2005 Subaru Legacy problems
Owners have filed 250 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Subaru Legacy. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 14% of complaints. After that come brakes (13%) and fuel system (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 250 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 14% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 22 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 17 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 76,000 miles 204 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 39 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 17 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 16 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 32 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 33 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 22 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 19 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 9 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 6 |
What the data shows
Among the 204 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 76,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 49,000 miles (30 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 22 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 17 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Subaru Legacy with enough data (108 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 9 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Right front wheel broke. Cast wheel. Found tire and rim 30 feet ahead of vehicle after crash due to loss of control. Vehicle spun, entered culvert facing opposite direction and impacted tree causing it to roll twice. Vehicle totaled. Geice insurance has possession of vehicle but will leave intact for another 30 days. Have pictures, broken rim and part of spoke. We've purchased a subaru forrester with subaru giving us a customer loyalty rebate.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 subaru legacy outback. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, he attempted to avoid a crash and haphazardly traveled over an ice patch. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an embankment. The front and side curtain air bags failed to deploy. The front passenger sustained injuries to the back, hip and pelvis. The contact suffered injuries to the body as well. A police report was filed of the incident.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 subaru legacy. While driving 25 MPH, the antilock brakes failed. The consumer wanted the dealer to disconnect the ABS (anti-lock brake system) but stated that they were not allowed to perform that type of repair at the owner's request. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 34,000. Updated 02-14-08 updated 02/14/08
Plastic fuel pump basket/assembly flange that mounts on top of fuel tank structurally deteriorates resulting in multiple cracks that allow fuel to leak out of tank below the rear passenger seat. We own two different 2005 subaru legacy models (one sedan, one station wagon) and upon inspection discovered that the fuel pump basket flange on both cars showed exactly the same structural defect.