2005 Subaru Legacy Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 3%of 184 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 46,927miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the seats of the 2005 Subaru Legacy, 3% of the 184 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 46,927 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10231560, filed 2008-06, 50,000 miles“The vehicle was parked on a city street. My son went out in the morning to move it to find the driver side seat burned completely out and soot all over the car. His insurance (liability only) would not cover the damage and was told by Subaru to have it towed to a dealer at his expense for them to inspect it. After over a month he was told that the fire by their determination was not caused by the heated seats but by another source. It is obvious by the pictures and by inspection that the fire was caused and started by faulty wiring on the heated seats.”
NHTSA complaint #11079861, filed 2018-03, 130,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10216019, filed 2008-01, 43,854 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10124579, filed 2005-06, 3,000 miles“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 updated 6/26/2015”
NHTSA complaint #10679708, filed 2015-01, 134,000 milesSeats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 3% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% |
| 2014 | 2 | 4% |
| 2013 | 2 | 3% |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% |
| 2010 | 3 | 2% |
| 2009 | 1 | 2% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2005 | 6 | 3% |
| 2002 | 1 | 2% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
| 1998 | 4 | 4% |
| 1996 | 6 | 5% |
| 1995 | 3 | 2% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2005 Subaru Legacy
31 complaintsEngine cooling
29 complaintsFuel system
27 complaintsElectrical system
25 complaintsAir bags
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
15 complaintsExterior lighting
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
13 complaintsSuspension
7 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Subaru Legacy
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology