2005 SUBARU LEGACY Complaints

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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