What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 Subaru Legacy

Typical pattern

12% of complaints about the 2005 Subaru Legacy came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2005 vehicle — around the middle of the 245 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 8.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine cooling (30 complaints), typically at 3.3 yr or about 47,600 miles.

Complaints
249
Median age at failure
8.3 yr
Median mileage
76,000 n=204
Crash / fire / tow
12.9% of reports
Safety recalls
9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine cooling
30 reports · 47,600 mi
3.3 yr
6.7%
Electrical system
25 reports · 93,000 mi
9.1 yr
16%
Air bags
22 reports · 62,793 mi
11.4 yr
22.7%
Service brakes
22 reports · 130,000 mi
14.8 yr
0%
Fuel / propulsion
15 reports · 85,000 mi
9.3 yr
6.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V003000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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 us

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

20V002000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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

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

20V001000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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 de

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

19V297000 2019-04-11
Electrical system:ignition:switch

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

15V323000 2015-05-28
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, c

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.

14V763000 2014-12-01
Air bags

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.

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.

14V311000 2014-06-10
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.

Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

13V110000 2013-03-27
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.

Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

04V274000 2004-06-09
Air bags:side/window

THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS IN CERTAIN VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN MAY NOT FULLY DEPLOY RAPIDLY ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. DURING A SIDE IMPACT TEST CONDUCTED BY THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS), THE TEST RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE IIHS TEST RESULTS AND THE RESULT OF SIDE IMPACT TESTS CONDUCTED BY FHI.

THIS MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INTENDED HEAD PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT.

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling mileage not reported 2 mo in service
MY 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI HAS BEEN LOSING OIL AT A RATE OF ~2 QTS PER 1000 MILES SINCE THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED WITH 37 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, THOUGH, AFTER TWO OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS, THEY CAN CONFIRM THAT THE CAR LOSES OIL AT AN ABNORMAL RATE.*AK
Engine cooling 5,300 mi 8 mo in service
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.
Engine cooling 15 mi 10 mo in service
VEHICLE 'STUTTERS' ON PARTIAL ACCELERATION BETWEEN 2000 AND 3000 RPM. VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS CONSISTANTLY FROM THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED IT. THERE IS CURRENTLY NOTHING THE DEALER CAN DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
Electrical system 59,344 mi 5.7 yr in service crash / fire / tow
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5GT. LAST NIGHT, WHEN I WAS TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF STARTING AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY WENT DEAD. THIS MORNING, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE AND DEEP BURN MARK IN THE HEADLINER SURROUNDING THE MAP LIGHT PANEL AND THAT PART OF THE MAP LIGHT AS WELL AS THE AUTO-DIMMING MIRROR WERE MELTED. *TR

Other Legacy model years

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