← New search

1996 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

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Svx years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

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: 0 of 3 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

3 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1999
Suspension

WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH OR FASTER CONSUMER NOTICED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849665

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Power Train

THE FOLLOWING LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO SUBARU OF AMERICA.... THIS LETTER IS SENT ON THE BEHALF OF THE MANY OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE 4EAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE SUBARU SVX. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT CAUSES THE PREMATURE FAILURES FOR ALL MODEL YEARS. THES…

Read full complaint

THE FOLLOWING LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO SUBARU OF AMERICA.... THIS LETTER IS SENT ON THE BEHALF OF THE MANY OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE 4EAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE SUBARU SVX. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT CAUSES THE PREMATURE FAILURES FOR ALL MODEL YEARS. THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED IN CARS WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE AND CONTINUED TO OCCUR THEREAFTER. REPAIR AND/OR REPLACMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY EXPENSIVE, COSTING APPROXIMATELY AND, AS OF THIS DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO SUPPORT FROM SUBARU. UNDERSTANDABLY, THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE BECOME QUITE ANGRY AT SUBARU'S LACK OF RESPONSE OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT A PROBLEM EVEN EXISTS, AND HAVE CONSULTED LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. TO AVOID AN UNPLEASANT AND HOSTILE SITUATION, AND IN AN EFFORT TO MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE OWNERS OF YOUR CARS, THE FOLLOWING SOLUTIONS ARE DEMANDED: 1. SUBARU RECALLS AND REPLACES THE TRANSMISSIONS FOR ALL MODEL YEARS 2. EXTENDS THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES FOR ALL MODEL YEARS UNLESS A WRITTEN RESPONSE IS RECEIVED WITHIN 30 DAYS, LITIGATION WILL BE INSTITUTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED COURTESY AND COOPERATION.

NHTSA ODI #711065

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1998
Power Train

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #781494

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.