1992 Subaru Svx

Above average

Owners filed 231 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission163
210
Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft14
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission6
000
Suspension › Multiple Axle5
000
Unknown or Other4
000
Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing4
000
Vehicle Speed Control3
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines3
000
Wheels2
000
Suspension › Rear2
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Jan 16, 2013151,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 SUBARU SVX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 14, 2009150,000 milesID

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO SPECIFIC EVENT OR ACTIVITY LEAD TO THE FAILURE. TRANSMISSION WORSENED OVER A PERIOD OF WEEKS - ROUGH SHIFTS AND EVENTUALLY UNABLE TO GET INTO ALL GEARS. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 18, 200865,000 milesKS

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH 64000 MI. TRANS SHOP "REBUILT" IT AND ADDED A TRANS COOLER FOR 2200$ AS SOON AS I FIST DROVE IT I NOTICED THE CAR "BINDING UP" DURING TURNS AT SLOW SPEED. SHOP OWNER SAID HE COULDN'T REPLICATE OR FEEL ANYTHING WRONG, WITH ME IN THE CAR AND IT WAS CLEARLY BINDING DURING SLOW TURNS, HE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM. ALSO THERE IS A NOISE, LIKE A BOLT INSIDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT I HEAR WHEN I AM OFF THE THROTTLE. ALSO HAVE REPLACED BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. CABIN TRUNK RELEASE HAS FAILED AND ALL OF THE HOOD/TRUNK STRUTS HAVE FAILED. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 10, 2008120,000 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 SUBARU SVX. WHILE DRIVING 23 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A SHIFTING DELAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE AND HAD TO BE SHIFTED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO BE RESTARTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE WOULD REV WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURES OCCURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO ERROR CODES OR FAILURES; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING. A DIAGNOSTIC COULD BE PERFORMED AT THE COST OF $180. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 28, 2007WA

TRANSMISSION SLIP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines
Filed Jan 18, 2006117,000 milesVT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION'S SECOND GEAR IS INOPERATIVE AND THIRD GEAR IS SLIPPING. THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS UNABLE TO COOL THE TRANSMISSION WHICH LED TO THE FAILURE OF THE SECOND GEAR. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 23, 200564,000 milesCA

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY SUBARU SVX 1992 YEAR MODEL. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 65K MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 14, 2005165,000 miles00

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 SUB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 28, 2005130,000 milesOR

1992 SUBARU SVX TRANSMISSION FAILURE. EVERYTHING ON THE CAR WORKS GREAT BUT 3RD AND 4TH GEAR.. SUBARU NEEDS TO HELP US OUT SINCE THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $4200, THAT'S MORE THEN BLUE BOOK. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 20, 2005NY

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER BEING FIXED. NO WARNING THIS TIME, JUST WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE. TRANSMISSION IS BEING REBUILT BY SUBARU. IT IS A 1992 SUBARU SVX. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 23, 200474,675 milesOH

I AM FEELING THE FAILURE OF MY TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS QUITE COMMON TO ALL 1992 SUBARU SVX AND THE COMPANY HASN'T REALLY TAKEN ANY PRECAUTIONARY OR EVEN RECALL FOR THOSE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS AND MANY OF 1992 OWNERS HAVE SPENT A LOT IN THIS ISSUE AND EVEN SOME OF THOSE HAVE CHANGED TO MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE COMPANY IS CHARGING ABOUT $4,200 TO INSTALL A NEW TRANMISSION. I AM GETTIN WHETHER THEY ARE MAKING MONEY ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 12, 200465,000 milesOK

I OWN A 1992 SUBARUS SVX . I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A COST OF $2500.00 NOW 40,000 MILES LATER IT NEEDS ANOTHER ONE , FROM REPORTS I HAVE READ THERE IS SERIOUS FACTORY FLAWS IN THIS CARS TRANSMISSION.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 15, 2004130,000 milesAZ

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN 4TH GEAR WHEN IT'S TEMPERATURE AND THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE IS COOL. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILS TO LOCK IN GEAR. THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES AND DOES NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT SPEED BEING DRIVEN. THIS OCCURS BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER SENSOR IS INSTALLED ON TOP ON THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE TRANSMISSION BURNT THROUGH THE SENSOR. THE FAILURE IS COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE PER THE DEALERSHIP. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 14, 200498,000 milesNV

MY SVX, ALTHOUGH IT IS A 92' THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AT ABOUT 98,000 MILES. I EXPECTED THE LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO LAST A LOT LONGER. THE CAR IS IN GOOD CONDITION, BUT IT WILL COST ME OVER $6000 TO FIX AS RENO SUBARU SAYS I WILL NEED A COMPLETE NEW TRANSMISSION TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS PROBABLEY ONLY WORTH ABOUT THAT MUCH. MY CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY, I DON'T WANT TO SCRAP IT BUT DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE ENTIRE WORTH OF THE CAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 2, 2004138,000 milesPA

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FLAWS OF THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 3, 2003FL

VEHICLE BEGAN TO REV WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONSUMER THEN ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. *MR THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DOWN GRADE. WHEN THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED THE CONSUMERS SON HAD TAKEN HIS FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND COASTED BEFORE APPLYING THE BRAKES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE VEHICLE WAS BACKED UP, AND IDLED NORMALLY. THE SUBARU DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON THE SECOND INCIDENT THE MOTOR STARTED TO REV AND WAS VERY LOUD AND NOISY. THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE DASH AND THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SHOT OUT OF CONTROL FROM THE PARKED ANGLE SPACE INTO THE LANE FOR TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE REVVING WAS DUE TO CARBON BUILD UP. THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A LEAK. *SCC *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 29, 2003115,290 milesTN

WE HAVE HAD A 1992 SUBARU SVX AND ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NEW ONE PUT IN AND THE FACT THAT THIS MODEL/YEAR HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SO MUCH AND THAT SUBARU OBVIOUSLY REALIZED THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION BY 1993. WHY WERE THESE TRANSMISSIONS NOT RECALLED OR AT LEAST PROVIDED WITH SOME TYPE OF CORRECTION? *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 17, 2003FL

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A LOT, WHEN CONSUMER STARTED THE IGNITION, INSTANTLY THE RPMS "REVVED" UP TO THE MAXIMUM. CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN RESTARTED. WHEN GEAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD ALMOST HITTING PEDESTRIANS.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 15, 2003NY

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 7, 200335,500 milesNM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE: CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT 1 YEAR PRIOR ABOUT PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THE SLIPAGE WAS NORMAL. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS PERMANENTLY SLIPPING AND DOES NOT DRIVE IN ANY DIRECTION. IS 36000 MILES NORMAL FOR A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION?......ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE SVX OWNERS.*AK

20 of 231 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1992
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19972000Routine
19963000Routine
199520000Routine
199428000Routine
19934000Routine
1992 — this page231010Above average
19903000Routine

Compare every Svx year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.