Public Service - Problems with the 5th Generation Legacy Problem Areas

[rao]

Since this question comes up all of the time, I thought I would try to provide a public service and list the known problem areas of the 05-09 Legacy GT.

 

A new problem came to my attention this morning and it has been added to the list (the 10+ cars have a large list of there own but I am not supposed to list those):

 

 

Paint

Tires

Brakes

Brake Lines

Brake booster

Transmission

Clutch

Throw out bearing

Flywheel

Lack of Front locking differential

Center differential

Rear differential (except for the Spec B )

Front Axles

Location of downpipe

Shifter mechanism

Turbo

Pistons

Oiling system

Oil pickup design

AVCS

Tumble valves

Resale value

Poor quality of interior materials

Rattles

Interior space

Radio

HVAC controls and performance

Shocks

Springs

Ride height

Rear roll bar

Front roll bar

Wheel bearings

Horns

Lights

Exhaust

Weak body structure

Valve adjustment

Service manual errors and engineering mistakes

Connecting rods

Seats

Swaybar mounting points on rear subframe

Wiper heating element

Wiper park sensor

Lack of factory HID

Sunroof close requires hitting button twice

No folding rear seat on '05-'06 sedan

Insufficient fuel filtering

 

 

Ironically, People also seem to hold the idea that the Legacy is faster than any Porsche and better than a Lamborghini, but that is how it goes on forums.

[Underdog]

Don't forget the following:

 

Connecting rods

Seats

Swaybar mounting points on rear subframe

Wiper heating element

Wiper park sensor

Lack of factory HID

Sunroof close requires hitting button twice

No folding rear seat on '05-'06 sedan

 

Even if a car was faster than a Legacy, how would it do in the snow?

[rao]

Thanks. I updated the list.

 

 

 

If there is anything else that I have not mentioned, please let me know.

[BAC5.2]

Short timing belt replacement interval

[Max Capacity]

"Sunroof close requires hitting button twice"

 

 

That's a safety thing. It's so you can't close a part of your body in it. My 92Si civic did the same thing.

 

Remember safety first.

[thefultonhow]

Don't forget:

 

Main/rod bearings

Head gaskets (yes, there have been a number of reports of problems recently)

Catted up-pipe on 05-06 GTs

Intercooler design (tabs separate from end tanks)

"Juddering" acceleration on stock boost/fuel maps

Easily triggered trunk release button on 05-08 keyless entry

Rear cupholder

Back element on heated seats

 

Man, these cars suck!

[Code]

rao,

 

You've had me lol'ing for a long time now, but you're losing your touch

[Underdog]

I know you said clutch but the TOB deserves its own line.

[BAC5.2]

rao,

 

You've had me lol'ing for a long time now, but you're losing your touch

 

You just have to stand closer.

[PhilT]

These are problems with the 4th generation or 5th ?

 

If the 5th generation was an improvement on the 4th, why does it still have so many problems ?

 

I have a 4th generation Legacy, and it doesn't have any of the problems mentioned, do I have a freak car ?

 

Why do you mention that the Spec B has all of these problems, except for the rear differential ? Should I upgrade to a Spec B rear differential just in case mine fails ?

[rao]

I updated the list.

 

Phil - you should definitely upgrade to the Spec B rear differential, it makes a HUGE difference in the way the car performs. You may not notice the other problems but they are there, perhaps you are not as in tune with your car as you should be?

[PhilT]

That is one disadvantage of not driving it I guess

[nemo]

Looks like we should just change the list to say... "The entire car"

[thefultonhow]

I updated the list.

 

You didn't add the problems I mentioned.

[MikeNH]

Not to be a nit-picking jerk, but isn't the 05-09 the 4th gen Legacy?

[pillboy]

Severe skin chafing from all the hand wringing over the new oil change interval recommendation (I forgot what model year it started) for turbo motors.

[katalyst]

^ haha you gotta start wearing gloves

[pootle]

I've owned a couple of Scoobies, but I'm a Scoobie newby as far as the LGT goes. I've been very keen on getting one recently because an LGT wagon would probably be the only performance car I could sell to my wife. HOWEVER, the lists above give me pause, as they say. It might be easier to list the bits that aren't problematic: the window glass, say, or the carpets seem to be quite reliable. At least they aren't in the lists.

 

I'm also astonished at how many LGTs seem to have had their engines replaced under warranty. What's that all about? I thought, or maybe just hoped, that Subaru had learned its lesson with the self-destructing head gaskets in the first-gen 2.5l engines. Is there a similar specific point of failure with the LGT engine that I should know about?

 

Any and all advice much appreciated.

[rao]

It is hard to narrow it down to just one type of failure.

[pootle]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[thefultonhow]

It is hard to narrow it down to just one type of failure.

 

It is hard to narrow it down to any fewer than 20 types of failures. Yet, for some reason, our cars are mostly still working, and we are mostly still driving them. Except Rao, that is. He doesn't drive his car.

[BAC5.2]

He cares more than we do.

[TwoTone]

I'll add some;)

 

The engineer that designed the window lock was drunk. He must have been the same one to designed function of the stereo controls on the wheel.

[Spoonwacker]

Lack of massaging seats! Every damn time I drive the car, I think to myself, "What the hell was Subaru thinking? Why isn't my car massaging my back and kneading my ass cheeks?"

[rao]

I updated the list to add the poorly designed location of the downpipe