TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
2005 Subaru Legacy complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →
I REC'D NOTIFICATION THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS AREN'T CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. IN THE MEANTIME, I WAS ADVISED TO NOT LET A PASSENGER SIT IN THE FRONT. THAT'S A DIFFICULT ADVISORY WITH WHICH TO COMPLY. CAN'T THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR BE DE-ACTIVATED FOR THE TIME BEING? HAS THIS POSSIBILITY BEEN CONSIDERED? I'VE ALSO WRITTEN TO SUBARU ABOUT THIS SITUATION. THANKS, JOE
TAKATA RECALL: I'M WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SUBARU'S HANDLING OF THE TAKATA INFLATORS. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER TODAY TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO REMEDY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE A DELAY OF 2-3 MONTHS BEFORE SUBARU WILL HAVE THE FIX AVAILABLE. THE EMAIL I HAD RECEIVED STATED THAT I SHOULD NOT LET ANYONE USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SET DURING THAT TIME. THAT IS UNREALISTIC. THEN WHEN I WENT TO THIS WEBSITE TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DELAY, I NOTICED THAT AS OF A FEW DAYS AGO, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IS ALSO BEING RECALLED. IF THIS MEANS NO ONE CAN DRIVE THE CAR FOR 2-3 MONTHS, THIS IS EVEN WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT SUBARU GIVE ME A CAR TO USE FOR 3 MONTHS, UNTIL THEY CAN FIX BOTH AIRBAG PROBLEMS. THANKS FOR ANY ACTION YOU CAN TAKE WITH THESE PROBLEMS.
THE CAR IS CREATING A GAS LEAK AND SMELL AFTER COLD START UPS. THE CAR ALSO FILLS UP WITH SMOKE AFTER WARMING UP THE CAR 5-10 MIN.
CAR DID NOT HAVE BACKUP LIGHTS, ELECTRONIC LOCK FOR REAR HATCH DID NOT WORK. TESTED BULBS AND SWITCH FOR BACKUP LIGHTS AND THEY WERE FINE. UNCOVERED WIRING HARNESSES LEFT AND RIGHT OF REAR HATCH 6 BROKEN WIRES RIGHT SIDE 1 BROKEN WIRE RIGHT. SPLICED TEMPORARILY UNTIL I GET THE TIME AND MONEY TO MAKE PERMANENT REPAIR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,000.
2005 SUBARU LEGACY WITH 202,000 MILES HAD A FAILURE OF THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE CAR HAD A CURRENT SAFETY INSPECTION FOR PA WHERE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD TO A STOP. THERE IS CURRENTLY A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ( NUMBER: 11V464000 ) FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE LEGACY WAS NOT MANUFACTURED BY FIJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES USA, INC, ACCORDING TO SUBARU AND THAT IS WHY IT WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE ON OUR 2005 SUBARU LEGACY WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AS WE LIVE IN THE "SALT BELT". WHEN BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND WE HAD THEM REPLACED IT ALONG WITH THE FAILED RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM.
THE WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES TO THE HATCH IS MADE OUT OF UNDERSIZED WIRE AND FROM OPENING AND CLOSING THE HATCH THE WIRES HAVE BROKEN. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PREVIOUSLY, BUT AT THAT TIME, THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THAT THE HATCH WOULD NOT LOCK. NOW I DO NOT HAVE BACKUP LIGHTS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GET SUBARU TO FIX THIS?
AS WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A AIRPLANE PROPELLER WHIRLING. THE CAR THEN STOPPED. THE MECHANIC AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP SAID WE BLEW A CYLINDER. THE CAR IS NOW IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE OR WILL BE SCRAPPED. WE KEPT THE CAR SERVICE RELIGIOUSLY AND WAS IN GREAT SHAPE. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? I THOUGHT WE HAD A RELIABLE CAR.
MICHELIN DEFENDER TIRES; ALL 4 TIRES ARE DRY ROTTING WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE CASING AND BELTS . DEGRADATION OF THE TIRES OVER A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS IS EXTREMELY PREMATURE CONSIDERING THESE TIRES ARE ADVERTISED TO GIVE 90,000 MILES AND WE PROBABLY ONLY PUT ON AROUND 8,000 MILES A YEAR . WE LIVE IN THE PITTSBURGH, PA AREA WHERE THEY USE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ICE MELTING CHEMICALS INCLUDING ROCK SALT THAT CAN ENTER THE LARGE CRACKS IN THE RUBBER AND EAT AWAY AT IT . I'M AFRAID TO TAKE THE CAR ON LONG TRIPS USING INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEED FOR FEAR OF THE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE CASING OF THE TIRE . WHAT'S IRONIC IS THAT LOOKING ON-LINE THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ALSO COMPLAINING ABOUT MICHELIN TIRES DRY ROTTING PREMATURELY . I HAVE SEVERAL EXCELLENT CLOSE-UP PICTURES THAT I CAN EMAIL UPON REQUEST .
WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE CAR CONTINUED AT IT'S NORMAL IDLE, BUT PRESSING ON THE GAS GAVE NO RESPONSE. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP OFF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN TWO TIMES AS OF TODAY AND IT TOOK SEVERAL TIMES TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO GET USE OF THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUED, AND OF COURSE A PROBLEM THAT COULD EASILY LEAVE ME AND MY KIDS STRANDED OR INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT IF I WERE TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS. I'VE READ ONLINE THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARU. THE CODE THAT I RECEIVED WAS P2138 (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
IN THE 2005 WAGON, THE REAR WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES THROUGH THE HATCH AND IS SUBJECT TO A LOT OF BENDING (IT CONNECTS THE REAR WIPER, BACKUP LIGHTS, ETC) USES CHEAP WIRING THAT WEARS OUT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY DOCUMENTED BY SUBARU OWNERS AT HTTP://LEGACYGT.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/WAGONS-BEWARE-TAILGATE-ELECTRICALS-161086.HTML. TODAY, MY REAR WIPER STOPPED WORKING, AND SEVERAL OTHER WIRES ARE ABOUT TO BREAK. THIS COULD AFFECT REAR WIPERS, BACKUP LIGHTS, REAR LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, ETC. THESE WIRES ARE OF VERY POOR QUALITY - I HAVE OWNED 2 OTHER CARS WITH HATCHES, AND EVEN IN HARSH CANADIAN WINTERS, HAD NO ISSUES. THESE WIRES BROKE JUST DUE TO USE IN VERY MILD CALIFORNIA CONDITIONS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE HEATING SYSTEM ACTIVATED, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WAS SMOLDERED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WAS SEVERELY BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 04/10/15*LJ UPDATED 6/26/2015*JS
VEH. WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 25MPH UP A LOW INCLINE ON SLUSHY PAVED 2 LANE SURFACE. VEH. BROKE TRACTION SPUN SIDEWAYS AND TRAVELLED SIDEWAYS INTO BRUSH AND STRIKING A TREE IN THE DRIVER. SIDE FRONT FENDER (SIDE IMPACT). DRIVERS HEAD STRUCK AND BROKE DRVRS. DOOR WINDOW. DRVR. SUSTAINED SEVERAL FACIAL LACERATIONS REQUIRING PLASTIC SURGERY AND RESULTING IN PROBABLE SCARRING. FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED RIGHT LEG INJURY RESULTING IN SEVERE BRUISING AND SWELLING. BOTH WERE TREATED IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM AND RELEASED. VEH. IS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WHICH DID NOT DEPLOY. IF DEPLOYED, THE DRVR. SIDE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE DRVRS. INJURIES. *TR
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. THE FUEL BASKET ASSEMBLY IS ONLY AVAILABLE DIRECTLY FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THE REPAIR INVOLVES SUBSTANTIAL LABOR TO CHANGE ALL PARTS OVER. THIS IS CLEARLY A STRUCTURAL OR DESIGN ISSUE AND NOT A QUESTION OF MAINTENANCE OR RANDOM QUALITY CONTROL. *TR
REAR TAILGATE WIRE HARNESS FOUND TO BE BROKEN. REAR WIPER DID NOT WORK. THIS WIRE WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. TWO OTHER WIRES FOUND TO BE CRACKED AND ABOUT TO FAIL. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE REAR HI MOUNT STOP LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, AND BACK UP LIGHTS TO BE NON-FUNCTIONAL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR THE THE REAR SUSPENSION, THE REAR PASSENGER SPRING, BOTH REAR LATERAL LINKS, AND THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO CORROSION AND BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
THE TURBOCHARGER SIMPLY WENT AT ABOUT 132000 MILES. FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE REGARDING THE FAILED LEGACY TURBO,THE TURBO COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THE UNION ( BANJO) BOLT WITH FILTER WAS CHANGED. SUBARU DOES NOT NOTIFY THE CONSUMER REGARDING THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM; THAT IS IRRESPONSIBLE. IT COST ME $2300 TO REPLACE THE TURBO...I MADE SURE THAT THE UNION BOLT WAS REPLACED AS WELL. *TR
BOOTS CRACK AND YOU MUST REPLACE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT. LEFT FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS JUST REPLACED @85,000 MILES AS THE BOOT CRACKED ON THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL. THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AS DRIVE SHAFT SITS OVER THE TOP OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WITH NO SHIELD TO BLOCK THE HEAT. *TR
WHEN HAVING NEW TIRES PLACED ON THE CAR THERE WAS SO MUCH CORROSION ON THE WHEELS AND BRAKE HOUSING THE SERVICE PERSON HAD TO BREAK OFF THE CHUNKS OF RUST TO GET THE TIRES OFF. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE TIRES ARE CHANGED. THEY ADVISE EACH TIME THAT THIS NOT KNOWN TO HAPPEN ON A NEWER CAR. AT THE TIME THAT THIS WAS FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CARS IN OTHER STATES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT WHEN I CALLED SUBARU ABOUT THIS I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT EXTEND TO OUR STATE. THE MECHANIC I TAKE MY CAR TO SAID IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF DUE TO FAILURE FROM THE CORROSION. *TR
MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, MY WIPER WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES TRAVELING THROUGH THE RUBBER GROMMET TO THE REAR GATE HAD BEEN BROKEN DUE TO A DESIGN IN THE PATH THEY TRAVEL WHERE THEY ARE BENT SEVERELY EVERY TIME THE GATE IS OPENED AND CLOSED, AND EVENTUALLY THEY SNAPPED. HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE ON MY MODEL AND PUT NEW WIRES IN PLACE OF THE BROKEN ONES. *TR
THE 2005 SUBURU SUDDENLY STOPS NO MATTER WEATHER GOING 35 MPH OR 70MPH WITHOUT WARNING! LATER THE ENGINE WARNING FLASHES, THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL FLASHES, AFTER ABT. 20 SECONDS IT STARTS, BUT STOPS INTERMITTENTLY W/O WARNING. LIFE/DEATH RISK.JUST BOUGHT IT 5 MOS. AGO. THE TURBO MALFUNCTIONS--CRACKS. *TR
MY TAILGATE WILL NO LONGER LOCK OR UNLOCK. AFTER A LOT OF READING ONLINE IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR GATE HARNESS IS FRAYED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IF ANY OF THE OTHER WIRES IN THIS HARNESS FAIL I COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE TAIL LIGHTS AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
RAW FUEL SMELL INSIDE CAR CABIN. SMELL OF FUEL IS OVERPOWERING WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE FREEWAY. SEEMS TO BE WORSE DURING COLD WEATHER, BELOW 60 DEGREES? *TR
SMELL OF GAS IN CABIN WHEN COOL/COLD WEATHER, VISIBLE LEAKING GAS WHEN CAR IS ON IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM FUEL LINES WHERE CLAMPED NEAR INTAKE TUBE. NO FIRE YET. *TR
THE VEHICLES TURBO FAILED AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE TURBO AND ENGINE WERE ALL FACTORY ORIGINAL. I REPLACED THE PART THAT I THOUGHT WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND TURNED THE CAR ON AND BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OFF THE EXHAUST. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC SHOP I TOOK IT TO THE OIL UNION BOLTS ARE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM TO STARVING OIL TO THE TURBO AND THEN THE TURBO FAILS. I THINK IT IS UNCLEAR THAT THESE ENGINES HAVE A MAJOR FLAW IN THEM. MOST PEOPLE HAVE THESE PROBLEMS WAY BEFORE THE 100,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER MARK. I WOULD NEED A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE FOR THE VEHICLE. I DID OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES AND DID THE RECOMMENDED SERVICES AT EACH TIME OR MILEAGE INTERVALS. *TR
ONCE THE TEMPERATURE HAS DIPPED BELOW ABOUT 25 DEGREES, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS THAT COMES FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY COLD, AND THOUGH I AM DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN OUT OF NECESSITY (IT'S -5 DEGREES TODAY) THE GASOLINE SMELL IS OVERWHELMING, AND I HAVE SUFFERED FROM A HEADACHE THE PAST 3 DAYS IN THE MORNING DUE TO THIS ISSUE. IT IS OBVIOUS THIS ISSUE EXISTS BEYOND JUST ME, AS IT TAKES A SIMPLE SEARCH TO TURN UP DOZENS, IF NOT HUNDREDS, OF SIMILAR ISSUES. IT IS A SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
AFTER COLD START (~10F) EXPERIENCED SEVERE FUEL VAPOR ODORS IN CABIN. DEALER TIGHTENED EASILY ACCESSIBLE FUEL LINE CLAMPS NEXT DAY. TWO DAYS LATER SAME PROBLEM, SEVERE FUEL VAPOR INCURSION INTO CABIN. WAS FORCED TO DRIVE SUNDAY WITH WINDOWS OPEN. MONDAY BACK TO DEALER. WAS TOLD FUEL LINE PROBLEM MAY BE DEEPER, CAUSED BY COMBO OF COLD WEATHER AND ALCOHOL DETERIORATING LINES. ALSO THAT RELEVANT PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER DUE TO THIS BEING AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM. ITS DANGEROUS AND INCONVENIENT AS WE NEED OUR 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE IN THESE CONDITIONS. *TR
EXTREMELY STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL COMING FROM VENTS WITH HEATER ON. WEATHER HAS BEEN BELOW 30 DEGREES FOR OVER 2 WEEKS IN OHIO. THE SMELL IS NOT AS BAD WHILE DRIVING, BUT WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE ODOR IS CAUSING SEVERE HEADACHE AND BURNING SENSATION IN EYES. ALSO STARTS TO GAG YOU. FAINT SMELL OUTSIDE THE CAR UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. NO LEAK VISIBLE. INSIDE CAB SMELLS LIKE A GAS STATION, BUT STRONGER. *TR
2005 LEGACY TURBO. A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN COLD WEATHER. SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH WRX MODELS AND SAAB 9-2X BUILD BY SUBARU IN 2005 AND 2006. SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL FOR GAS LEAK. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SUBARU MODELS UP TO 2004. WHAT WAS THE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
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. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE REAR LIFT GATE (STATION WAGON) KEEPS BREAKING AND SHORTING OUT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT, AS REAR LIGHTS CAN GO OUT WITHOUT NOTICE, LEADING TO A POSSIBLE REAR-END COLLISION. DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS WHEN THE BACKUP LIGHTS HAVE SHORTED OUT AND ARE NOT VISIBLE. REAR VISIBILITY ALSO HAMPERED UNDER SNOWY OR RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN THE WIPER SHORTS OUT. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT LEAST THREE (3) TIMES (2/22/11, 3/24/13, 9/25/13), YET THESE ELECTRICAL ISSUES STILL PERSIST. A RECALL FROM SUBARU SHOULD BE ORDERED TO ADDRESS THIS ELECTRICAL DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
REAR WIPER STOPPED WORKING. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BROKEN WIRE INSIDE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ACCORDION BOOT FOR THE REAR HATCH OF THE WAGON. OTHER WIRES WITHIN THE HARNESS (WHICH SUPPLIES POWER TO THE REAR HATCH LIGHTS, HATCH LOCK, AND WIPER MOTOR/SPRAYER) WERE ALSO CRACKED. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THIS THIS IS STARTING TO BECOME A MORE FREQUENT ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED/RECALLED BY SUBARU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO RESPOND. THE RPM GAUGE MOVED DESPITE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INDEPENDENTLY DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A THROTTLE BODY SENSOR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.
THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING STARTED MAKING NOISE INDICATING IT WAS FAILING. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT ~ 42,000 MILES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. SUBARU INDICATED THESE SHOULD LAST 80,000 MILES. YOUR PARTS SELECTION WON'T LET ME ENTER WHEEL BEARING. *TT
WHEN I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH IN THE MORNING, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A WHINE SOUND. IT GOES AWAY AFTER TWO TO THREE MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR. I REPLACED ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE CLUTCH TWO YEARS AGE AND DRIVE HE CAR GENTLY. I READ ONLINE AND READ THAT PEOPLE WITH CARS SUCH AS THE IMPREZA WRX AND MY MODEL SUFFER FROM THE SAME THING. SINCE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR AND THE WRX ARE THE SAME AND THEIR CARS WERE UNDER 2,500 MILES IT MAKES ME THINK THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE THROWOUT BEARING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V110000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) IN MAY OF 2013. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE REPAIRED FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 08-07-13 *BF
MY CAR DOOR POWER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING, REAR WIPER STOPPED WORKING, REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, ALSO RADIO STOPPED WORKING. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY REAR LIFT GATE HAD TORN AND SHORTED OUT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SHORTCOMING ON THIS CAR, THE WIRES ARE SO SHORT AND PLACED UNDER CONSTANT TENSION THAT THEY RIP THEMSELVES APART. *TR
THE HATCH APPEARS TO BE RUBBING ON THE WIRES THAT CONNECT THE HATCH ELECTRICAL TO THE REST OF THE BODY. WIRES HAVE BEEN CUT AND VARIOUS HATCH FUNCTIONS ARE BEING DISABLED. SO FAR LOCKING AND HATCH OPEN WARNING HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, BUT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY AFFECT THE TAILLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, BACKUP LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS AND REAR DEFOGGER, AND THE ISSUE WOULD THEREFORE BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING CAUSING VERY LIMITED VISIBILITY OUT OF REAR WINDOW DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTING HARNESS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR THAT CONTROLS THE REAR WIPER AND BRAKE LIGHTS DAMAGED WHERE IT PASSES FROM THE CAR BODY TO REAR TAILGATE. THE GROMMETT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SERVING ITS PURPOSE AND THE WIRING HARNESS DOES NOT SEEM DURABLE ENOUGH. THIS CAN CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS COMBINATION. *TR
SUBARU LEGACY 2005 WAGON; MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL WIRES ROUTED THROUGH A FLEXIBLE RUBBER BOOT LEADING FROM THE CHASSIS TO THE REAR HATCH OF THE WAGON HAVE BROKEN FROM REPEATED BENDING ACTION BY OPENING/CLOSING THE REAR HATCH RENDERING THE REAR WIPER INOPERABLE. *TR
THE REAR HATCH OF MY SUBARU LEGACY WAGON - THE ELECTRICAL WIRES SUPPLYING THE REAR BRAKES, HATCH LOCK, AND REAR WINDOW WIPER ARE BEING CUT BY THE HATCH OPENING AND CLOSING. LOSS OF REAR BRAKE LIGHTS, REAR WIPER FUNCTION, AND REAR HATCH LOCKING MECHANISM ALL EFFECTED BY THE POOR ROUTING OF THESE ELECTRICAL WIRES THROUGH AN ACCORDION STYLE BOOT. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH REGARD TO MULTIPLE SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR
STRONG GAS ODOR IN CABIN COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE WEATHER IS UNDER 38* FEELS LIKE IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF SPARK THE CAR WILL BLOW UP WITH ME IN IT , NOTIFIED SUBARU WHO TOLD ME I WAS THE FIRST ONE WITH THIS COMPLAINT, WHICH IS NOT TRUE, AS I SAW ONE MORE COMPLAINT LIKE THIS ALL OVER THE WEB. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE CAR SEEM TO LOOSE POWER, LUCKILY I NOTICED IT, AS I WAS ABLE TO COST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE. I OWN A CARMD, AND ATTACHED IT TO MY CAR, IT GAVE ME CODE P2138 WHICH MEANS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS (2 OF THEM) NOT BEING IN AGREEMENT. I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME WHILE ONE IS DRIVING, POTENTIAL LEADING TO A ACCIDENT OR FATALITY. *TR
FOR THE SECOND TIME MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND MY CAR HAS GONE INTO A FAIL SAFE MODE WHILE DRIVING (ELIMINATING THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE). THE CODE THE COMPUTER PROVIDES IS P2138, WHICH REFERS TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS (THERE ARE TWO) NOT BEING IN AGREEMENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO WHITE BEAR LAKE SUBARU IN WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. THEY DID NOT REPLICATE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT PERFORM ANY SERVICE. THE ISSUE AGAIN HAPPENED, THIS TIME OVER 1,000 MILES AWAY IN GEORGIA AND I WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY MULTIPLE VEHICLES AS I TRIED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD - THE CAR WAS NOT RESPONDING. THEREFORE, THIS ISSUE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
CAR HAS BEEN VERY SLOW TO REDUCE RPMS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS OR WHEN STOPPED (AND IN NEUTRAL) FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS. TODAY, WHEN PULLING INTO A STARBUCKS, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. LUCKILY I HAVE A STICK SHIFT AND JUST PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN. AFTER SURGING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. USING A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL, I FOUND THAT THE CAR IS THROWING ERROR CODE P2138. THIS INDICATES THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION (APP) SENSOR IS EITHER BAD OR HAS A POOR CONNECTION. THE DETAIL ON THE ERROR STATS "THE ECM HAS DETECTED THAT THE APP SENSOR 1 AND APP SENSOR 2 DISAGREE MORE THAN 4.5% FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND." ESSENTIALLY, ONE OR BOTH THROTTLE-BY-WIRE CIRCUITS ISN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM AND SOME FOLKS HAVE FOUND THAT THEIR CARS ARE SURGING FORWARD, THREATENING SAFETY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL LUG NUT BOLTS HAD SHEERED AWAY FROM THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL LUG NUT BOLT WAS ALSO FRACTURED. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL LUG NUT BOLT WAS REPLACED. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE LUG NUT BOLT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
THIS 2005 SUBARU LEGACY IS A STATION WAGON WITH POWER DOOR LOCKS, THE BACK LIFT GATE WIRING HARNESS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS TORN THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WITHIN THE FLEXIBLE BOOT MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF THE CAR BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE REAR HATCH. AS A RESULT IT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO LOCK AND SECURE THE REAR HATCH BACK DOOR OF THE STATION WAGON. THE WIRES WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS ARE JUST TO SHORT AND HAVE RIPPED THEMSELVES APART IN ADDITION THE REAR HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT IS ALSO NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. *TR
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2005 Subaru Legacy → · Every Legacy year → · How the figures are calculated →