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ProblemsByVin File / 2005-SUBARU-LEGACY
2005 · Subaru

Subaru Legacy problems

2 safety recalls. 181 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
6.8 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

1
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

engine
30 reports · avg $3,100
severe
brakes
23 reports · avg $450
moderate
electrical
23 reports · avg $850
severe
airbags
18 reports · avg $1,100
severe
cruise control
11 reports · avg $600
severe
fuel system
11 reports · avg $1,200
severe
powertrain
11 reports · avg $2,500
severe
suspension
7 reports · avg $900
severe

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2005 Legacy · brakes
HYDRAULIC BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. UPON BRAKE APPLICATION, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, HAD TO USE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. INADEQUATE, INEFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE RECALL DONE TO BRAKE LINES AS A RUST PROOFING MEASURE WAS DONE TWICE AND LINES STILL RUSTED THROUGH AND PERFORATED IN…
12/28/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11163826.0
2005 Legacy · other
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY SUBARU LEGACY AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR INSPECTION AT SERVCO SUBARU HONOLULU. THEY PASSED MY CAR FOR A DASHBOARD REPLACEMENT RECALL ABOUT 6-7 MONTHS AGO AND SAID THEY WOULD PERFORM THE RECALL AS SOON AS THE PARTS HAVE COME IN. EVERY…
12/28/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10937981.0
2005 Legacy · electrical
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.…
12/23/2012 · NHTSA ODI #10489561.0
2005 Legacy · tires
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…
12/23/2004 · NHTSA ODI #10104400.0

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

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At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 2 of 2

critical NHTSA 14V763000 01/12/2014

Subaru of America, Inc

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.

Fix: 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.
severe NHTSA 04V274000 09/06/2004

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

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

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG MODULES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. .

Common questions

Is the 2005 Subaru Legacy reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 181 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Subaru Legacy has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2005 Subaru Legacy?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 30 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Subaru Legacy has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2005 Subaru Legacy?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 181 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Subaru. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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