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Body and structurePart report

2005 Subaru Legacy Body and structure Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
2%of 184 total for the year
Median mileage
142,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the body and structure of the 2005 Subaru Legacy, 2% of the 184 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 142,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, 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.

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #10473638, filed 2012-09, 90,105 miles

“Veh. Was traveling at approx. 25mph up a low incline on slushy paved 2 lane surface. Veh. Broke traction spun sideways and travelled sideways into brush and striking a tree in the driver. Side front fender (side impact). Drivers head struck and broke drvrs. Door window. Drvr. Sustained several facial lacerations requiring plastic surgery and resulting in probable scarring. Front seat passenger sustained right leg injury resulting in severe bruising and swelling. Both were treated in an emergency room and released. Veh. Is equipped with side curtain airbags which did not deploy. …”

NHTSA complaint #10679375, filed 2015-01, 178,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the hydraulic brake lines were leaking. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that there was rust covering the subframe of the vehicle and fuel tank. The dealer declined to complete a recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V311000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11500294, filed 2023-01, 115,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to be serviced under NHTSA campaign id number: 14v311000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The technician informed that prior to the recall repair the the rear suspension, the rear passenger spring, both rear lateral links, and the rear suspension subframe needed to be repaired due to corrosion and build up. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10671311, filed 2015-01, 169,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Body and structure: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202213%
202113%
202011%
201911%
201843%
201765%
201664%
2015106%
2014713%
201358%
201211%
201153%
201075%
200958%
200726%
200542%
200412%
200335%
200224%
200134%
200089%
199944%
199876%
199743%
199611%
199563%
199423%
199323%
1992713%
19911317%
19901923%

Other parts of the 2005 Subaru Legacy

Brakes
31 complaints
Engine cooling
29 complaints
Fuel system
27 complaints
Electrical system
25 complaints
Air bags
21 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaints
Vehicle speed control
15 complaints
Exterior lighting
13 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
13 complaints
Suspension
7 complaints
Other or unknown
6 complaints
Seat 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 27, 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