Problems · by component

2005 Subaru Legacy electrical system problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Subaru Legacy cite electrical system, 14% of all 184 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
25
14% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE CD PLAYER TURNS ON BY ITSELF WHEN RADIO IS ON. NOTHING SPECIFICALLY MAKES IT HAPPEN LIKE HITTING A BUMP OR ANYTHING IT DOES IT WHILE CAR IS STILL. CAR WAS TAKIN ON TO BE LOOKED AT BUT THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. ALSO, GEAR SHIFT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOCK IN PLACE. WHICH MAKES THE CAR NOT ABLE TO START AND/OR MOVE IF ON A SLIGHTLY HILL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2020Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11309383
“I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT SOME ELEMENTS OF MY REAR HATCH ON MY SUBARU LEGACY WAGON WERE NOT WORKING. SPECIFICALLY, THE LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE THE LICENSE PLATE, THE REAR DEFROSTER, CENTER BRAKE LIGHT, HATCH LOCKING MECHANISM, AND RADIO ANTENNA WERE NOT WORKING. AN INSPECTION OF THE AREA WHERE THE WIRES ENTER THE HATCH DOOR FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE REVEALS THAT SEVERAL OF THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS WERE BROKEN COMPLETELY WITH SOME WIRES IN VARIOUS STATES OF DETERIORATION. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNUSUAL FAILURE AND NOT A TYPICAL WEAR ITEM. I AM CONCERNED AS I HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO PROPERLY LOCK AND SECURE MY VEHICLE, TO CLEAR FROST AND ICE FROM THE REAR GLASS FOR PROPER VISIBILITY, LOST THE ABILITY TO ILLUMINATE MY LICENSE PLATE WHICH COULD RESULT IN BEING PULLED OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. OVER TIME, CONTINUED DETERIORATION WILL RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO USE MY REAR WIPER AND REVERSE LIGHTS. THEY'RE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE WIRING USED IN THIS AREA. IT WAS NOT CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING NORMAL USE REPETITIONS OF OPENING AND CLOSING THE HATCH DOOR. THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS OF THE SUBARU LEGACY AND OUTBACK COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE OCCUR. I BELIEVE THAT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiperODI 11308299
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V297000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF JACKSONVILLE (LOCATED AT 10800 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225, (904) 641-6455) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2019Electrical systemODI 11231936
“THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A CITY STREET. MY SON WENT OUT IN THE MORNING TO MOVE IT TO FIND THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BURNED COMPLETELY OUT AND SOOT ALL OVER THE CAR. HIS INSURANCE (LIABILITY ONLY) WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGE AND WAS TOLD BY SUBARU TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALER AT HIS EXPENSE FOR THEM TO INSPECT IT. AFTER OVER A MONTH HE WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRE BY THEIR DETERMINATION WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE HEATED SEATS BUT BY ANOTHER SOURCE. IT IS OBVIOUS BY THE PICTURES AND BY INSPECTION THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED AND STARTED BY FAULTY WIRING ON THE HEATED SEATS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2018Electrical system, SeatsFire reportedODI 11079861
“I HAD OWNED THE CAR FOR NOT EVEN A YEAR YET BACK IN 2012, AND THE ONLY ACCIDENT I'VE EVER BEEN IN HAPPENED ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL(COLLEGE). THE AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT SHOULD HAVE. LUCKILY I ONLY EXPERIENCED MILD WHIP LASH, AND VERY LARGE BODY SHOP BILL. ALSO WHEN THEY FINALLY BROUGHT ME IN TO GET IT REPLACED THIS PAST SUMMER(2017) THEY PUSHED MY CAR AROUND THE LOT, AND MESSED UP MY TRANSMISSION AMONGST SOME OTHER THINGS. BUT WHEN I ASKED THE TECHNICIANS ABOUT IT, THEY GOT DEFENSIVE, AND DENIED ANY CLAIM OF WRONG DOING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2017Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11054944
“CAR DID NOT HAVE BACKUP LIGHTS, ELECTRONIC LOCK FOR REAR HATCH DID NOT WORK. TESTED BULBS AND SWITCH FOR BACKUP LIGHTS AND THEY WERE FINE. UNCOVERED WIRING HARNESSES LEFT AND RIGHT OF REAR HATCH 6 BROKEN WIRES RIGHT SIDE 1 BROKEN WIRE RIGHT. SPLICED TEMPORARILY UNTIL I GET THE TIME AND MONEY TO MAKE PERMANENT REPAIR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2016Electrical systemODI 10819457

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: switch

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported Apr 11, 2019NHTSA 19V297000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2005 Legacy problem areas