2005 Subaru BAJA: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHILDE ENGINE HAS KNOCKING SOUND WHEN STARTED FROM COLD AND FOR THE FIRST 15 MINUTES OF OPERATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE BAD VALVE GEAR AND WE HAVE HAD A "TENSIONER" BRACKET REPLACED BY THE DEALER, BUT I AM NOW HEARING ABOUT A "PISTON SLAP" ISSUE ON THIS MOTOR THAT I CANNOT FIND A REPORT ABOUT. IT WILL BE INTO CLASSIC SUBARU IN ATLANTA TOMOROW TO ATTEMPT A REPRODUCTION OFTHE NOISE AFTER LEAVING VEHICLE OVERNIGHT TO PROPERLY SIMULATE THE COLD-START CONDITIONS.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120502 at NHTSA ↗

DT:CONSUMER HAS A SUBARU BAJA AND THE HAND BRAKE DOES NOT KEEP VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS ON A HILL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES. FIRST, DEALER ADJUSTED BRAKE, BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS ACTUALLY MADE PROBLEM WORSE. CONSUMER SAID THAT VEHICLE ROLLED FASTER AFTER ADJUSTMENT. ON THE OTHER TWO TRIPS TO DEALER NOTHING WAS DONE TO VEHICLE OTHER THAN TECHNICIAN TAKING VEHICLE ON A TEST DRIVE TO SEE THE PROBLEM. TECHNICIAN SAW THE PROBLEM AND SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. CONSUMER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE H…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126490 at NHTSA ↗

I DO HAVE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAND NEW SUBARU BAJA TURBO 2005. SOMETIMES WHEN I DRIVE IN THE FREEWAY, I HEAR WINDY NOISE DOES AT 70 MPH IN COLD TEMPERATURES. I CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA FOR A POSSIBLE FIX FOR THIS ISSUE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE T.O SUBARU DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM HOWEVER THEY DENIED ME THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE WINDY NOISE WHEN THE MECHANIC DROVE THE CAR WITH HIS SERVICE MANAGER. FOLLOWING AFTER THE DENIAL I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE MECHANIC FOR A TEST DRIVE, DROVE THE CAR AND SHOWED THE NO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137936 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS REGARDING A 2005 SUBARU BAJA TURBO, VIN #:[XXX]. IN SERVICE DATE IS 6/9/04. PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. IN FEBRUARY, 2005 THE PROBLEM FIRST MANIFESTED ITSELF. THIS IS A STEERING CONCERN. ON MAKING A HARD RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN AS WELL AS A K TURN, THE STEERING COLUMN AND/OR WHEEL LETS A VERY LOUD SQUEAL. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A STUCK PIG!! WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE STEERING BECOMES VERY HARD TO MANEUVER ALMOST AS THOUGH IT WENT BACK TO UNASSISTED STEERING. AFTER THE TURN IS COMPLETED THE STEERING RETURNS TO NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139805 at NHTSA ↗

TIRE TREAD COMING APART ON BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92 TIRES. ORINGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 2005 SUBARU BAJA. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147776 at NHTSA ↗

(1) BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE IN A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP. (2) ABS FEATURE DISENGAGED BRAKES OVER BUMPY SURFACE, DISABLING MY ABILITY TO STOP AND CAUSING MY CAR TO COLLIDE WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. (3) SUBARU DENIES ANY CULPABILITY ALTHOUGH THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AMONG SUBARU OWNERS. MY BRAKES HAVE FAILED IN THIS MANNER MANY TIMES PREVIOUSLY, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME INVOLVING AN ACTUAL COLLISION. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174990 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2005 SUBARU BAJA WITH 27,000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED A RATTLE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR AND FOUND A STABILIZER MOUNT TO THE RIGHT TIRE BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF WHERE THE ROD CONNECTED TO IT. IT LOOKED LIKE THE METAL HAD FATIGUED UNTIL IT JUST BROKE. THERE WAS A MINOR INDENTATION ON THE CONNECTING ROD, BUT NOTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE A MAJOR IMPACT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW THIN THE MOUNT MATERIAL WAS. IT LOOKED MORE LIKE BODY SHEET METAL THAN ANYTHING STRUCTURAL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196652 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE/. STARTED MAKING HORRIBLE SOUND. NEXT THING I KNOW DRIVE SHAFT COMES OUT!!!! TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. ALMOST DIED WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. '05 SUBURU BAJA W/ 90,000 MILES ON IT. VERY SCARY EVENT!!!! THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT THAT A CAR THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY WOULD HAVE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AND THAT SUBURU IS NOT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT MY SITUATION!!!! *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 91,342 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207718 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-07-17 (July 17, 2009)

SUBARU IS RECALLING 15,761 MY 2005-2006 BAJA VEHICLES. CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE FUEL HOSE CONNECTION ON THE OUTLET PRESSURE SIDE OF THE FUEL PUMP.

Consequence: FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE HOSE CONNECTION. A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP BRACKET INCLUDING ALL NIPPLES WITH A NEW AND STRONGER DESIGN PART. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Reported: 2014-12-01 (December 1, 2014)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy and Outback vehicles, and 2003-2005 Baja vehicles sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Florida and adjacent counties in southern Georgia, as well as the coastal areas of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQP-51. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-471. This recall has been partially superseded by 15V-323. All 2005 model year Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles will now be repaired under recall 15V-323.

Reported: 2016-05-25 (May 25, 2016)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Saab owners may contact GM at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-16.

Reported: 2016-05-25 (May 25, 2016)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-16. Note: This notice is only for vehicles that were not covered by 16V-358 for Zone A.

Reported: 2017-01-10 (January 10, 2017)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-17.

Reported: 2017-01-10 (January 10, 2017)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2006-2008 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), Tribeca, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-17.

Reported: 2017-01-11 (January 11, 2017)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-17.

Reported: 2020-01-02 (January 2, 2020)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.

Reported: 2020-01-02 (January 2, 2020)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.

Reported: 2020-01-02 (January 2, 2020)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.