Subaru SVX Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 279 consumer complaints across the 3 model years of the Subaru SVX (1992–1995) that have at least 5 complaints. 1992 has the most, with 231. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (239 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All SVX model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 20 | 101,784 | 0 | 10 | — | Stable |
| 1994 | 28 | 99,722 | 0 | 10 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 231 | 115,290 | 0 | 10 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain239 78%
- Suspension21 6.9%
- Brakes11 3.6%
- Vehicle speed control10 3.3%
- Other or unknown8 2.6%
- Wheels6 2.0%
- Electrical system6 2.0%
- Steering5 1.6%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1995: “Was driving an first 3rd gear would just rev then it started skipping 3rd then I would have to slowly push gas to move an eventually it just revved up I would park an wait 15-20 min start it an transmission worked for a couple min then stopped an it still works barely off an on it has fluid but when it doesn't work the shifter can be in any position an transmission won't engage at all.”
NHTSA complaint #10585676, filed 2014-04, 125,614 miles1994: “I had transmission failure of the 3rd and 4th gears that started out as gears slipping, then the transmission stopped shifting to 3rd and 4th all together. I did not do anything to fix the problem because it is too expensive. I had to buy another car just to get to and from work since it was cheape, and I have been letting the car sit in my driveway.”
NHTSA complaint #10090859, filed 2004-09, 121,500 miles1992: “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?”
NHTSA complaint #10036855, filed 2003-08, 115,290 milesOther Subaru models
9,776 complaintsSubaru Forester
6,527 complaintsSubaru Legacy
3,182 complaintsSubaru Impreza
2,649 complaintsSubaru Crosstrek
1,191 complaintsSubaru Ascent
1,038 complaintsSubaru WRX
969 complaintsSubaru XV Crosstrek
258 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology