2005 Subaru Legacy Complaint Log

I WANT TO REINFORCE A SAFETY PROBLEM ALREADY REPORTED ON YOUR LIST. AT NIGHT, WITH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND ALWAYS LIT DASH, IT IS HARD TO NOTICE IF YOUR LIGHTS ARE ON. THERE IS A SMALL INDICATOR SHOWING WHETHER THEY ARE ON, BUT SOMETHING MORE IS NEEDED TO REMIND YOU THEY ARE OFF AT NIGHT. I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO TAIL LIGHTS AND HAD TO BE REMINDED BY SOMEONE DRIVING NEAR ME. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *NM

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES RANDOMLY CAUSING UNEXPECTED VEHICLE DECELERATION. *NM

2005 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. THE REAR SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN BUCKLING THE BELTS, THE CENTER BELT WOULD UN-BUCKLE. *TS THE SEAT BELTS WERE TOO CLOSE. THE CENTER SEAT BELT WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE LEFT HAND SEAT BELT WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT HAND SEAT BELT TO UNLOCK. THE CONSUMER FOUND AT THE DEALER THAT THESE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELT WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. *SC

VEHICLE ENGINE STUTTERS WITH VERY LITTLE THROTTLE WHEN CRUISING BELOW 3K RPMS AND WILL ALSO STUTTER WITH MODERATE ACCELERATION FROM LOW RPMS. SUBARU DEALER SENT ECU TO SOA (SUBARU OF AMERICA) TO BE REFLASHED WITH UPDATED PROGRAM. STUTTERING SEEMED TO GO AWAY AFTER A FEW DAYS BUT HAS COME BACK JUST AS BAD AS BEFORE. *NM

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. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT IN OUR MINDS THAT THIS CASTING WAS DEFECTIVE AND MAY CAUSE MANY MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WITH DEATH OR INJURY. WE WE'RE FRANKLY LUCKY. PICTURES AND COMMENTS CAN BE VIEWED AT HTTP://LEGACYGT.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=346119#POST346119.*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS NOTICED INTERMITTENTLY UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SMELL OF GASOLINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE STEERING AREA. THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ODOR OF GASOLINE CONTINUED. THE ODOR IS STRONGEST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A PERIOD OF TWO HOURS OR MORE. THE ODOR DISAPPEARS AFTER DRIVING A HUNDRED YARDS OR MORE. THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK DOES NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AGAIN, IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND THE DEALER ONLY SUGGESTED MAKING AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE BRAND OF GASOLINE BEING USED. UPDATED 03/03/06. *JB

ABRUPT ACCELERATION AND HESITATION. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2005-2006 SUBARU LEGACY GT'S. *JB

SEAT BELT TIGHTENS TO THE POINT OF CHOKING HANDICAPPED SENIOR CITIZEN. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND AFTER CLIMBING IN THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW I WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE BELT SO IT WOULD QUIT TIGHTENING SUBSEQUENTLY ABLE TO RELEASE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. ONCE WITH JUST A SENIOR THAT WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. *NM

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.

CAR STUDDERS OR MISSES ON ACCELERATION AT LOW RPM UP TO 3000 RPM

WITH APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES ON MY BRAND NEW SUBARU LEGACY GT I WAS DRIVING 80 MILES TO MY HOME. THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH WERE FLICKERING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED, THEN STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WOULD TRY TO DECREASE OR INCREASE MY SPEED. ONCE I GOT INTO THE CANYON ABOUT 20 MILES FROM HOME (A CURVY ROAD NEXT TO THE COLORADO RIVER) ALL MY INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OFF SUDDENLY. I MANEUVERED MY WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT THE CAR OFF THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. THANKFULLY, THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED. MY MAIN CONCERN WITH THIS STATEMENT IS THAT IF I CRASH MY CAR AND INJURE MYSELF OR KILL MYSELF BECAUSE THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, IT WILL BE FAIRLY DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE TO "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. SECOND ISSUE HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY DISCOVERED A VALVE BODY PROBLEM. MEANWHILE A DAY LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE. IT FELT AS IF IT WERE STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. I TOOK IT BACK IN AND DROVE A RENTAL CAR UNTIL THE PART CAME IN. I HAVE THE CAR BACK NOW WITH THE 2ND AND 3RD PROBLEM FIXED, BUT WITH STILL NO RESOLUTION TO THE FACT THAT MY LIGHTS COULD AGAIN SHUT OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING AT NIGHT. *JB

THE SUBURU LEGACY TURBO WE BOUGHT IN JUNE HAS A MAJOR, LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY ISSUE. WE QUICKLY FOUND THAT ON TURNS WITH ACCELERATION THE POWER STEERING FAILS. INITIALLY OUR DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. WHEN WE DEMONSTRATED IT TO THEM THEY KEPT THE CAR. UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING THEY DROVE ANOTHER LIKE CAR FROM THEIR LOT AND FOUND THE SAME ISSUE. THEY TOLD US IT MUST BE A NORMAL FEATURE OF TURBO ENGINES WITH AWD. EVEN BACKING ONTO A PARKING SPACE, I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN AND TURNING LEFT ONTO A BUSY STREET I HAVE NARROWLY MISSED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. IT SEEMS OUR DEALER WILL (KINDLY) PUT US INTO SOME OTHER CAR, WITHOUT THE TURBO, BUT BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED WE WANTED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. *JB

EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR, IT STUTTERS. IN ANY GEAR ( SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY OF A 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION) NO MATTER CONDITIONS NOR DRIVING STYLE. SPOKEN TO ALL LOCAL DEALERS AND S.O.A. OFFICIAL RESPONSE IS "TURBO LAG" THE SYMPTOMS ARE NOT THAT OF TURBO LAG, NOR CAN S.O.A. PROVIDE A DEFINITION OF TURBO LAG. MAY BE TURBO SURGE, WHICH IS DETRIMENTAL TO A TURBO CHARGERS LIFE. THIS DRAWS SERIOUS CONCERNS FROM LEGACY GT OWNERS. I THINK SUBARU MAY HAVE A "SERIOUS" ISSUE. THEY HAVE BEEN THROWING MONEY AT CUSTOMERS TO AVOID LEMON LAW'S. THIS CAR IS NOT ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE WITH THIS ISSUE. PRESS THROTTLE, STUTTER, STUTTER, STUTTER, GO. SUBARU PROVIDED NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN A NEW MODEL. S.O.A. PROVIDED $6000.00 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SUBARU. MIND YOU THAT RESOLUTION WAS EASY TO GET, BUT DID ME NO GOOD, AS THAT OFFER WAS MADE SIX MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THAT VEHICLE. LEAVING A DIFFERENCE OUT OF POCKET OF $3,200.00 NOT A PROPER SOLUTION. BUT IT WAS BETTER THAN NOTHING. I ASSUME SUBARU OS COVERING UP A LARGE AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE. ONLY TIME, OR THE NHTSA WILL TELL. *NM

HEATING ALWAYS ON IN ANY VENT MODE, OPERATION OF CAR UNHEALTHY DUE TO HOT AIR ALWAYS BLOWING OUT OF VENTS; EVEN WITH COOL AIR AT LOWEST SETTING, 65 DEGREES F.

DT: CONSUMER DRIVING WITH CHILD IN REAR SEAT. CONSUMER SLOWED DOWN TO EXIT FREEWAY, AND THE MIDDLE SEAT BACK CAME DOWN AND UNBUCKLED THE SEAT BELT. SEAT BACK PUSHED THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT INTO THE RELEASE OF THE SIDE SEAT BELT AND UNLOCKING THE BOOSTER SEAT. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER TOLD CONSUMER THAT HER SEAT BELT CAME UNDONE. CONSUMER STOPPED AND REBUCLED THE SEAT BELT. THIS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE FROM DOLLAR RENTAL. CONTENTS OF TRUNKS WAS WHAT CONSUMER BELIEVED PUSHED THE SEAT BACK DOWN, AND UNBUCKLED THE SEAT BELT.*AK

VEHICLE STUDDERS ON ACCELERATION, NOT A CONSTANT PROBLEM THAT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH TURBO LAG, BUT AN OCCASSIONAL, INFREQUENT PROBLEM, NOT A LAG, BUT A STUDDER OR FLUTTER IN ACCELERATION FROM A DEAD STOP OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

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.

TAKATA RECALL,WAS TALKING TO DEALERSHIP,BUT LIGHTS STILL INDICATE AIRBAG ,CRUZ CONTROL , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND RESET.BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS DONE. OTHER RECALLS ON BREAK LINE COATING'S NOT DONE , I LOST BREAK LINES WHILE DRIVING,AT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.SUBARU ISSUED A SECOND RECALL , WITH EXPLICIT ATTENTION TO THE AREA WHERE THE LINE CONNECTS TO THE BREAK FOR RUST.THE DEALER WAS TO TO REPLACE ANY BREAK LINES SHOWING DAMAGE IN THIS AREA.THIS RECALL WAS TAKEN IN AND AGAIN WAS NOT REPLACED . THEY COATED MAYBE ON TOP OF THE RUST. I HAD THE REMAINING BREAK LINE REPLACE ASA PERCAUSETION MEASURE ,ALL COST TO ME.SEAT BELT NOT RETRACTING , WHEN RELEASED.,THIS WAS REPLACED TWICE .IT STILL DOES IT AND THE WEBBING I COUGHT UP IN THE DOOR CLOSESING. THE RUG HOOK DRIVES SIDE REPLACE THREE TIMES WARNING LIGHTS STILL ON ,FOR CRUZCONTROL,DOES NOT FUNCTIONING. I USED IT MAYBE 3 TIME'S SINCE L BOUGHT THE CAR NEW.WENT THROUGH THE FIRST SET OF TIRES,CUBBING DO TO WARPED RODTORS IN NOT EVEN 700 MILES.STILL DOESN'T STAY IN ALINEMENT.EATS TIRES ,4SETS BY 67'00 MILES.DASH ELECTRIC ,CD ,HEAT RADIO, SECURITY SYSTEM DEFO ALL ONE COMPUTER PANEL, WOULD WEAR BATTERY DEAD OVER NIGHT. I HAD TO PLUG IT IN TO SLOW CHARGERTHAT SHUT DOWN WENT BATTERY WAS CHARGED.UNTILL A CORRECT REPLACEMENT ,UNIT COULD BE FOUND.TOOK AWHILE, VERY LIMITED LEGACY WAGON. I HAVE A BRIEF CASE AF PICTURE S AND WORK ORDERS IN PLASTIC SLEEVES.WHEN TIME FOR WARRANTY WAS UP , I HAD LESS THEN 20'000 MILES ON THE CAR.SUBARU CORPORATE,PAID SOME OF THE SERIOUS FUEL ISSUE IT HAD. I HAVE NOT HAD A COLLISION WHAT DOES VEHICLE. I T HAS BEEN MAINTAINEDREGULARL A PEICE OF RUBBER TRIM WAS COMING OF THE DAY L BROUGHT IT HOME, I PHOTOED THIS, IT'S FIRST PICTURE IN MY BOOK.THE DEALERSHIP TRYED GLUEING IT ON.IT NEVER STAYED ON . I SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS METAL CLIP'S IN TRIMRUSTNOWONFENDER.

STANDARD EQUIPPED TIRES ON SUBARU LEGACY 2.5 WAGONS ARE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92 215/45/ZR 17, SUPPOSEDLY AN ALL YEAR TIRE. THIS TIRE SIZE DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE DROP DOWN MENU ON THE TIRE PAGE, THUS THE TIRE INDICATED ON THAT PAGE IS INCORRECT. THE TIRE IN QUESTION IS THE RE 92 215/45/ZR 17. THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS ON WET PAVEMENTS AND IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL ON SNOW. THEY SHOULD NOT BE SOLD IN THE NORTHERN US. I'VE HAD COUNTLESS INCIDENTS TRYING TO CONTROL THE CAR IN LOW SPEED STOPPING AND IN LOW TO MODERATE SPEED TURNING IN LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW CONDITIONS. I PURCHASED A 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SNOW CONDITIONS IN UPSTATE NY. INSTEAD I HAVE A CAR WITH TIRES THAT CANNOT HANDLE EVEN MODERATE WINTER CONDITIONS. THESE TIRES WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN SOMEONES INJURY AND/OR DEATH. *NM

NO FAILURE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT BUT VEHICLE DESIGN PROMOTES OPERATION AT NIGHT WITH NO TAIL LIGHTS. WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS (DRL) AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THIS MAKES THE OPERATOR THINK ALL EXTERIOR ILLUMINATION IS FUNCTIONING, WHEN ONLY THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. *AK

THE CLUTCH OR SOME PART OF THE CAR SMELLS BAD (LIKE SULPHUR) WHEN THE CLUTCH SLIPS AS THE CAR STARTS ROLLING AND GAS IS APPLIED. IT IS AWFUL AND I HAVE READ THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO AWAY B/C ITS A NEW CAR..... WELL I HAVE ALMOST 4K MILES ON IT NOW AND IT IS STILL THERE. SUBARU NEEDS TO RECALL THE CAR AND REPLACE THE PART. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE ISSUE AND SUBARU IS NOT RESPONDING.*AK

OEM TIRES ON THE 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT ARE DANGEROUS. JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING OUR VEHICLE WE WERE CAUGHT IN AN ICE STORM. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO NAVIGATE A GAS STATION AT EXTREMELY LOW SPEEDS THE CAR LOST TRACTION AND RAN INTO A POLE IN FRONT OF A FUEL PUMP. WE OWN A NON-AWD VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER LOST TRACTION AT SUCH LOW SPEEDS ON ICE. WE ALSO NOTICED IT DID NOT HANDLE WELL IN THE RAIN, THOUGH IN SNOW IT WAS MARGINALLY BETTER BUT STILL DANGEROUSLY EASY TO LOSE TRACTION IF THE SNOW WAS PACKED ANY. DECIDED TO PURCHASE SNOW TIRES BECAUSE TRAVEL IN THE WINTER WAS DANGEROUS. NOW, WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE OEM TIRES BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WEAR -- THEY HAVE LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THEM AND THE REAR TIRES ARE NEARLY BALD. ALL PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET -- SUBARU CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE TIRES SINCE THEY DON'T MANUFACTURE THEM AND THEY AREN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY AND CONTINUES TO PUT THEM ON THEIR VEHICLES. SUBARU NEEDS TO RECALL THE TIRES AND GIVE PEOPLE TIRES THAT CAN ACTUALLY HANDLE REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS. THE DROPDOWN MENU FOR THE TIRES IS INCORRECT -- THESE ARE 17" TIRES, STANDARD FOR THE GT LTD. *NM

THE TIRES DO NOT FUNCTION, AND HOLD TRACTION DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. OWNER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND BRAND NEW. THE CAUSE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK *NM

THE CLUTCH ON THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO SLIP DURING NORMAL DRIVING, CAUSING THE WORST SMELL. IT SMELLS LIKE A SEWAGE TEREATMENT PLANT IN THE SUMMERTIME, AND NORMALLY DISSIPATES AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE CLUTCH SLIPS DURING NORMAL DRIVING, SUCH AS STARTING ON A MILD GRADE, OR EVEN DURING BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC. THIS LAST ONE IS PARTICULARY ANNOYING AS THIS IS AN EVERYDAY OCCURENCE FOR MANY OF US. NORMAL DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC CAUSES A PROLONGED OVERWHELMING SMELL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO BECOME SICK TO THEIR STOMACHS.

EARLY 2005 (BUILD DATE IN 2004) SUBARU LEGACY 2.5 GT TURBO STUTTERS, HESITATES OR STUMBLES AT MIDDLE RPMS (2000-3000). OCCURS MOST NOTICEABLY IN UPPER GEARS, ON EXCESSIVELY HOT OR COLD DAYS BUT OCCURS ALL THE TIME. ONE DEALER ADMITS TO HEARING OF THE MATTER, THE OTHER CLAIMS NOT TO HAVE - THOUGH I KNOW OF TWO OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE SAME DEALER. SUBARU OF AMERICA NOW HAS AN ECU REFLASH - THOUGH IT HAS ONLY IMPROVED IT SLIGHTLY. SOA REFUSES TO RECALL OR RELEASE A TSB ON THE MATTER. BOTH LOCAL DEALERS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, OR CONTACT SOA ON THE MATTER. *JB

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 OF STOPPING, THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING EVEN THOUGH I APPLIED MORE BRAKE PRESSURE. IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR AHEAD OF US, I WOULD HAVE REARENDED IT. I DISCOVERED VERY NEGATIVE REVIEWS OF THIS TIRE ON THE FOLLLOWING 2 CUSTOMER SURVEY BASES: TIRERACK.COM AND 1010TIRES.COM. THE MAJORITY OF CUSTOMERS RATED THIS TIRE AS POOR FOR WET TRACTION AND VERY POOR (DANGEROUS WAS USED IN SOME REVIEWS) FOR SNOW TRACTION. I HAVE CASE #S W/SOA & BRIDGESTONE. THEY AND THE DEALER HAVE REFUSED MY REQUEST TO CREDIT MY OE TIRES FOR NEW ONES. MANY CUSTOMERS (AVE OF 2.6 OUT OF 10) ANSWERED NO WHEN ASKED WOULD YOU BUY THIS TIRE AGAIN. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE RE92 FOR WET TRACTION, ESPECIALLY SNOW TRACTION. CONSIDERING THAT SUBARU AWD VEHICLES BUILT A REPUTATION AS A CAR THAT WILL BE SURE-FOOTED IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, WHY WOULD SOA EQUIP THIS CAR W/TIRES HAVING A 160 TREAD RATING? TIRE DEALERS I'VE SPOKEN TO ABOUT THIS ISSUE SAY THAT THIS TIRE IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A SUMMER TIRE. SOA SHOULD REPHRASE THEIR SLOGAN FOR CARS W/RE92S TO: FROM THE WHEEL THAT SLIPS TO THE TIRE THAT SLIPS.*AK

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

AT DIFFERENT THROTTLE INPUTS THERE IS AN ENGINE STUTTER/STUMBLE. THIS FAILURE IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT HAPPENS OFTEN WHEN ACCELERATING. SUBARU DENIES THIS IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM FOR EARLY PRODUCTION VEHICLE AS DOES THE DEALER. THERE ARE MANY POSTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT WWW.LEGACYGT.COM INCLUDING AN APPARENT FIX/LOGIC UPGRADE. SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THE LOGIC UPGRADE CAN ONLY BE APPLIED WHEN THERE IS AN ENGINE LIGHT. NUMEROUS VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE FIX DONE WITHOUT AN ENGINE LIGHT AND THEY HAVE SEEN AN IMPROVEMENT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED DUE TO THIS STUTTER HAPPENING DURING AT THE WRONG TIME. *NM

THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED A TOTAL OF SIX DIFFERENT TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD COULD BREAK IN THE DRIVER'S FACE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR TWICE. *NM

I HAVE A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT MANUAL TRANSMISSION SEDAN. THUS FAR I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR. 1) ENGINE STUTTERING: THIS PROBLEM NORMALLY OCCURS WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, OR WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE ENGINE WILL PAUSE, OR STUTTER, OR HESITATE, AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SLIGHTLY "JUMP". THIS OCCURS UNDER LOW ACCELERATION AS WELL AS HIGH ACCELERATION. 2) CLUTCH STINK: THE PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY NOTABLE WHEN GOING UPHILL FROM A DEAD STOP. WHEN THE CLUTCH SLIPS, IT CAUSES A VERY ACRID SMELL, LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. THIS ISSUE ALSO OCCURS WHEN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. 3) CLUTCH SQUEAK: WHEN PRESSING ON THE CLUTCH, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 5-10 MINUTES, THE CLUTCH WILL BEGIN TO SQUEAK, AND CAUSE REVERBERATIONS THAT CAN BE FELT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS WELL. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THE ISSUE. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED WITHOUT FIXING THE ISSUE. THEN THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS REPLACED, AND THAT MADE THE SQUEAK GO AWAY FOR A WHILE, BUT HAS SINCE RETURNED. 4) WEAK WINDSHIELD: OVER THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, THE WINDSHIELD HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS SMALL CHIPS FROM DEBRIS. SEVERAL OF THESE HAVE CAUSED CRACKS THAT HAVE HAD TO BE FILLED IN. *JB

2005 LEGACY 2.5I WAGON WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS HAD THROTTLE SURGE UNDER VERY LIGHT LOAD WITH CRUSE CONTROL ON. IS MOST NOTICABLE ON HIGHWAY GOING DOWN SLIGHT GRADE. WITH CRUSE CONTROL OFF, I ALSO CAN'T MAINTAIN DESIRED SPEED IN THIS SITUATION; MINIMUM AMOUNT OF GAS IS TOO MUCH, ANY LESS CAUSES ENGINE TO GO BACK TO IDLE AND THE CAR SLOWS TOO MUCH. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. NOTE THAT THE CRUSE CONTROL HAS SUFFERED A SEPARATE PROBLEM (FAILED TO WORK, ALWAYS DROPPED OUT); THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND HAS HAD NO EFFECT OF THE SUGING PROBLEM.