2005 Subaru Legacy Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2005 Legacy most often report corroded rear brake lines that let the pedal go to the floor, and a strong raw-fuel smell in cold weather from the engine-bay fuel lines. Turbocharged GT versions draw repeated complaints of turbocharger failure linked to a clogged oil feed screen, and wagon owners describe broken wires in the rear hatch harness that take out lights, the rear wiper and the hatch lock.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Rear brake lines rust through and pedal goes to the floor

   • 19 complaints (10%)
   • median 134,000 mi at 15.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking to the floorboard while braking, sometimes with the ABS or brake warning light on, and fluid found leaking near the rear of the car or above the fuel tank. Several owners say the anti-corrosion coating applied under a past brake-line campaign was done incompletely or that the lines rusted through again afterward, and some report the dealer declined to repeat the repair under the campaign. Others describe inspecting the lines and finding heavy corrosion along the subframe area. Typically reported on higher-mileage cars, mostly between about 100,000 and 230,000 miles, in vehicles driven in rust-belt states.

   Recall 14V311000Recall 13V110000

   What to check: Have the rear brake lines inspected above and around the fuel tank for rust and ask whether the brake-line campaign was performed and when; check the fluid reservoir level and look for wet spots under the rear of the car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There was a recall issued for my car for brake lines that would rust if they were not protected. I went to a dealer to have the recall performed and 6 months later the brake like had already busted. The lines were never inspected!! The recall info is 13v-110 the car was moving and I was coming to a stop when the brakes gave out on me!”

   NHTSA complaint #10883042, filed 2016-07, 58,000 miles

   “Dealer (suburban Subaru vernon, ct) performed brake like recall wqk-47r in september 2014 and applied anti corrosion wax in january 2019, the rear brake lines rusted through at the junction box next to the fuel tank which is a known failure location in the recall. This resulted in a fluid leak, I was able to notice the leak before the reservior fully emptied and the brakes would have failed completely. Dealer/Subaru refused to cover under the recall and tried to charge me for looking at the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11180472, filed 2019-02, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Raw fuel smell in cold weather (fuel line seep)

   • 16 complaints (9%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2018

   Owners describe a strong gasoline odor inside the cabin and under the hood in cold weather, sometimes with visible fuel seeping at the clamped fuel lines near the intake. Dealers have tightened the line clamps as a first attempt, and owners report the smell returning the next cold season; some were told the lines themselves deteriorate and that parts were backordered. A few describe a high-pressure line coming loose at the pump connection and losing power. Mostly reported in freezing or near-freezing weather, from a few thousand miles up to roughly 165,000 miles, with several cases under 70,000 miles.

   What to check: On a cold morning, start the car and smell for fuel inside the cabin and around the engine bay, and look for damp or seeping fuel lines near the intake clamps; ask whether the fuel line clamps or lines have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The dealership diagnosed a fuel leak in my 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5 gt limited wagon (which I purchased new and has been impeccably maintained), and it started occurring during cold weather. I looked online and this seems to be a very popular complaint amongst owners of the same vehicle/same year, especially in cold weather, and I can't understand why there hasn't been a recall issued. Fuel issues are dangerous!!! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10375456, filed 2011-01, 132,000 miles

   “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!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10250841, filed 2008-12, 30,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Cruise control drops out or throttle response lost

   • 12 complaints (7%)
   • median 99,800 mi at 9.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2020

   Owners describe the cruise control disengaging by itself while driving, and in other cases the engine dropping to idle with an unresponsive throttle and the check engine light on. Some report unintended acceleration at speed requiring shifting to neutral or shutting the engine off. In one report the stored code pointed to a throttle position sensor correlation fault, with an updated throttle assembly described as a known fix online. Reported across a wide range, from a couple thousand miles up to about 190,000 miles.

   What to check: During a test drive, set the cruise control at highway speed and confirm it holds, and ask whether the throttle body or pedal assembly has been replaced; have any stored codes read before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10241331, filed 2008-09, 84,000 miles

   “Driving southbound on hwy 17 at 60mph 11/15/2020 engine suddenly went to idle. Throttle became unresponsive. Check engine light illuminated. I drifted to safety off the highway. Engine still idling, throttle unresponsive. After checking under the hood, I restarted the car and normal throttle response returned. I cautiously drove home and read the code for the cel: p2138 -- throttle position sensor voltage correlation. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11375253, filed 2020-11, 141,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Turbocharger failure from clogged oil feed screen

   • 22 complaints (12%)
   • median 63,224 mi at 4.3 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • filed 2005–2014

   GT owners describe the turbocharger failing with a squeal or without warning, sometimes taking the engine with it, at mileages well below 100,000 in some cases. Complaints and mechanics point to the banjo-bolt oil screen feeding the turbo, which clogs over time and starves the turbo of oil; owners say this screen is not part of routine maintenance. In some cases the turbo was replaced under powertrain warranty, with owners reporting the screen itself was not addressed. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 140,000 miles, mostly on turbocharged GT models.

   What to check: On a turbo model, listen for whining or squealing under boost, check for oil smoke from the exhaust, and ask whether the turbo oil feed screen and banjo bolt have ever been cleaned or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10661334, filed 2014-11, 132,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10294520, filed 2009-12, 104,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Broken wires in rear hatch harness (wagon)

   • 14 complaints (8%)
   • median 95,501 mi at 9.4 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2020

   Wagon owners report that wires passing from the body into the rear hatch through the rubber boot break from repeated opening and closing, cutting out the rear wiper, license plate lights, tail and brake lights, defroster, hatch lock and radio antenna. Several say the harness has been repaired more than once and the problem comes back, and that a mechanic identified this as a known weak point in the routing. Most often reported between about 60,000 and 190,000 miles, on wagons rather than sedans.

   What to check: Open and close the tailgate while a helper watches the rear wiper, brake lights and plate lights, then peel back the rubber boot and look for cracked or spliced wires; ask whether the harness has been repaired before.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10622481, filed 2014-08, 95,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10639841, filed 2014-09, 125,000 miles

Buying note. Check the rear brake lines for rust and confirm the brake-line campaign work was actually done, and on a turbo model ask about the turbo oil feed screen history. A cold-start sniff test for fuel odor and a look at the tailgate wiring on wagons cover the other most common complaints.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.