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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

What owners actually said

231 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1998
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

I AM REQUESTING HELP TO PRESSURE SUABRU OF AMERICA TO RECALL THIS WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 1992 SUBARU SVX. THE TRANY PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE TO DATE,THE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE, STEERING BOX FAILURE IS A NOTED BY MOST OWNERS OF THIS SUBARU MODEL. THIS IS COSTLY TO REPAIR AND UNFAIR WHEN A MANUFACTOR IS AWARE BUT WILLN'T JUST DO…

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I AM REQUESTING HELP TO PRESSURE SUABRU OF AMERICA TO RECALL THIS WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 1992 SUBARU SVX. THE TRANY PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE TO DATE,THE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE, STEERING BOX FAILURE IS A NOTED BY MOST OWNERS OF THIS SUBARU MODEL. THIS IS COSTLY TO REPAIR AND UNFAIR WHEN A MANUFACTOR IS AWARE BUT WILLN'T JUST DO THE RIGHT THING. MY TRANSMISSION IS FAILING NOW, I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART AT $3.500 OR MORE. MY WHEEL BEARINGS STILL MAKE LOUD NOISE AFTER OVER 5 ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR AT ONLY 44,000MILS. MY STEERING BOX IS MAKING LOUD NOISES. THE SAD THING IS THAT, SUBARU OWNER OF THE SVX`S ALL EXPERIANCE AT LEAST TWO, OF THIS PROBLEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHY CAN`T SUBARU JUST FIX OUR VEHICLES?

NHTSA ODI #700837

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1998
Power TrainSuspension

THE BEARING PROBLEM STARTED AS SOON AS I BOUGHT THE CAR - ORIGINALLY UNDER WARRANTY. NO PROBLEM, UNTIL CAR FAILED FIRST INSPECTION (AFTER INITIAL FOR PURCHASE) DUE TO REAR BEARINGS. REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES (AFTER THE FIRST 'FIX', PARTS COVERED THANKFULLY UNDER SUBARU PARTS WARRANTY). NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND CONCERNED THAT THE D…

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THE BEARING PROBLEM STARTED AS SOON AS I BOUGHT THE CAR - ORIGINALLY UNDER WARRANTY. NO PROBLEM, UNTIL CAR FAILED FIRST INSPECTION (AFTER INITIAL FOR PURCHASE) DUE TO REAR BEARINGS. REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES (AFTER THE FIRST 'FIX', PARTS COVERED THANKFULLY UNDER SUBARU PARTS WARRANTY). NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND CONCERNED THAT THE DEALER WILL POSTPONE 'AGREEING' THAT THE BEARINGS ARE INDEED WHAT I AM NOW HEARING (AGAIN) UNTIL THE PARTS WARRANTY DRIES UP AND I HAVE TO PAY THE FULL LOAD. ALSO, CAR WAS DRIVEN AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR A POTENTIAL TRADE/SALE, THE REP SAID THERE WAS A TRANNY PROBLEM. I PUT IN A DIFFERENT TRANNY FLUID (I'D ALWAYS NOTICED THE STEERING VIBRATION IN HARD, SLOW SPEED TURNS LIKE PARKING), AND THAT LESSENED THE PROBLEM. I DON'T FEEL TRANNY FLUID IS A FIX, BUT ALSO DO NOT FEEL THAT A TRANNY W/68,000 MILES SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN SHOWING SIGNS OF POTENTIAL FAILURE. NOT MANY MECHANICS WILL TOUCH THIS CAR, SO OWNING AN SVX (OTHERWISE PURE JOY) LEAVES YOU AT THE MERCY OF THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE SUBARU DEALER'S MECHANIC.

NHTSA ODI #700818

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION. TAKES 1-2 SECONDS FOR DRIVETRAIN TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION AND THEN VEHICLE TAKES OFF MUCH QUICKER THAN ANTICIPATED. HAPPENS FROM A STOP OR WHILE MOVING, IF VEH IS HOT OR COLD AND IF IT IS DRY OR WET OUT. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS VEH LURCHES FORWARD WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A STOP A…

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VEHICLE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION. TAKES 1-2 SECONDS FOR DRIVETRAIN TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION AND THEN VEHICLE TAKES OFF MUCH QUICKER THAN ANTICIPATED. HAPPENS FROM A STOP OR WHILE MOVING, IF VEH IS HOT OR COLD AND IF IT IS DRY OR WET OUT. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS VEH LURCHES FORWARD WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A STOP AND COULD CAUSE A COLLISION WITH THE VEH IN FRONT OR WITH A PEDESTRIAN.

NHTSA ODI #700709

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 1998
Power TrainWheels

I HAVE REPORTED MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEM TO YOU PREVIOUSLY...I HAVE REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH BINDING IN THE DRIVE WHEELS BECAUSE THE TRANNY AND THE CLUTCH WERE NOT COMMUNICATING PROPERLY. NOW THE CAR IS STUBBORN TO SHIFT FROM OVERDRIVE AND I AM WORRIED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE…

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I HAVE REPORTED MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEM TO YOU PREVIOUSLY...I HAVE REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH BINDING IN THE DRIVE WHEELS BECAUSE THE TRANNY AND THE CLUTCH WERE NOT COMMUNICATING PROPERLY. NOW THE CAR IS STUBBORN TO SHIFT FROM OVERDRIVE AND I AM WORRIED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE GONE BAD AGAIN AND NEED REPLACED IN LESS THAN 18 MONTHS OF USE.

NHTSA ODI #700660

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1998
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

TRANSIMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT DUE TO METAL PARTICLES BEING FOUND IN FLUID. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL CAR. PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT STARTED MAKING A SCRAPPING NOISE AND THE CAR WAS UNDRIVABLE AT THAT POINT.

NHTSA ODI #700566

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1998
Power Train

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT TWICE NOW IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. IT WOULD BE EASY TO SAY THAT THE TRANNY IS GOING OUT BECAUSE OF MY DRIVING OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. BUT I KNOW THAT I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR WITH PRIDE AND DRIVE IT IN THE SAME MANNER. I HAVE DONE MY READING ON THIS TRANSMISSION, I HAVE…

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT TWICE NOW IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. IT WOULD BE EASY TO SAY THAT THE TRANNY IS GOING OUT BECAUSE OF MY DRIVING OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. BUT I KNOW THAT I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR WITH PRIDE AND DRIVE IT IN THE SAME MANNER. I HAVE DONE MY READING ON THIS TRANSMISSION, I HAVE HEARD SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM DISSAPPOINTED AND UPSET THAT I HAVE TO SPEND MORE ON REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSIONS THEN I DO ON MY CAR PAYMENTS AND INSURANCE COMBINED. I WILL HAVE SPENT $8000 ON TRANNY WORK BY THE END OF THIS MONTH SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY. I KNOW THAT THE REAL QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OR OPERATOR ERROR. WELL, I HOPE FOR MY SAKE AND THE SAKE OF ALL OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT YOUR INVESTIGATIONS CONCLUDE THAT A MAJORITY OF THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE DEFECTIVE. AS A RESULT OF THIS POTENTIAL DEFECT, A WORTHY CAR IS BEING TAKEN OFF THE ROAD AND CONSUMERS MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON WHAT SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, TONY SPENCE

NHTSA ODI #700544

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1998
Power Train

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED FOR CONSUMER

NHTSA ODI #700535

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 1998
Unknown Or Other

MY CAR HAS HAD REPEATED DEFECTS EFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. THE REPAIR COST FOR THE TRANSMISSION EXCEEDES $3000. AND THE BEARINGS COST $400. EA. THIS MANUFACTURES DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, AND THE MANUFACTURER, SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS FAILED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #700507

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1998
Unknown Or Other

THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAIL ON THE SUBARU SVX REPEATEDLY DUE TO A POOR DESIGN.

NHTSA ODI #700362

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1998
Unknown Or Other

THE TRANSMISSION FAILS ON THE SUBARU SVX DUE TO A POOR DESIGN.

NHTSA ODI #700361

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.