IllustrationNOT A COMPLETE FAILURE BUT INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AND OTHER PROBLEMS. BEARING FAILURE HAS LOUD ASSOCIATED HUM. *AK
1994 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: 6 of 28 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 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
28 reportsTHE SUBARU SVX BECAUSE OF BAD ENGINEERING OF THE TRANSMISSION HAS AN ALARMINGLY HIGH FAILURE RATE. DRIVERS OF THESE CARS ARE ALMOST GUARANTEED A FAILURE, AND MANY TIMES 3 OR 4.THESE TRANSMISSIONS COSTING UPWARDS OF $2500 FOR PARTS AND $1000 FOR LABOR WOULD REALLY HURT THE BUYERS WHO HAD NO IDEA OF THE TROUBLES INVOLVED IN OWNIN…
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THE SUBARU SVX BECAUSE OF BAD ENGINEERING OF THE TRANSMISSION HAS AN ALARMINGLY HIGH FAILURE RATE. DRIVERS OF THESE CARS ARE ALMOST GUARANTEED A FAILURE, AND MANY TIMES 3 OR 4.THESE TRANSMISSIONS COSTING UPWARDS OF $2500 FOR PARTS AND $1000 FOR LABOR WOULD REALLY HURT THE BUYERS WHO HAD NO IDEA OF THE TROUBLES INVOLVED IN OWNING ONE. I WILL BE WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR 10 DAYS AS MY DEALER HAS TOLD ME IN FEAR THAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN I WILL LOSE MY JOB AS WELL AS HAVE TO SHELL OUT ABOUT 4,000 EACH TIME THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. I REPEAT THAT THIS IS DUE TO A BADLY ENGINEERED TRANSMISSION THAT WAS DESIGNED TOO WEAK IN STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE POWER THAT THE ENGINE SUPPLIES. SUBARU AT THIS POINT HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION THAT IS AFFECTING ITS OWNERS SO DEEPLY. I MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD AN ADDITIONAL 4000 ON TOP OF THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS AND TAX AND FEAR I WILL HAVE TO SELL THIS CAR BECAUSE IT IS TO EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. *AK
THESE WHEEL BEARINGS DON'T SEEM TO LAST VERY LONG. ACCORDING TO PEOPLE I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE NEW PARTS PROBABLY WON'T LAST VERY LONG. I'M IN THE AIR FORCE AND NOW LIVE IN ITALY. I CANT AFFORD THE TWO DAYS AND 200 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY.
THE LEAK FROM THE ENGINE SEPARATOR PLATE IS BECAUSE ITS PLASTIC. (SO TOLD BY THE TECHNICAN). SUBARU CHANGED IT IN LATE 95, BUT I AM STUCK WITH IT. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES FROM SHIFTING 2 TO 3, WITH A SERIOUS LOSS OF POWER. THE CASSETTE PLAYER STOPPED WORKING. THE MOON ROOF DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE WHEEL BEARING NO…
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THE LEAK FROM THE ENGINE SEPARATOR PLATE IS BECAUSE ITS PLASTIC. (SO TOLD BY THE TECHNICAN). SUBARU CHANGED IT IN LATE 95, BUT I AM STUCK WITH IT. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES FROM SHIFTING 2 TO 3, WITH A SERIOUS LOSS OF POWER. THE CASSETTE PLAYER STOPPED WORKING. THE MOON ROOF DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE WHEEL BEARING NOISE IS TREMENDOUS.
WHEEL BEARINGS/TRANSMISSION FAILED.
REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED.
DUE TO CARBON FORMING AROUND THE THROTTLE BODY, THE THROTTLE WAS IN OPEN POSITION, RESULTING IN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT TO WORK PROPERLY, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID THE REASON THE CARBON WAS FORMING AROUND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE OCCUPANT DID NOT DRIVE THE VE…
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DUE TO CARBON FORMING AROUND THE THROTTLE BODY, THE THROTTLE WAS IN OPEN POSITION, RESULTING IN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT TO WORK PROPERLY, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID THE REASON THE CARBON WAS FORMING AROUND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE OCCUPANT DID NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS MUCH. *AK
RIGHT REAR CALIPER PIN BROKE OFF. *SKD
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.