2005 Subaru Legacy Complaint Log

I JUST BOUGHT A USED 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT. 20 MINUTES AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING ALONG A SNOWY HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATED JUST AFTER A SET OF LIGHTS. THE REAR END OF THE CAR FELT VERY LOOSE AND THE CAR SQUIRRELED AFTER GAINING CONTROL AND ACCELERATING TO KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING THE REAR END SQUIRRELED OUT AND I WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE CAR SPUN 180 AND SLAMMED INTO THE SNOW BANK SIDEWAYS. IT HAS THE STOCK POTENZA 205-45-17'S I HAVE NEVER LOST CONTROL OF A VEHICLE IN MY LIFE LIKE THAT 2WD OR 4WD. DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS MINOR THE DRIVERS SIDE DOORS ARE BOTH CRINKLED AT THE BOTTOMS AND PART OF THE SHROUD UNDERNEATH WAS BROKEN OFF. PLAN IS TO REPLACE TIRES ASAP SHAME ON SUBARU PUTTING OUT A WINTER VEHICLE WITH POOR PERFORMANCE TIRES. VEHICLE AND STOCK TIRES HAVE 36000KMS. *TR

WITH GOOD ALL-SEASON TIRES, THE CAR BEGAN "SWIMMING", FISH-TAILING ON SNOW-PACKED ROADS. AT SLOWER SPEEDS IT STILL FELT LIKE WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. DEALER CHECKED THE CAR AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, THAT THEY HAD NEVER HAD SUCH A COMPLAINT BEFORE AND THAT IT NEEDED GOOD SNOW TIRES. AFTER $500+ IN SNOW TIRES IT, AGAIN, HANDLED BADLY ON SLIPPERY ROADS. THE DEALER'S INSISTENCE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG PROMPTED ME TO SELL THE VEHICLE AND LEAVE SUBARU (HAVING OWNED 3). IT'S A SAD DAY WHEN A DEALER PREFERS TO SEE A CLIENT DEAD THAN ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. GOOD BYE SUBARU. *TR

THE LAST FEW MORNINGS I'VE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL AS MY CAR WARMS UP. A VERY, VERY STRONG ODOR OF RAW FUEL IS INSIDE THE CAR, AND IT SEEMS TO BE COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD VENTS, AND STRANGELY ENOUGH, ONLY ON VERY COLD MORNING/STARTS. THE SMELL EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY AFTER 15 TO 20 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. I SEARCHED 3 TIMES NOW FOR A FUEL LEAK, AND AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, THERE ARE NO VISIBLE FUEL LEAKS ANYWHERE. I LOOKED AS GOOD AS I CAN, INJECTORS & HARD LINES, THE RUBBER FUEL LINES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE QUICK CONNECTIONS NEAR THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THERE IS NO FUEL ON THE FLOOR NEAR THE CLUTCH PEDAL, AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY LEAKS BACK AT THE FUEL FILLER PIPE, BUT I HONESTLY DIDN'T LOOK TOO CLOSELY BACK THERE AS THE SMELL IS CERTAINLY UP FRONT. I'VE NOW REMOVED MOST OF MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS FROM THE CAR AND WILL NO LONGER PARK IT IN MY DRIVEWAY, AS MY HOUSE ADJOINS THE DRIVEWAY. I AM CERTAIN THE CAR WILL SOON CATCH FIRE. A CALL TO THE SUBARU HOTLINE TELLS ME THERE ARE NO DEFECTS, AND ALL FUEL LINES EVENTUALLY LEAK. IN OTHER WORDS, TOUGH LUCK ON ME. SO, LIKE IT OR NOT, I AM MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SUBARU DEALER FOR THIS SAFETY REPAIR. I CAN ONLY HOPE IT BURNS IN THEIR PARKING LOT! *TR

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

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

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND CHECKED OIL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALSO LOOKED THROUGH OWNERS MANUAL. THE OIL WAS A QUART LOW, TURBO MAKING SUCTION NOISES, PICK UP FROM A STOP OR QUICK THROTTLE TO PASS ON HIGH WAY WAS GONE. ADDED A QUART OF OIL AND HAD AN OIL CHANGE & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIAG DONE THE NEXT DAY ( DROVE MAYBE 60 MILE WITH LIGHT ON). AFTER THE OIL CHANGE METALLIC NOISE FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COULD BE HEARD AND EXHAUST WAS POURING OUT THICK SMOKE. THE CODE WAS P011 TIMING ISSUE, TURBO BANJO (OIL LINE FILTER) CLOGGED. CAR HAS 64K ON IT OIL CHANGED EVERY 4000. FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT IS A VERY HOT TOPIC ON MANY SUBARU FORUMS. SUBARU WILL NOT COVER UNDER THIS ISSUE WARRANTY SIGHTING THAT CONSUMER MAINTENANCE CAUSED SLUDGE TO BUILD UP ON THE BANJO BOLT FILTER. YET SUBARU HAS NO MENTION OF CLEANING OR MAINTENANCE OF THE TURBO BANJO BOLT FILTER IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THIS ISSUE CAUSED MY CAR AND OTHERS TO HAVE ENGINE DAMAGE REQUIRING THE CUSTOMER TO FIT A 4 TO 11 THOUSAND DOLLAR BILL TO FIX. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND REFUND CUSTOMERS THAT HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. *TR

LTR FWD FM (VA) OWNER OF A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT CONCERNED THAT SERVICE BULLETIN RELEASED BY SUBARU ONLY ALERTED DEALERSHIPS NOT THE VEHICLE OWNERS RE TURBOCHARGER DEFECT, REPLY TO ROANOKE, VA OFC. *TGW WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKE A WHINING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE WHINING QUICKLY TURNED TO A RATTLE AND THEN RAPIDLY TO A CLANGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE TURBOCHARGER WAS BLOWN. APPARENTLY, SUBARU ENGINEERS DECIDED TO ROUTE LUBRICATING ENGINE OIL TO THE TURBOCHARGER THROUGH A BANJO BOLT. THE BANJO BOLT HAS AN INTERNAL MESH SCREEN THAT FILTERS THE OIL AND ENSURES THAT THE OIL FLOWING TO THE TURBO IS CLEAN. IF THE SCREEN IS CLOGGED OR BLOCKED IN ANY WAY, THIS WILL RESULT IN DECREASED FLOW OF OIL TO THE TURBO. A TURBO WITH INADEQUATE OIL FLOW WILL BASICALLY SELF-DESTRUCT AND SEND TINY SHARDS OF METAL INTO THE ENGINE'S COMPRESSIONS CHAMBER.*JB

IN COLD (<32F) WEATHER VEHICLE EMITS VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FROM INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ONCE TEMP RISES SMELL GOES AWAY.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT PURCHASED IN 2009. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS TO CORRECT FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL FOR FRONTAL AIRBAGS, ONLY SIDE AND WINDOW AIRBAGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 62,793. UPDATED 01/29/10. *LJ UPDATED 01/29/10.*JB

THE TURBO IN MY 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT SPLIT IN HALF WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. IT MADE A SQUEALING NOISE, WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE TURBO GOING, HOWEVER EXACTLY WHEN IT HAPPENED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE CRUISE LIGHT BLINKING. I WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED SUBARU TECHNICIAN THAT THE TURBOS IN THESE CARS DO NOT JUST SPLIT IN HALF AND RARELY HAVE PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE BANJO BOLT OIL FILTER LOCATED UNDER THE TURBO, UNSEEABLE WHEN GETTING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, HOWEVER THIS FILTER NEEDS TO BE CLEANED OTHERWISE IT CLOGS AND STARVES THE TURBO OF ANY OIL. I WAS NEVER AWARE WHEN PURCHASING THIS CAR OF THAT PROBLEM, AND NOWHERE IN MY VEHICLES MANUAL DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE BANJO BOLT OIL FILTER AND HOW IT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE TURBO IN MY CAR IS THE ONLY PART THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER FINDING A TURBO FOR THE 05 LEGACY GT IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE, AND THE USED TURBOS ARE EVEN HARDER TO LOCATE THAN ANY OF THE OTHER 05 SUBARU MODELS. I AM CURRENTLY STILL WITHOUT A CAR AND I BELIEVE THE TURBOS IN THE 05 LEGACY GT'S ARE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE BANJO BOLT OIL FILTER CLOGGING EXCESSIVELY. *TR

TO NHSTA THREE TURBOS HAVE FAILED WITHIN A 2 MONTH SPAN ON A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT SEDAN. LEADING UP TO EACH FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN CONSISTENTLY AT ~60 MPH FOR 15 TO 20 MILES. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THESE FAILURES HAS BEEN LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A WRECK (BUT LUCKILY DID NOT). TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE THE TURBO WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT FAILED AGAIN THE SAME DAY DUE TO THE NUT HOLDING THE TURBO TOGETHER FALLING OFF. SUBARU REPLACED THAT TURBO BUT IT FAILED AGAIN AFTER 2 WEEKS. I TOOK IT TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP THIS TIME WHERE THEY SAID IT FAILED BECAUSE A SMALL MESH SCREEN BECOME BLOCKED BY SLUDGE AND WOULD NOT HONOR THEIR MECHANICAL FAULT WARRANTY. I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED BUT I HAVE NOT YET PICKED UP THE VEHICLE SINCE I CANNOT TRUST IT NOT TO BREAK (NOR WILL SUBARU WARRANTY THE PART IF THE SCREEN BECOMES BLOCKED AGAIN, THIS SLUDGE COULD BE CAUSED BY THE INITIAL TURBO FAILURE, SINCE THE BROKEN TURBOS THROW METAL THROUGH THE OIL SYSTEM.) THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE INSTEAD OF A MAINTENANCE ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE CONSISTENT FAILURES UNDER THE SAME CONDITION WHICH IS NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE RATE FOR THIS SPECIFIC SUBARU VEHICLE IS MUCH GREATER THAN NORMAL WITH AN EPA REPORT (REF #GR08-054C EPA # 3595) SHOWING "UNSCREENED WARRANTY CLAIMS" (MINIMAL FAILURE RATE?) OF 4.55% AS OF SEP 12, 2008. THIS RATE IS ON AVERAGE 3 TIMES HIGHER THAN OTHER TURBO VEHICLES PRODUCED BY SUBARU AT THE TIME. (INCIDENTLY MAZDA HAS JUST RECALLED THEIR NEW 2010 TURBO MAZDA3'S DUE TO TURBO FAILURE FROM PERIODS OF IDLE OR LIMITED ACCELERATION DUE TO OIL POOLING IN THE TURBO, THESE ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE SUBARU TURBO'S HAVE FAILED)

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND ENCOUNTERED WET ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BUMPER COLLIDED WITH CENTER CONCRETE MEDIAN. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SPIN COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BUMPER COLLIDES WITH THE CENTER CONCRETE MEDIAN BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. HIGHWAY PATROL WRITES UP THE ACCIDENT AND VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE INSURANCE COLLISION REPAIR CENTER AND INSURANCE DETERMINES VEHICLE TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE HAS A TOUTED REPUTATION FOR HAVING A SYMMETRICAL AWD SYSTEM FOR SUPERIOR TRACTION AND CONTROL. BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE LOSS TRACTION AND THE SYMMETRICAL AWD DID NOT PERFORM TO MAINTAIN TRACTION AND CONTROL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL FLANGE BRACKET ASSEMBLY CHAMBER (PART NUMBER: 42052AG87A) HAD CRACKED AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ORDERED THE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND REPLACED THE FAILED PART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES LATER. THE LOCAL DEALER (HADDAD SUBARU, 652 E. ST., PITTSFIELD, MA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

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

FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. *TR

THE LOW BEAM LIGHT BULBS BURN OUT FREQUENTLY. I USE THE HIGH QUALITY BULBS (AROUND $28 EA) BUT THEY STILL BURN OUT EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS, SAME AS THE LOWER QUALITY BULBS. EVEN WITH BEING VERY CAREFUL INSTALLING THE BULBS, WEARING CLEAN GLOVES AND CLEANING WITH ALCOHOL PRIOR TO SETTING AND LOCKING, THEY STILL BURN OUT. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 27,000 MILES, NOW IT HAS 50,500 AND THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT. I DOUBT THAT BULB QUALITY IS THE ISSUE HERE, SINCE I'VE EXPERIMENTED WITH THE $17 BULBS AND THE $28 BULBS AND THE RESULTS ARE THE SAME. *TR

HEAVY RAW GAS ODOR INSIDE VEHICLE WHEN OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES AT UNDER ~40 DEGREES. *TR

TURBO FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. DRASTIC LOSS OF POWER IMMEDIATELY UPON FAILURE. TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ NORMAL. NO INDICATING/WARNING LIGHTS SHOWED UP. *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 IN HERE. *TR

AT 74,000 MILES THE TURBO BLEW IN MY 2005 SUBARU LEGACY TURBO WAGON. UPON REQUEST OF THE COMPANY I HANDED IN AS MANY MAINTENANCE RECORDS AS I COULD FIND. THE COMPANY REPAIRED THE TURBO, SPLITTING THE COST WITH ME, 50/50 ($900 EACH). THEY FAILED TO CHANGE THE OIL, AS I ASKED THEM TO DO, AND TO FIX WHATEVER THEY HAD TO FIX TO MAKE THE CAR RIGHT AGAIN. ONCE REPAIRED, AFTER DRIVING MY CAR ABOUT 15 MILES, THE TURBO BLEW AGAIN. AFTER ADMITTING THEY DIDN'T CHANGE THE OIL, THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TURBO AGAIN, UNDER WARRANTY THIS TIME, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 2 OIL CHANGES THEY CHARGED ME. WHEN I FINALLY WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR, AS THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE MOTOR. THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR WAS SHAKING. THEY FAILED TO TELL ME THE CAR WAS STILL BROKEN, OR THAT THERE WAS A NEW PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. NOW THEY TELL ME THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, TO THE COST OF $4,800.00. THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE PARTS, $3,000.00, AND WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR THE LABOR, $1,800.00. I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN LIED TO, CHEATED AND THE INTEGRITY OF MY CAR HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I DON'T FEEL SATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF SERVICE AND SECURITY OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT'S BEEN IN THE HANDS OF THE RAMSEY SUBARU, SINCE DECEMBER 23, 2008. *TR

RAW FUEL SMELL COMING INTO CABIN IN UNDER FREEZING TEMPERATURES. MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH AND MY EYES WATER. I HAVE TO OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS IN A SNOWSTORM!! *TR

THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT ON THE BUTT PORTION OF THE SEAT IN MY 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT HAS FAILED DUE TO ARCING OF THE WIRES. *TR

2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT WAGON WITH 55K STARTED INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT NOV 1, 2008. THE HEATING/AC DISPLAY WOULD GO DEAD BUT THE FAN WAS ON AND KEPT BLOWING WHATEVER TEMP WAS LAST SELECTED BUT NONE OF THE CONTROLS WOULD CHANGE IT. COULD NOT DUPLICATE AT THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER IT WENT FROM INTERMITTENT TO 100% DEAD. RADIO STILL WORKS AND I'VE NOTICED THAT THE RADIO DISPLAY DOESN'T DIM AT NIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE INSTRUMENT PANELS DOES. I CANNOT CONTROL ANY OF THE DEFROST OR HEATING/AC CONTROLS. *TR

THE LETTER I SENT TO SUBARU OF AMERICA (EDITED): I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 LEGACY GT. ON AUGUST 5TH, 2008 MY FAMILY AND I WERE HEADED TO BOISE, IDAHO FROM BEND, OREGON. ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF FROM HOME I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REVVING ABNORMALLY HIGH TO MAINTAIN SPEED. I CALLED THE SHOP BACK IN BEND (THOMAS SALES AND SERVICE) AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THEM. WHEN WE ARRIVED BACK IN BEND THE TECH AT THE DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A TURBO ISSUE, AS I HAD SUSPECTED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THE ISSUE WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PARTS WERE ORDERED AND SERVICE WAS SCHEDULED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I WAS CONTACTED AGAIN BY THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO INFORMED ME THAT SINCE MY CAR WAS AT 74K MILES (BUT STILL INSIDE THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD) IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED AND THAT THE REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE RIGHT AROUND $2000. NATURALLY I WAS UPSET WITH THIS NEWS. I AM A MEMBER OF THE WEBSITE LEGACYGT.COM AND STARTED LOOKING AROUND FOR INFORMATION REGARDING MY PROBLEM AND FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE BANJO BOLT SCREEN IN THE TURBO GETTING CLOGGED. AT NO TIME WAS I EVER CONTACTED BY SUBARU OR MY DEALER REGARDING THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM OR I WOULD HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT. I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF MYSUBARU.COM AND WAS NOT INFORMED THERE EITHER. I HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES PERFORMED AND HAVE PERFORMED SEVERAL MYSELF (I HAVE NO RECORD OF THIS IN THE FORM OF RECEIPTS, SEE ATTACHED COPIES) AND THE NIGHT BEFORE WE LEFT FOR BOISE I CHECKED ALL THE FLUIDS AND THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES AND FOUND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. I WAS PLANNING ON HAVING THE OIL CHANGED AGAIN IN BOISE. I HAVE ALWAYS USED HIGH QUALITY SYNTHETIC OIL SINCE AFTER THE FIRST COUPLE OF CHANGES. WHAT IS REALLY TROUBLING IS THAT AT NO TIME DID I EVER GET A WARNING FROM A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ERROR CODE, YET I SEEMED TO HAVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR

AT 48,000 MILES THE TURBO BLEW. THE CAR HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND NOW WE ARE BEING REQUIRED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA TO PROVIDE RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL FILTER/OIL AS WE DID OUR OWN OIL CHANGES AND MAYBE IT WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF THE BANJO BOLT AND THE NEED TO CLEAN THE SCREEN TO PREVENT OIL STARVATION (SEE SUBARU TECHNICAL BULLETIN 02-103-07) THIS PROCESS HAS TAKEN A MONTH ALREADY AND THE CAR STILL SITS, DEAD, IN THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPT. UPON INVESTIGATION THERE ARE OTHER LEGACY GT OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SUBARU DID NOT USE THESE SAME TURBOS (VF40) IN THE 2006 MODELS. MAYBE THEY REALIZE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 2005'S? *TR

WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. WE THOUGHT THAT A BELT HAD BROKEN OR SOMETHING. SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO THE MECHANIC WHEN IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WAS MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE BAY, ALL OF THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. THE ABS, SPORT SHIFT AND E-BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE DASH ALL TURNED ON EACH TIME SHE STOPPED. THE CAR DIED JUST PAST AN INTERSECTION AND WAS PUSHED INTO THE OPEN AREA OF A PARKING LOT. SINCE IT WAS HOT SHE, MY DAUGHTER AND MY DOG ALL GOT OUT AND WENT INTO THE SHADE OF SOME NEARBY TREES. WITHIN 5 MINUTES A BYSTANDER POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THEY ARRIVED WITHIN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES AND THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE CHIEF SAID THAT IT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS AND THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED IT. *TR

I HAVE 2005 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5I, BASE MODEL. FIRST THE RATTLING NOISE BY THE DRIVER SIDE DASH BOARD AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED, WHICH IT IS ALREADY ON RECALL STATUS (CRUISE CONTROL ONLY). NOW, THE CLUTCH IS FAILING BY ENGINE CUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED-- I MEAN WHILE DRIVING OVER 60 MILES. I CONSIDER IT IS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION WHERE THE CAR MANUFACTURE SHOULD LOOK INTO IT. *TR

I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ON A BRIDGE WHEN A PICK UP TRUCK BEHIND ME DID NOT AND HIT MY CAR IN THE REAR. THE CAR SUSTAINED ABOUT $9600 IN DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. I SUSTAINED INJURY TO MY BACK, MY HEAD, LEFT ELBOW AND LEFT CALF. THE CAR WAS NOT GOING OUTRAGEOUSLY FAST. THE BRIDGE TRAFFIC WAS NOT MOVING THAT FAST TO BEGIN WITH. THE BACK OF THE SEAT FRAME ON THE LEFT SIDE GAVE AND BENT. THIS I BELIEVE CAUSED OR WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BULK OF MY INJURY. *TR

SUBARU LEGACY GT WAGON - TURBO FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION AT 51,000 MILES. OIL ALWAYS CHANGED AT 3,000 MILES/ 3 MONTHS. EXPLANATION FROM MECHANIC IS THAT SUBARU INSTALLED OIL SCREEN IN LINE LEADING TO TURBO, BUT THIS IS NOT CHECKED OR CHANGED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATIONS. OVER TIME, SCREEN CLOGS AND LEADS TO OIL STARVATION AND TURBO FAILURE. TURBO REPLACED BY SUBARU UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. NO REMEDY FOR SCREEN WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CLOG AGAIN. *TR

TRANSMISSION POPPED OUT OF GEAR NUMBER FIVE ON HIGHWAY AND STRIPPED THE TEETH OFF THE GEAR. HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT NOW 4TH GEAR IS GRINDING. *TR

2005 SUBARU LEGACY VIN# (LAST 8)54327514. CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY BUT SUBARU IS REFUSING TO FIX THE TURBO. SUBARU HAS A BULLETIN # 02-103-07 OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH TURBO'S OIL STARVATION DUE TO FACTORY OIL FEED BANJO BOLT. I ALSO USED AMSOIL OIL AND THEY INDICATED THAT VOIDS THE WARRANTY. THE LAW PASS BY CONGRESS "MAGNUSON-MOSS ACT" SAID THAT SUBARU CAN'T VOID THE WARRANTY. *TR

THE HEATED SEATS IN THE SUBARU LEGACY GT LIMITED HAVE AN ELEMENT THAT "ARCS" ON TO ITSELF. MINE HAD A BURN HOLE IN THE FABRIC UPON REPLACEMENT. THIS REPRESENTS A FIRE HAZARD. POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS ARE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT HEATING, BUT NOT THE BACK, AND VICE VERSA. *TR

TURBO CHARGER SEIZED AND FAILED @ 32,000 MILES WITH APPROXIMATELY $2000 IN DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES OVERDUE ON OIL CHANGE (100% SYNTHETIC) PER OWNERS MANUAL, AND THEREFORE SUBARU WILL NOT HONOR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY. TURBO FAILURE IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM NOT ONLY WITH THE LEGACY, BUT ALSO WITH SEVERAL OTHER SUBARU MODELS EQUIPT WITH THIS TURBO. A RECENT SUBARU TECHINICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (#02-103-07) ADDRESS' THIS ISSUE. *CN

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 *BF UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR

CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY DISENGAGES WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, CAUSING A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF VEHICLE SPEED. *TR

I EXPERIENCED WHAT THE SUBARU DISCUSSION BOARD (HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=A9A8871BA327828F596FE591382D9906&THREADID=11267&PERPAGE=20&HIGHLIGHT=INSTABILITY&PAGENUMBER=1) IS CALLING 'GHOST WALKING'. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM UPSTATE NY TO WELLESLEY, MA DURING A SNOW STORM LAST WINTER. THE ROAD WAS SNOW AND ICE (OR SNOW PACKED) COVERED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SUBARUS FOR 30YRS, MANY TIMES TO UPSTATE VT SO I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IN SNOW. BUT THAT NIGHT I NEVER FELT IN CONTROL OF THE REAR OF THE CAR IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. OTHER CARS WERE PASSING ME - IT DIDN'T MATTER WHICH LANE I DROVE IN, OR WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING - SLOWING DOWN JUST MADE THINGS WORSE AS CARS WOULD WIND UP BEHIND ME, IT WAS JUST COMPLETELY NERVE-RACKING. IT DIDN'T MATTER HOW I MANAGED MY SPEED, MY SUBARU IS A 2005 LEGACY AUTOMATIC - SO I HAD LESS CONTROL OVER THE GEAR SHIFTING THAN A MANUAL - ALTHOUGH I TRIED USING THE SEMI-MANUAL MODE - BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. IT JUST SEEMED THAT THE REAR END HAD THIS TENDENCY TO SLIDE - IT SEEMED TO ALWAYS BE ON THE EDGE OF SPINNING OUT - I NURSED THE CAR ALONG (WITH MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS) UNTIL WE GOT FURTHER INTO MA AND THE WEATHER IMPROVED. THIS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE, I HAD THE ORIG TIRES (CAR HAD ~35K MILES) WHICH ARE NOT CONSIDERED GREAT SNOW TIRES - SO I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES. BUT THE FORUM HAD MANY POSTS WHICH IMPLY THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT TIRES - MAYBE SOMETHING TO DO WITH SWAY BARS AND THAT SUBARU HAD CHANGED THEIR HARDWARE ON THE 2005 MODELS. I FELT THAT I SHOULD ADD MY CONCERNS SO THAT MAYBE THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE LOOKED INTO MORE SCIENTIFICALLY. AND IF THERE ARE POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT SUBARU WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF REMEDY TO ITS CUSTOMERS. *TR UPDATED *JS 07/10/2012

TURBO CHARGER AND ENGINE BLOWN WITH 63,000 MILES. HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT A STEADY (NOT ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING) 45 MPH. PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM DEALERSHIP AT TIME OF PURCHASE, BUT AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DAMAGES BECAUSE I CHANGED THE OIL (FULL SYNTHETIC) MYSELF AT THE TIME OF LAST OIL CHANGE, WHILE I WAS DOING A BRAKE JOB. IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP OVER TWO WEEKS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND WAS NOT INITIALLY GIVEN A RENTAL OR LOANER. AFTER CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA, I WAS APPROVED FOR A RENTAL FOR 3 DAYS, BUT HAD TO RETURN THE CAR AFTER THAT TIME PERIOD. IT HAS NOW BEEN MORE THAN A MONTH AND A HALF, AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY VEHICLE, OR A RENTAL. *TR

OWN A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. 32000 MI. AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS DONE 3 TIMES. SUBARU REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM, SAYING THEY ARE OK. VEHICLE WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY IN 4000 MI. THE PROBLEM ID POOR QUALITY TO BEGIN WITH. *TR

AT 14,000 MILES EXPERIENCED SUDDEN, SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF BRAKING POWER AND MAJOR VIBRATIONS IN 2005 SUBARU LEGACY AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO SLOW CAR. DEALER RESURFACED BRAKE ROTORS. EXPERIENCED IDENTICAL PROBLEM WHILE DESCENDING STEEP MOUNTAIN GRADE AT 26,000 MILES. DEALER FOUND FRONT ROTORS WARPED AND BRAKE PADS WORN AND REPLACED BOTH. I AM FEARFUL THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR WITHOUT WARNING, POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I SUSPECT THAT ABS IS MALFUNCTIONING, CAUSING ABNORMAL WEAR ON ROTORS AND PADS. DEALER CLAIMS PROBLEM IS "NORMAL." *TR

CRUISE CONTROL ON 2005 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON IS INTERMITTENT OVER A RANGE OF OPERATING CONDITIONS (50-70 MPH, STRAIGHT/FLAT, SLOW/STEADY CURVE, UPHILL, HOT WEATHER, COLD WEATHER, ETC.). CANNOT PINPOINT TO ONE PARTICULAR COMBINATION OF OPERATING CONDITIONS. PERHAPS INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION, BAD SENSOR OR COMPUTER CONTROL FAILURE. WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS, "CRUISE" LIGHT ALWAYS STAYS ON, BUT "SET" LIGHT TURNS OFF AND ENGINE LOSES ACCELERATION. RESUMING/RESETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NOTIFIED MILFORD SUBARU (NH) DURING 22,500 MI SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE PROBLEM. NOTIFIED MILFORD SUBARU (NH) AGAIN DURING 30,000 MI SERVICE (THEY HAVE THE CAR NOW, WILL BE PICKING UP TONITE). HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND NHTSA RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS TOPIC, BUT HAVE SEEN INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS WHERE OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 LEGACY.

LAST SATURDAY, DURING A SNOW STORM,THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM ON THE 2005 SUBARU LEGACY WITH 11210 MILES CAME LOOSE AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW STORM. THE DEALER , GANLEY SUBARU, EXPLAINED THIS WAS NORMAL. THEY STATED THE WIPER LINKAGE IWASNOT AS ROBUST AS THEY USED TO BE, AND THE WIPER WERE RETAINING NUT WAS DESIGNED TO COME LOOSE IF THERE WAS RESISTANCE ON THE WIPER. THIS WAS TO PROTECT THE WIPER LINKAGE AND MOTOR. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. ESPECIALLY ON A CAR WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE MARKETED FOR WINTER USE.*AK

PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP ON DASHBOARD BLINKED, CAUSING DRIVER TO MOVE HIS EYES OFF ROAD AND FOCUS ON WARNING LIGHT. DEALER CALLED IN FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE AND ENGINEER. AFTER 5 TRIPS TO DEALER. SUBARU CLAIMED THAT THISWAS A NORMAL SITUATION ON THE 2005 LEGACY. THEY STATED THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO FIND A SOLUTION, AND SUGGESTED THAT WE LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM. *AK

AT DIFFERENT THROTTLE INPUTS THERE IS AN ENGINE STUTTER/STUMBLE. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY DURING (2000-3000 RPMS) AND IS WORSE DURING COLD AND RAINY WEATHER, AS WELL AS DRIVING UP HILL. THIS FAILURE IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME ESPECIALLY IN VERMONT, SOMEONE COULD GET KILLED. SUBARU SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE AT LEAST 40 OTHER PEOPLE THAT I KNOW OF, THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I AS ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE DID NOT GET WHAT I PAID FOR. SUBARU SHOULD ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM TELL US WHAT IT IS AND FIX IT BEFORE IT IS TO LATE. *TR

2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND CHIME COMES ON AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 7 MILES WITH NO ONE IN THE SEAT OR ANYTHING SITTING ON THE SEAT. IT SEAMS TO BE WORSE IN THE WINTER THAN IN THE SUMMER. THE RENO DEALER HAS 'CALIBRATED' IT AT LEAST TWICE AND SEVERAL TIMES THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID TRY PUTTING THE BACK OF THE SEAT MORE VERTICAL AND THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM (IT DID NOT). I E-MAILED SUBARU SUPPORT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM DOES APPEAR TO BE A NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS GIVEN THE OPTION TO PERFORM A PROCEDURE TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE THIS WARNING CHIME, WHICH I DO NOT WANT TO DO. *JB

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR SENSED THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT WHEN THERE WASN'T. THE CHIME KEPT GOING UNTIL I BUCKLED THE SEAT BELT IN. I CALLED THE SUBARU EXTENDED WARRANTY PERSON AND THEIR REMEDY WAS TO TURN KEY TO THE ON POSITION IN THE IGNITION, THEN, WITHIN 30 SECONDS, BUCKLE AND UNBUCKLE THE DRIVER SEAT BELT 20 TIMES. SHE SAID THAT IF THE BATTERY GETS REPLACED OR UNHOOKED, I WOULD HAVE TO DO THIS 30 SECOND 'DRILL' AGAIN. IT DID REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN STORMS, MY 2005 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON HAD PROBLEMS STARTING AND RUNNING. THE ENGINE 'STUTTERS' OR 'MISFIRES' UNTIL THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED AND LEFT FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, THEN RECONNECTED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE SUBARU DEALER ON APPROXIMATELY FOUR OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHERE ECU CODES HAVE BEEN CLEARED, AND I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. IT INVARIABLY RETURNS WITH THE NEXT RAINSTORM. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD EMERGE WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS, LEADING TO AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED ON MY 2005 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON IS MARGINALLY ADEQUATE IN VERY HEAVY RAINSTORM CONDITIONS. THIS CONDITION WAS REPORTED TO MY DEALER SERVICE CENTER, WHO ADMITTED THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE VOICED SIMILAR CONCERNS. THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT MY WIPER BLADE SPEED IS NORMAL FOR THAT MODEL. THE WIPER SPEED ON THE HIGH SETTING IS 10 CYCLES EVERY 10 SECONDS. WHEN COMPARED TO MY 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON, THE SPEED ON THAT VEHICLE IS 12 CYCLES EVERY 10 SECONDS. THAT IS 20% FASTER AND CLOSER TO WHAT I FEEL IS ACCEPTABLE FOR SAFE DRIVING IN A THUNDERSTORM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING THE EXTERIOR HEADLAMP BULBS. AFTER THE BULBS WERE REPLACED THIS MOMENTARILY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM, BUT LATER THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE.

MY HUSBAND NOTICED OIL ACCUMULATING ON THE DRIVEWAY. HE LOOKED AND FOUND THE DRIVER'S FRONT STRUT HAD LEAKED OIL ON THE BRAKE CALIPER, LEFT FRONT WHEEL, LEFT FRONT AXLE RUBBER BOOT AND THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED PARTS TO REPLACE THE STRUT. THEY SAY THE BRAKES AND AXLE PROTECTIVE BOOT ARE UNAFFECTED BY THE OIL. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL LET ME KEEP THE STRUT SINCE THE CAR IS NEW AND UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, NEAR THE BUMPER AND WHEEL. THE OTHER VEHICLE IMPACTED THE VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED DUE TO THE ANGLE OF IMPACT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEATBELT, BUT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.