CarComplaints.com Notes: A relatively dependable vehicle that handles well in bad weather, but increasing concerns about turbo failure in the GT probably means you should look elsewhere if you want a car with a little pep in its step.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
96,633 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Subaru Legacy engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Subaru Legacy Owner Comments

problem #12

Aug 112021

Legacy

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving, cruise control and check engine light comes on and then the car won't accelerate. Engine revs really high and when pushing accelerator pedal, car will not move. The check engine code states "throttle position sensor". This has happened more than 20 times

- Sparks, NV, USA

problem #11

Nov 152020

Legacy

  • 141,000 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. A quick search found others have solved this problem by changing throttle control to an updated version that uses hall effect method instead of a rheostat. I inquired with previous owner of this car and found it had happened once before.

- Los Gatos, CA, USA

problem #10

May 132005

Legacy

  • 56,000 miles
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.

- Long Pond, PA, USA

problem #9

Aug 272017

Legacy

  • 14,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine accelerated at a rapid speed on its own power.. unable to stop the vehicle with the brakes. Vehicle was in motion in the parking lot..

- Santa Cruz, CA, USA

problem #8

Apr 162015

Legacy

  • 201,000 miles
While pressing the accelerator there was no response. The car continued at its normal idle, but pressing on the gas gave no response. I was able to coast to a stop off the road and turn the car off and back on, which fixed the problem the first time. This has happened again two times as of today and it took several times turning the car off and back on to get use of the accelerator again. This seems like a safety issued, and of course a problem that could easily leave me and my kids stranded or injured in an accident if I were traveling at higher speeds when the problem occurs. I've read online that it seems to be a common problem with Subaru. The code that I received was P2138 (throttle position sensor).

- Bayfield, CO, USA

problem #7

Jan 012015

Legacy

  • 190,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Legacy. While driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact had to shift into neutral and shut the vehicle off in order for it to resume normal operation. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.

- Gardner, ME, USA

problem #6

Apr 012014

Legacy

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration power. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.

- Sharpsburg, MD, USA

problem #5

Aug 122013

Legacy

  • 146,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle was slow to respond. The RPM gauge moved despite the accelerator pedal being depressed and the vehicle then stalled. The vehicle was independently diagnosed as having a throttle body sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000.

- High Falls, NY, USA

problem #4

Dec 222012

Legacy 4-cyl

  • 61,492 miles
I was driving on the highway, and the car seem to loose power, luckily I noticed it, as I was able to cost over to the side of the rode. I own a carmd, and attached it to my car, it gave me code P2138 which means the throttle position sensors (2 of them) not being in agreement. I think this is very dangerous as this can happen at any time while one is driving, potential leading to a accident or fatality.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #3

Oct 142012

Legacy 4-cyl

  • 89,600 miles
Car has been very slow to reduce rpms when shifting gears or when stopped (and in neutral) for the past few weeks. Today, when pulling into a starbucks, the car surged forward. Luckily I have a stick shift and just pushed the clutch in. After surging, the check engine light came on. Using a diagnostic tool, I found that the car is throwing error code P2138. This indicates that the accelerator pedal position (app) sensor is either bad or has a poor connection. The detail on the error stats "the ECM has detected that the app sensor 1 and app sensor 2 disagree more than 4.5% for less than 1 second." Essentially, one or both throttle-by-wire circuits isn't functioning properly. I went online and found that this is an all too common problem and some folks have found that their cars are surging forward, threatening safety.

- Saint Paul, MN, USA

problem #2

Jun 102008

Legacy

  • 84,000 miles
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.

- Woodstock, MD, USA

problem #1

Jan 122008

Legacy 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 66,000 miles
Cruise control randomly disengages while driving under normal conditions, causing a sudden and unexpected loss of vehicle speed.

- Burton, MI, USA

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