOPERAT…
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LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING COMPLETELY DEFECTIVE - HAVE HAD REPLACED. WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT OPERATE UNTIL THE CAR HAS WARMED UP AT LEAST 5 MINUTES. ENGINE SOMETIMES DIES WHEN CAR IS PUT INTO REVERSE GEAR. GEARS CHANGE WITH A JOLT AND CAR JERKS WHEN TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. TRUNK LATCH IS INOPERATIVE FROM DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL. BRAKES "CATCH AND RELEASE" WHEN APPLIED.
NHTSA ODI #706581
Mileage unknown · May 6, 1999
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING AND MY TRANSMISION STOP SHIFTING THE GEARS AND WHEN I GOT HOME MY TRANSMISION WAS SMOKING.
NHTSA ODI #706296
Mileage unknown · May 5, 1999
Suspension
HAVE EXPERIENCED WORN REAR-WHEEL BEARINGS ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. APPROXIMATELY EVERY 12 - 20 MILES (OF MOSTLY FREEWAY DRIVING) REAR-WHEEL BEARNINGS HAVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA ODI #706271
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1999
Power Train
TRANSMISSION AND WHEEL BEARING FAILURES OCCUR VERY FREQUENTLY ON THIS CAR. SOME ACTION MUST BE TAKEN TO HOLD THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE.
NHTSA ODI #705858
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.
1992 Subaru Svx Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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