Total Complaints
3 filings
SUBARU SVX · model year
1996 SUBARU SVX
3 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996SUBARUSVX carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1996 SVX is power train:axle assembly:axle shaft with 1 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (1) and suspension:rear (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1996 SVX. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19991001SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH OR FASTER CONSUMER NOTICED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990908POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 MOD
19981020POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED TWICE.
Compare 1996SUBARUSVX to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
PE19009Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure
PE15012Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Passenger Front Air Bag Suppression
PE11011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Front suspension control arm failure
EA09007Engineering AnalysisClosed
FUEL PUMP LEAKS
PE09017Preliminary EvaluationClosed
FUEL LINE LEAK
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 SUBARU SVX have?▼
The 1996 SUBARU SVX has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 SUBARU SVX?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 SUBARU SVX is POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SUSPENSION:REAR.
Is the 1996 SUBARU SVX safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1996 SUBARU SVX; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.