2005 Subaru Baja Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2005 Subaru Baja has a complaint index of 100, the highest among the 2 model years with data, and ranks worst of those years. It carries 37 complaints, 10 recalls, and a median failure mileage of 95,000, with Fuel System issues topping the list at 32% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 2 Baja years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 37
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 10
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2005 Subaru Baja problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System12 (32%)
- Airbags7 (19%)
- Engine7 (19%)
- Brakes4 (11%)
- Structure & Body4 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (11%)
- Other3 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (5%)
- Steering1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Fuel pump elbow fittings crack and leak fuel, sometimes flagged by dealers as a recurring issue with the same part.
- Parking brake fails to hold the vehicle on hills even after dealer adjustments, and some owners say adjustments made it worse.
- Hydraulic or ABS brakes reportedly disengage over bumpy surfaces or fail to stop the vehicle during routine stops.
- A rear stabilizer mount has broken off due to apparent metal fatigue, causing a rattling noise before failure.
- A drive shaft has come loose at highway speed, causing a loss of vehicle control.
- Cold-start engine knocking has been reported, with owners suspecting valve gear or piston slap problems.
2005 Subaru Baja recalls
10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V001000Jan 2, 2020Airbags258,813 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- NHTSA 20V003000Jan 2, 2020Airbags111,562 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
- NHTSA 20V002000Jan 2, 2020Airbags127,547 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
2005 Subaru Baja fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,650
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Baja years
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Recalls | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | No verdict | 100 | 37 | 10 | 20 |
| 2006 | No verdict | 0 | 24 | 9 | 20 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Subaru Baja reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Baja has the highest complaint index (100) of the 2 model years with data and ranks worst overall, with Fuel System, Airbags, and Engine as the leading problem areas.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Subaru Baja?
- Fuel System complaints make up 32% of all reports, followed by Airbags and Engine at 19% each, and Brakes, Structure & Body, and Suspension at 11% each, according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2005 Subaru Baja have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2005 Baja, and all of the listed campaigns involve airbag inflators; none are marked do-not-drive.
- At what mileage do 2005 Baja problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 95,000 overall, with Fuel System failures reported around a median of 103,950 miles and Suspension issues around 85,000 miles.
- How does the 2005 Baja compare to the 2006 Baja?
- The 2005 Baja shows 37 complaints and a complaint index of 100, versus 24 complaints and an index of 0 for the 2006 model, making 2005 the higher-complaint year of the two.