2003 Subaru Legacy vs 2005 Subaru Legacy
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Subaru Legacy | 2005 Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 60 | 183 |
| Recall campaigns | 14 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 199 | 261 |
| Investigations | 2 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 97,000 mi | 75,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Legacy | Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 29 |
| Air Bags | 16 | 21 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 25 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 22 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 15 |
| Power Train | 5 | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 5 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 7 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 21 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 10 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 7 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 5 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 5 |
2003 Subaru Legacy
2005 Subaru Legacy
Compare all Subaru Legacy vs Subaru Legacy years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.