2005 Subaru Legacy: sudden loss of power

Filed Nov 3, 2018 · Fuel system · 165,000 miles · WA

Driving vehicle eastbound on hwy-14 in vancouver, wa, approx 60 MPH. Vehicle lost power and would not restart. After we got vehicle home, inspection found high pressure fuel line had blown-off at the fuel pump connection, causing large amount of fuel to leak under the vehicle.

Filed Feb 27, 2011 · Engine · 66,000 miles · NY

I was driving at the speed limit. I heard noises start to come from under the hood of the car, and the car lost power. As soon as I safely could, I pulled over and parked the car. I had it towed to a dealership for repair. The dealership diagnosed the problem as a failed turbocharger. It replaced the turbocharger and returned the car to me. It took the dealer four days to return the car to me. Approximately 150 miles later, I experienced the same symptoms. I drove straight to a dealership just a mile or two from where I was located, by coincidence, at the onset of this second problem. This second dealership diagnosed the problem: the replacement turbocharger failed. In addition, the engine was now damaged. Now the entire engine, including yet another turbocharger, is being replaced, along with other ancillary parts. The dealer has had the car for four days thus far.

Filed Feb 8, 2010 · Engine · 62,000 miles · OH

To nhsta three turbos have failed within a 2 month span on a 2005 subaru legacy gt sedan. Leading up to each failure the vehicle was being driven consistently at ~60 MPH for 15 to 20 miles. The consequence of these failures has been loss of power on the highway which could have caused a wreck (but luckily did not). To correct this failure the turbo was replaced by an independent mechanic under an extended warranty. It failed again the same day due to the nut holding the turbo together falling off. Subaru replaced that turbo but it failed again after 2 weeks. I took it to a subaru dealership this time where they said it failed because a small mesh screen become blocked by sludge and would not honor their mechanical fault warranty. I paid to have it replaced but I have not yet picked up the vehicle since I cannot trust it not to break (nor will subaru warranty the part if the screen becomes blocked again, this sludge could be caused by the initial turbo failure, since the broken turbos throw metal through the oil system.) this is a safety issue instead of a maintenance issue because of the consistent failures under the same condition which is normal highway driving conditions. The failure rate for this specific subaru vehicle is much greater than normal with an epa report (ref #gr08-054c epa # 3595) showing "unscreened warranty claims" (minimal failure rate?) of 4.55% as of sep 12, 2008. This rate is on average 3 times higher than other turbo vehicles produced by subaru at the time. (incidently mazda has just recalled their new 2010 turbo mazda3's due to turbo failure from periods of idle or limited acceleration due to oil pooling in the turbo, these are the circumstances under which the subaru turbo's have failed)

Filed Mar 23, 2009 · Engine · 67,000 miles · MI

Turbo failure with no warning. Drastic loss of power immediately upon failure. Temperature gauge read normal. No indicating/warning lights showed up.

Filed Jul 31, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · 15,000 miles · TN

Immediately following heavy rain storms, my 2005 subaru legacy wagon had problems starting and running. The engine 'stutters' or 'misfires' until the battery is disconnected and left for approximately 10 minutes, then reconnected. I have taken the car in to the subaru dealer on approximately four occasions for this problem, where ecu codes have been cleared, and I have been informed that the problem was solved. It invariably returns with the next rainstorm. I am concerned that this problem could emerge while driving in rainy conditions, leading to an immediate loss of power and control of the vehicle.