2005 Subaru Legacy window and wiper problems

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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 THIS WILL HAPPEN TO ALL SUBARU LEGACY OR OUTBACK MODELS 05-09 GIVEN ENOUGH TIME.

NHTSA complaint #11308299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WIRES THAT GO TO THE REAR HATCH FOR THE WIPER AND THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ARE SEVERED AFTER REPEATED OPENING/CLOSING OF REAR HATCH AND AFFECT THE FUNCTIONALITY.

NHTSA complaint #11140620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

IN THE 2005 WAGON, THE REAR WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES THROUGH THE HATCH AND IS SUBJECT TO A LOT OF BENDING (IT CONNECTS THE REAR WIPER, BACKUP LIGHTS, ETC) USES CHEAP WIRING THAT WEARS OUT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY DOCUMENTED BY SUBARU OWNERS AT HTTP://LEGACYGT.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/WAGONS-BEWARE-TAILGATE-ELECTRICALS-161086.HTML. TODAY, MY REAR WIPER STOPPED WORKING, AND SEVERAL OTHER WIRES ARE ABOUT TO BREAK. THIS COULD AFFECT REAR WIPERS, BACKUP LIGHTS, REAR LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, ETC. THESE WIRES ARE OF VERY POOR QUALITY - I HAVE OWNED 2 OTHER CARS WITH HATCHES, AND EVEN IN HARSH CANADIAN WINTERS, HAD NO ISSUES. THESE WIRES BROKE JUST DUE TO USE IN VERY MILD CALIFORNIA CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10681343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

REAR TAILGATE WIRE HARNESS FOUND TO BE BROKEN. REAR WIPER DID NOT WORK. THIS WIRE WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. TWO OTHER WIRES FOUND TO BE CRACKED AND ABOUT TO FAIL. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE REAR HI MOUNT STOP LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, AND BACK UP LIGHTS TO BE NON-FUNCTIONAL.

NHTSA complaint #10678741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, MY WIPER WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES TRAVELING THROUGH THE RUBBER GROMMET TO THE REAR GATE HAD BEEN BROKEN DUE TO A DESIGN IN THE PATH THEY TRAVEL WHERE THEY ARE BENT SEVERELY EVERY TIME THE GATE IS OPENED AND CLOSED, AND EVENTUALLY THEY SNAPPED. HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE ON MY MODEL AND PUT NEW WIRES IN PLACE OF THE BROKEN ONES.

NHTSA complaint #10639841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE REAR LIFT GATE (STATION WAGON) KEEPS BREAKING AND SHORTING OUT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT, AS REAR LIGHTS CAN GO OUT WITHOUT NOTICE, LEADING TO A POSSIBLE REAR-END COLLISION. DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS WHEN THE BACKUP LIGHTS HAVE SHORTED OUT AND ARE NOT VISIBLE. REAR VISIBILITY ALSO HAMPERED UNDER SNOWY OR RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN THE WIPER SHORTS OUT. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT LEAST THREE (3) TIMES (2/22/11, 3/24/13, 9/25/13), YET THESE ELECTRICAL ISSUES STILL PERSIST. A RECALL FROM SUBARU SHOULD BE ORDERED TO ADDRESS THIS ELECTRICAL DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10555531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

REAR WIPER STOPPED WORKING. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BROKEN WIRE INSIDE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ACCORDION BOOT FOR THE REAR HATCH OF THE WAGON. OTHER WIRES WITHIN THE HARNESS (WHICH SUPPLIES POWER TO THE REAR HATCH LIGHTS, HATCH LOCK, AND WIPER MOTOR/SPRAYER) WERE ALSO CRACKED. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THIS THIS IS STARTING TO BECOME A MORE FREQUENT ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED/RECALLED BY SUBARU.

NHTSA complaint #10547770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY CAR DOOR POWER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING, REAR WIPER STOPPED WORKING, REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, ALSO RADIO STOPPED WORKING. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY REAR LIFT GATE HAD TORN AND SHORTED OUT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SHORTCOMING ON THIS CAR, THE WIRES ARE SO SHORT AND PLACED UNDER CONSTANT TENSION THAT THEY RIP THEMSELVES APART.

NHTSA complaint #10511808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING CAUSING VERY LIMITED VISIBILITY OUT OF REAR WINDOW DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTING HARNESS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR THAT CONTROLS THE REAR WIPER AND BRAKE LIGHTS DAMAGED WHERE IT PASSES FROM THE CAR BODY TO REAR TAILGATE. THE GROMMETT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SERVING ITS PURPOSE AND THE WIRING HARNESS DOES NOT SEEM DURABLE ENOUGH. THIS CAN CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS COMBINATION.

NHTSA complaint #10510146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

SUBARU LEGACY 2005 WAGON; MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL WIRES ROUTED THROUGH A FLEXIBLE RUBBER BOOT LEADING FROM THE CHASSIS TO THE REAR HATCH OF THE WAGON HAVE BROKEN FROM REPEATED BENDING ACTION BY OPENING/CLOSING THE REAR HATCH RENDERING THE REAR WIPER INOPERABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10509204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE REAR HATCH OF MY SUBARU LEGACY WAGON - THE ELECTRICAL WIRES SUPPLYING THE REAR BRAKES, HATCH LOCK, AND REAR WINDOW WIPER ARE BEING CUT BY THE HATCH OPENING AND CLOSING. LOSS OF REAR BRAKE LIGHTS, REAR WIPER FUNCTION, AND REAR HATCH LOCKING MECHANISM ALL EFFECTED BY THE POOR ROUTING OF THESE ELECTRICAL WIRES THROUGH AN ACCORDION STYLE BOOT. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH REGARD TO MULTIPLE SAFETY CONCERNS.

NHTSA complaint #10507504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT WAGON WITH 55K STARTED INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT NOV 1, 2008. THE HEATING/AC DISPLAY WOULD GO DEAD BUT THE FAN WAS ON AND KEPT BLOWING WHATEVER TEMP WAS LAST SELECTED BUT NONE OF THE CONTROLS WOULD CHANGE IT. COULD NOT DUPLICATE AT THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER IT WENT FROM INTERMITTENT TO 100% DEAD. RADIO STILL WORKS AND I'VE NOTICED THAT THE RADIO DISPLAY DOESN'T DIM AT NIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE INSTRUMENT PANELS DOES. I CANNOT CONTROL ANY OF THE DEFROST OR HEATING/AC CONTROLS.

NHTSA complaint #10361048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

LAST SATURDAY, DURING A SNOW STORM,THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM ON THE 2005 SUBARU LEGACY WITH 11210 MILES CAME LOOSE AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW STORM. THE DEALER , GANLEY SUBARU, EXPLAINED THIS WAS NORMAL. THEY STATED THE WIPER LINKAGE IWASNOT AS ROBUST AS THEY USED TO BE, AND THE WIPER WERE RETAINING NUT WAS DESIGNED TO COME LOOSE IF THERE WAS RESISTANCE ON THE WIPER. THIS WAS TO PROTECT THE WIPER LINKAGE AND MOTOR. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. ESPECIALLY ON A CAR WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE MARKETED FOR WINTER USE.

NHTSA complaint #10187795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED ON MY 2005 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON IS MARGINALLY ADEQUATE IN VERY HEAVY RAINSTORM CONDITIONS. THIS CONDITION WAS REPORTED TO MY DEALER SERVICE CENTER, WHO ADMITTED THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE VOICED SIMILAR CONCERNS. THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT MY WIPER BLADE SPEED IS NORMAL FOR THAT MODEL. THE WIPER SPEED ON THE HIGH SETTING IS 10 CYCLES EVERY 10 SECONDS. WHEN COMPARED TO MY 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON, THE SPEED ON THAT VEHICLE IS 12 CYCLES EVERY 10 SECONDS. THAT IS 20% FASTER AND CLOSER TO WHAT I FEEL IS ACCEPTABLE FOR SAFE DRIVING IN A THUNDERSTORM.

NHTSA complaint #10163452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

I HAVE A 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT MANUAL TRANSMISSION SEDAN. THUS FAR I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR. 1) ENGINE STUTTERING: THIS PROBLEM NORMALLY OCCURS WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, OR WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE ENGINE WILL PAUSE, OR STUTTER, OR HESITATE, AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SLIGHTLY "JUMP". THIS OCCURS UNDER LOW ACCELERATION AS WELL AS HIGH ACCELERATION. 2) CLUTCH STINK: THE PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY NOTABLE WHEN GOING UPHILL FROM A DEAD STOP. WHEN THE CLUTCH SLIPS, IT CAUSES A VERY ACRID SMELL, LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. THIS ISSUE ALSO OCCURS WHEN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. 3) CLUTCH SQUEAK: WHEN PRESSING ON THE CLUTCH, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 5-10 MINUTES, THE CLUTCH WILL BEGIN TO SQUEAK, AND CAUSE REVERBERATIONS THAT CAN BE FELT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS WELL. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THE ISSUE. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED WITHOUT FIXING THE ISSUE. THEN THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS REPLACED, AND THAT MADE THE SQUEAK GO AWAY FOR A WHILE, BUT HAS SINCE RETURNED. 4) WEAK WINDSHIELD: OVER THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, THE WINDSHIELD HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS SMALL CHIPS FROM DEBRIS. SEVERAL OF THESE HAVE CAUSED CRACKS THAT HAVE HAD TO BE FILLED IN.

NHTSA complaint #10150279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

HEATING ALWAYS ON IN ANY VENT MODE, OPERATION OF CAR UNHEALTHY DUE TO HOT AIR ALWAYS BLOWING OUT OF VENTS; EVEN WITH COOL AIR AT LOWEST SETTING, 65 DEGREES F.

NHTSA complaint #10127221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED A TOTAL OF SIX DIFFERENT TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD COULD BREAK IN THE DRIVER'S FACE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #10107354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.