1992 Subaru SVX Problems
- Complaints
- 231filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 115,290miles, 19 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 18 mpgcombined, 3.3L 6-cyl 4WD/AWD · 15 city / 23 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1992 Subaru SVX (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints for this model year are dominated by the automatic transmission: owners describe slipping, missing gears, hard reverse engagement and eventual loss of drive, often after a rebuild or replacement. A smaller group of complaints covers wheel bearing noise, brakes and idle/engine-speed surges. The sample spans roughly 35,000 to 165,000 miles, so failures are reported across a wide mileage range rather than at one point in the car's life.
- Transmission and drivetrain
Automatic transmission slipping and losing gears
- 169 complaints (73%)
- median 115,290 mi at 12.7 yrs old (19 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $2,850 (median of 12 quotes)
- filed 1997–2013
Owners describe the automatic transmission slipping under acceleration, failing to engage third or fourth gear, and eventually losing drive altogether. Some report a hard thunk when reverse is selected and the engine revving between shifts before the car lurches. Several say the dealer replaced the transmission, recommended a remanufactured unit, or found no fault codes when the car was brought in; others describe repairs or rebuilds in the range of a few thousand dollars. A number of complaints are group letters sent on behalf of multiple owners about the same transmission. Reported from roughly 35,000 miles upward, with several failures noted around 60,000-100,000 miles and some past 150,000 miles.
What to check: Drive the car long enough to reach highway speed and confirm it shifts into all gears, and check whether reverse engages without a heavy clunk. Ask for service records showing whether and when the transmission was rebuilt or replaced, and who did the work.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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 miles“I own a 1992 subarus SVX . I had to have the transmission rebuilt at a cost of $2500.00 now 40,000 miles later it needs another one , from reports I have read there is serious factory flaws in this cars transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #10086735, filed 2004-08, 65,000 miles - Wheels
Wheel bearing noise, often rear
Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe a roaring or scraping noise that rises with road speed, which they attribute to wheel bearings, and report having bearings replaced more than once. Some mention a rear bearing going bad again within a short mileage interval, and one notes an ABS wheel sensor issue after bearing work. Complaints often pair the bearing noise with the transmission problems in the same vehicle. No single mileage pattern; complaints mention repeat replacements within tens of thousands of miles and at higher odometer readings.
What to check: Listen for a steady hum or roar that changes pitch with speed and with gentle steering left and right, which can point to a worn wheel bearing. Ask for receipts for any bearing replacements and note which corners were done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Transmission failed with 64000 mi. Trans shop rebuilt it and added a trans cooler for 2200$ 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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10249110, filed 2008-11, 65,000 miles“Owners of this car which if needed 100-1000 or more owners can claim that this car built by Subaru has a defect in the transmission. The transmission was poorly built because of lack of lubrication to internal parts and lack of fluid cooling. This is my second failure on this same car. Another common defect on this car is the wheel bearings. I have replaced them with repeats going on 4 times. The bearings are failing too quickly for any car. …”
NHTSA complaint #765904, filed 2002-08 - Vehicle speed control
Surge or sudden acceleration from idle and stop
- 28 complaints (12%)
- median 120,000 mi at 11.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1998–2008
Owners describe the engine or transmission surging: the car barely moves with the accelerator pressed, then gains power suddenly and lurches forward. Some report the engine revving to high rpm between gears, and one describes unexpected acceleration when reverse was selected after a start. Complaints associate the behaviour with cold starts and with transmission shifting, and in some cases the dealer recommended transmission replacement. Most reports involve cold starts or the first few shifts after starting; mileage varies across the sample.
What to check: Start the car from cold and pull away gently, watching for an idle that hangs high or a delayed then abrupt engagement. Ask whether the throttle and idle control have been serviced or replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Car has a surging problem at idle when cold. Started car, put in gear, fully depressing accelerator and car barely moves, then seconds later, car gains power suddenly and surges forward. Also, wheel bearings went bad, and had to be replaced 3 times in less than 20,000 miles (13 months). Transmission slips when shifting while accelerating. Car sometimes loses power then surges forward between gears.”
NHTSA complaint #703338, filed 1999-02“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10029576, filed 2003-07
Buying note. On this model year the automatic transmission is the main thing to evaluate: confirm service history and that all gears engage properly on a test drive. Also listen for wheel bearing noise and have the brakes inspected, since a car this age can carry several wear items at once.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 231 consumer complaints for the 1992 Subaru SVX. 19 of the complaints include a mileage, and 5% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 115,290 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 10 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Transmission and drivetrain200 87%
- Suspension19 8.2%
- Brakes7 3.0%
- Vehicle speed control7 3.0%
- Electrical system6 2.6%
- Other or unknown6 2.6%
- Wheels6 2.6%
- Steering5 2.2%
- Engine cooling4 1.7%
Also reported: Air bags (2), Equipment (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Tires (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10062160, filed 2004-03, 98,000 milesSuspension: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10136544, filed 2005-09, 165,000 milesBrakes: “Upon purchase of car 1-2 weeks prior, it was noticed that the transmission would not shift into 4th gear, and was slipping at initial acceleration from a stop until around 1500 RPM, causing wheelspin under certain conditions. On this date, transmission suddenly failed to be able to shift into 3rd gear, limiting top speed to levels below safe limits on most highways. This occurred while driving on a highway, and was potentially dangerous. Towed to dealer, dealer recommends remanufactured transmission, asking approximately $4000 for parts and labor. …”
NHTSA complaint #10017126, filed 2003-05, 110,020 milesVehicle 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 and could cause a collision with the veh in front or with a pedestrian.”
NHTSA complaint #700709, filed 1998-11Mileage when problems were reported
5% of the 19 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 74,675 and 138,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1992 Subaru SVX version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVX 4WD/AWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 23 | 18 | $4,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1992 Subaru SVX in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 10 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10219492Aug 23, 2022Equipment. This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
- 10219491Aug 23, 2022Electrical system, Equipment. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.
- 10209915Mar 18, 2022Electrical system. This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or…
- 10198758Jun 17, 2021Equipment, Electrical system. This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models
- 10198749Jun 7, 2021Equipment, Engine cooling. This bulletin is to advise of SOAâs revised catalytic converter recycling program shipping procedure.
- 10187315Feb 1, 2021Equipment. To help reduce confusion and increase technician efficiency, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has developed the following cross reference list to help locate the appropriate Special Service Tool.
- 10179378Aug 4, 2020Equipment. Special Service Tools Cross Reference List.
- 10174543Apr 30, 2020Equipment. All Models (Vehicle Cleaning- COVID-19Best Practices)
- 10161824May 21, 2019Equipment. Subaru Service and Technical Support Line Newletter.
- 10161813May 6, 2019Equipment. To help reduce confusion and increase technician efficiency, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has developed the following cross reference list to help locate the appropriate Special Service Tool.
Other model years of the Subaru SVX
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 20 | 101,784 | 0 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
| 1994 | 28 | 99,722 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 231 | 115,290 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1992 Subaru SVX?
Complaints for this model year are dominated by the automatic transmission: owners describe slipping, missing gears, hard reverse engagement and eventual loss of drive, often after a rebuild or replacement. The issues reported most often: Automatic transmission slipping and losing gears; Wheel bearing noise, often rear; Surge or sudden acceleration from idle and stop.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1992 Subaru SVX have?
NHTSA recorded 231 consumer complaints for the 1992 Subaru SVX as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1992 Subaru SVX is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 200 complaints (87% of the total), followed by suspension with 19.
Has the 1992 Subaru SVX been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1992 Subaru SVX get?
The EPA rates the 1992 Subaru SVX (SVX, 3.3L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1992 Subaru SVX reported?
Among the 19 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 115,290 miles and the middle half falls between 74,675 and 138,000 miles; 5% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.