2005 Subaru LEGACY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
184 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
74,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 140 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 184 complaints (13.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 43 | 23.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 9.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.2% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Service Brakes | 22 |
| Air Bags | 19 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 |
Electrical System: 25; Service Brakes: 22; Air Bags: 19; Fuel/Propulsion System: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 13; Fuel System, Gasoline: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Exterior Lighting: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 15
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 44 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2004: 2; 2005: 21; 2006: 11; 2007: 9; 2008: 16; 2009: 7; 2010: 8; 2011: 8; 2012: 7; 2013: 13; 2014: 14; 2015: 13; 2016: 19; 2017: 5; 2018: 7; 2019: 6; 2020: 4; 2021: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 15 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10104400 · 2004-12-23 (December 23, 2004)
VEHICLE: 05 SUBARU GT LIMITED SEDAN (PURCHASED) 11/30/04) TIRE: BRIDGESTONE, POTENZA RE92 (215/45 ZR17. MY WIFE AND I SKIDDED AS WE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN ON A LEVEL, SNOW COVERED ROAD. I BROKE GRADUALLY AND MY SPEED WAS LOW, ABOUT 10 MPH AS I STARTED BRAKING). INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING EVEN THOUGH I APPLIED MORE BRAKE PRESSURE. IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR AHEAD OF US, I WOULD HAVE REARENDED IT. I DISCOVERED VERY NEGATIVE REVIEWS OF THIS TIRE ON THE FOLLLOWING 2 CUSTOMER SURVEY BASES: TIRERACK.COM AND 1010TIRES.COM. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149567 · 2006-02-06 (February 6, 2006)
MY HUSBAND NOTICED OIL ACCUMULATING ON THE DRIVEWAY. HE LOOKED AND FOUND THE DRIVER'S FRONT STRUT HAD LEAKED OIL ON THE BRAKE CALIPER, LEFT FRONT WHEEL, LEFT FRONT AXLE RUBBER BOOT AND THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED PARTS TO REPLACE THE STRUT. THEY SAY THE BRAKES AND AXLE PROTECTIVE BOOT ARE UNAFFECTED BY THE OIL. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL LET ME KEEP THE STRUT SINCE THE CAR IS NEW AND UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163976 · 2006-07-31 (July 31, 2006)
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN STORMS, MY 2005 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON HAD PROBLEMS STARTING AND RUNNING. THE ENGINE 'STUTTERS' OR 'MISFIRES' UNTIL THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED AND LEFT FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, THEN RECONNECTED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE SUBARU DEALER ON APPROXIMATELY FOUR OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHERE ECU CODES HAVE BEEN CLEARED, AND I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. IT INVARIABLY RETURNS WITH THE NEXT RAINSTORM. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD EMERGE WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS, LEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182833 · 2007-02-17 (February 17, 2007)
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR SENSED THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT WHEN THERE WASN'T. THE CHIME KEPT GOING UNTIL I BUCKLED THE SEAT BELT IN. I CALLED THE SUBARU EXTENDED WARRANTY PERSON AND THEIR REMEDY WAS TO TURN KEY TO THE ON POSITION IN THE IGNITION, THEN, WITHIN 30 SECONDS, BUCKLE AND UNBUCKLE THE DRIVER SEAT BELT 20 TIMES. SHE SAID THAT IF THE BATTERY GETS REPLACED OR UNHOOKED, I WOULD HAVE TO DO THIS 30 SECOND 'DRILL' AGAIN. IT DID REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10180818 · 2007-01-26 (January 26, 2007)
OEM TIRES ON THE 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT ARE DANGEROUS. JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING OUR VEHICLE WE WERE CAUGHT IN AN ICE STORM. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO NAVIGATE A GAS STATION AT EXTREMELY LOW SPEEDS THE CAR LOST TRACTION AND RAN INTO A POLE IN FRONT OF A FUEL PUMP. WE OWN A NON-AWD VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER LOST TRACTION AT SUCH LOW SPEEDS ON ICE. WE ALSO NOTICED IT DID NOT HANDLE WELL IN THE RAIN, THOUGH IN SNOW IT WAS MARGINALLY BETTER BUT STILL DANGEROUSLY EASY TO LOSE TRACTION IF THE SNOW WAS PACKED ANY. DECIDED TO PURCHASE SNOW TIRES BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180818 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10370658 · 2010-12-14 (December 14, 2010)
THE LAST FEW MORNINGS I'VE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL AS MY CAR WARMS UP. A VERY, VERY STRONG ODOR OF RAW FUEL IS INSIDE THE CAR, AND IT SEEMS TO BE COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD VENTS, AND STRANGELY ENOUGH, ONLY ON VERY COLD MORNING/STARTS. THE SMELL EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY AFTER 15 TO 20 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. I SEARCHED 3 TIMES NOW FOR A FUEL LEAK, AND AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, THERE ARE NO VISIBLE FUEL LEAKS ANYWHERE. I LOOKED AS GOOD AS I CAN, INJECTORS & HARD LINES, THE RUBBER FUEL LINES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE QUICK CONNECTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121278 · 2005-05-18 (May 18, 2005)
PURCHASED 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEVERAL WKS AGO WITH ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON ODO, SOLD TO ME AS "NEW" WAS SALES MGRS CAR. WHEN ACCELERATING HARD ON THE HIGHWAY, CABIN FILLS WITH ACRID SULPHER SMELL. CAN BE DUPLICATED. IF THIS IS RESIDUE IT SHOULD HAVE BURNED OFF BY NOW, SINCE THE CAR WAS PLACED IN SERVICE AUGUST 2004.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125500 · 2005-06-16 (June 16, 2005)
2005 LEGACY 2.5I WAGON WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS HAD THROTTLE SURGE UNDER VERY LIGHT LOAD WITH CRUSE CONTROL ON. IS MOST NOTICABLE ON HIGHWAY GOING DOWN SLIGHT GRADE. WITH CRUSE CONTROL OFF, I ALSO CAN'T MAINTAIN DESIRED SPEED IN THIS SITUATION; MINIMUM AMOUNT OF GAS IS TOO MUCH, ANY LESS CAUSES ENGINE TO GO BACK TO IDLE AND THE CAR SLOWS TOO MUCH. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. NOTE THAT THE CRUSE CONTROL HAS SUFFERED A SEPARATE PROBLEM (FAILED TO WORK, ALWAYS DROPPED OUT); THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND HAS HAD NO EFFECT OF THE SUG…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10262760 · 2009-03-23 (March 23, 2009)
TURBO FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. DRASTIC LOSS OF POWER IMMEDIATELY UPON FAILURE. TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ NORMAL. NO INDICATING/WARNING LIGHTS SHOWED UP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134289 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)
THE SUBURU LEGACY TURBO WE BOUGHT IN JUNE HAS A MAJOR, LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY ISSUE. WE QUICKLY FOUND THAT ON TURNS WITH ACCELERATION THE POWER STEERING FAILS. INITIALLY OUR DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. WHEN WE DEMONSTRATED IT TO THEM THEY KEPT THE CAR. UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING THEY DROVE ANOTHER LIKE CAR FROM THEIR LOT AND FOUND THE SAME ISSUE. THEY TOLD US IT MUST BE A NORMAL FEATURE OF TURBO ENGINES WITH AWD. EVEN BACKING ONTO A PARKING SPACE, I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN AND TURNING LEFT ONTO A BUSY STREET I HAVE NARROWLY MISSED CAUSING AN ACCIDEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150085 · 2006-02-13 (February 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS NOTICED INTERMITTENTLY UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SMELL OF GASOLINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE STEERING AREA. THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ODOR OF GASOLINE CONTINUED. THE ODOR IS STRONGEST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A PERIOD OF TWO HOURS OR MORE. THE ODOR DISAPPEARS AFTER DRIVING A HUNDRED YA…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150085 at NHTSA ↗