1994 Subaru SVX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
99,722 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 19 complaints (78.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 57.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 1; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 1; Tires: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 1; 2000: 6; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 4; 2006: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10018652 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
1994 SUBARU SVX, HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS WELL KNOWN TO SVX OWNER COMMUNITY. THERE ARE MANY SITES AND ARTICLES THAT ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE 4EAT TRANSMISSION FAILING. THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT IS VERY COSTLY AND SUBARU SHOULD HELP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058749 · 2004-02-23 (February 23, 2004)
JUST ANOTHER DEAD TRANSIMISSION IN MY SVX. IT SEEMS LIKE 116,000-124,000 MILES IS THE LIFETIME OF THESE THINGS (SO MANY DEAD THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY NEW TRANSMISSIONS AVAILABLE SINCE 2001) . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062352 · 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)
AFTER RESEARCHING ABOUT MY SUBARU SVX, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SUBARU PUT IN THESE CARS. THERE IS AN EXTENSIVE FAQ PAGE AT SUBARU SVX.COM AS TO THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEMS. MY CAR WILL NOT TRANSFER IN TO 4TH GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION RUNS HOT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083608 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 100 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. ENGINE REVVED AT A HIGH RATE. THEN, VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND THE CONSUMER HIT A WALL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 104,443 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090859 · 2004-09-12 (September 12, 2004)
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.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 121,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164648 · 2006-08-06 (August 6, 2006)
STARTED OUT AS 3RD AND 4TH SLIPPING, AND AFTER BABYING IT FOR A WEEK OF GOING TO WORK AND BACK HOME IT WILL NO LONGER HOLD 3RD OR 4TH. AFTER DOING RESEARCH IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THE 4EAT HAS ABOUT AS MUCH ISSUES AS THE PINTO (WITHOUT THE EXPLODING). EVERY OWNER OF THE SVX AND A 4EAT HAS SUFFERED THIS IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. THE LEGACY'S WERE RECALLED AND REPAIRED, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SVX? FOR A $30-$40K MSRP FROM THE DEALER, YOU WOULD ASSUME THEY WOULD TREAT THESE CARS WITH A BIT MORE CLASS IN THIS SITUATION. TOP IT ALL OFF, I ONLY HAVE 58K…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,540 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10281137 · 2009-08-20 (August 20, 2009)
MY SUBARU SVX TRANSMISSION RECENTLY STARTED SUFFERING A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, HIGH REVS AND SLIPPING WHILE SHIFTING AND JUST NOW I TRIED TO DRIVE IT AND A CLUNKING SOUND HAPPENED WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE. NOW IT WON'T GO IN TO REVERSE AT ALL, ALSO, 1ST GEAR DOESN'T WORK HALF THE TIME AND THE REST OF THE FORWARD GEARS SEEM TO SLIP SEVERELY MOST OF THE TIME TOO. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE, AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH IT BEFORE. TROUBLE STARTED MAYBE A FEW DAYS AGO.. THE HEAT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN THE SUBARU SVX AND LEGACY MOD…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,276 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386585 · 2011-03-06 (March 6, 2011)
MY 94 SUBARU SVX TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR SUBARU SHOULD PAY. POOR DESIGN IN TRANSMISSION *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386585 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.