YearToAvoid

2005 Subaru Legacy Electrical System Problems

NHTSA has 31 owner complaints about electrical problems in the 2005 Subaru Legacy, 17% of all 184 complaints for this model year. That is #6 highest electrical complaint count among 21 Legacy model years. These complaints report 1 crash and 3 fires. Median mileage at failure: 91,553 miles.

Electrical System complaints
31
17% of 184
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
91,553 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2005 Subaru Legacy electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 14, 2005, latest Feb 15, 2020.

2005 Subaru Legacy electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2005Jul 2006Oct 2012Oct 2013Jan 2015Dec 2017Feb 2020
31 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2005 to Feb 2020; peak Apr 2013 (4).

Electrical System recalls for the 2005 Subaru Legacy

  1. NHTSA 19V297000Apr 11, 2019Electrical System511 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition:switch

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.

Electrical System complaints by Legacy model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200531 (17%)
  2. 200618 (21%)
  3. 20075 (15%)
  4. 200812 (18%)
  5. 20095 (8%)
  6. 201022 (15%)
  7. 201133 (20%)
  8. 20126 (7%)
  9. 20137 (11%)
  10. 201415 (28%)
  11. 201539 (25%)
  12. 201651 (35%)
  13. 201730 (25%)
  14. 201840 (34%)
  15. 201935 (28%)
  16. 202016 (13%)
  17. 20215 (16%)
  18. 20223 (9%)
  19. 20231 (10%)
  20. 20247 (41%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Subaru Legacy have electrical problems?
NHTSA has 31 owner complaints about the electrical in the 2005 Subaru Legacy, 17% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 91,553 miles.
Which Subaru Legacy year has the most electrical complaints?
The 2016 Subaru Legacy has the most electrical complaints (51), compared with 31 for the 2005.
Is there a electrical recall for the 2005 Subaru Legacy?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 Subaru Legacy concerns the electrical: 19V297000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.