The 2006 Legacy GT with the EJ255 2.5L turbo is a solid platform when maintained, but suffers from typical Subaru boxer weaknesses: head gasket seepage, turbo-related oil consumption, and transmission mount failures that cause harsh shifting. The normally-aspirated 3.0L H6 is far more reliable but rare in GT trim.
Head Gasket Seepage and External Oil Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil residue visible on lower engine block, especially driver's side, Slight coolant smell after hot shutdown, no overheating, Oil consumption increases to 1 qt per 1,500-2,000 miles, Coolant level drops slowly over weeks
Fix: Full head gasket replacement requires engine removal or lifting in-chassis (10-14 hours labor). Must resurface heads, replace timing components, and address valve cover gaskets simultaneously. Turbo models require additional intercooler and turbo line disconnection.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200
Turbocharger Oil Starvation and Banjo Bolt Filter Clogging
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Turbo whistle turns to grinding or rattling under boost, Blue smoke on startup or during hard acceleration, Loss of boost pressure, sluggish acceleration above 3,000 RPM, Oil consumption spikes suddenly to 1 qt per 500 miles
Fix: The banjo bolt feeding the turbo has a tiny filter screen that clogs with carbon, starving the CHRA bearings. Preventive cleaning every 60k miles takes 1 hour. Full turbo replacement is 6-8 hours including oil/coolant lines and downpipe removal. OEM turbos are $1,800+, quality rebuilds $800-1,200.
Estimated cost: $1,400-3,200
Transmission Mount Collapse (Rear/Pitch Stop)
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse to Drive, Excessive engine rocking during throttle tip-in, Vibration through shifter and center console at idle, Manual transmission: difficult 1st-to-2nd shifts when cold
Fix: Rear transmission mount (pitch stop mount) fails due to heat and stress. Replacement is straightforward: 1.5-2 hours labor. Upgrade to stiffer aftermarket mounts ($80-150) reduces future failures but increases NVH slightly. Check front engine mounts simultaneously.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Variable Valve Timing Solenoid and Cam Position Sensor Failures
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: P0028 or P0011 codes (intake valve timing control malfunction), Rough idle, especially when warm, Hesitation or stumble at light throttle, 2,000-3,000 RPM, Check engine light with no driveability issues initially, then worsens
Fix: VVT solenoids on the EJ255 get clogged with sludge from extended oil change intervals. Cleaning may work temporarily; replacement is 1-2 hours per side. Cam position sensors fail less often but cause similar codes. Often combined with oil consumption repairs due to same root cause: poor oil maintenance.
Estimated cost: $300-700
Automatic Transmission Valve Body and Torque Converter Shudder
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 100,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: Shudder or vibration during light acceleration, 30-50 mph (feels like bad wheel balance), Delayed or harsh 2-3 upshift, Transmission slips briefly between gears when warm, Burnt ATF smell, fluid dark brown instead of red
Fix: The 5-speed automatic (5EAT) develops torque converter lockup shudder and valve body wear. Fluid and filter service (often neglected) can delay but not prevent. Valve body replacement: 6-8 hours. Torque converter requires trans removal: 10-12 hours. Many shops recommend used trans replacement at this point.
Estimated cost: $1,800-4,500
Intercooler Y-Pipe Cracking and Boost Leaks
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Loss of power under boost, but no limp mode, Hissing sound from engine bay during acceleration, Turbo spools but boost gauge shows lower than normal pressure, P0171/P0174 lean codes under load
Fix: The plastic Y-pipe connecting the turbo outlet to the intercooler cracks at welds or the accordion section hardens and splits. Also check silicone couplers for tears. Aftermarket metal Y-pipes ($150-300) prevent recurrence. Replacement: 2-3 hours including boost leak testing.
Estimated cost: $350-650
Owner tips
Change oil every 3,750 miles on turbo models with full synthetic — the EJ255 runs hot and oil quality is critical for turbo and head gasket longevity
Clean the turbo oil feed banjo bolt filter screen at every timing belt service (105k intervals) to prevent catastrophic turbo failure
Flush transmission fluid every 30,000 miles on automatics — Subaru calls it 'lifetime' but it's not
Inspect aftermarket tuning history carefully: AccessPORT or other ECU mods significantly increase head gasket and ringland failure risk if boost was raised
Budget for timing belt, water pump, and tensioners at 105,000 miles ($800-1,200 labor) — interference engine will grenade valves if belt breaks
Buy a low-mileage manual GT with documented oil changes and stock tune; avoid high-mileage automatics or anything modded unless you're comfortable with $3k-5k in deferred maintenance within the first year.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V001000
2020-01-02 · EA15001
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A."
These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V002000
2020-01-02 · EA15001
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B."
These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V003000
2020-01-02 · EA15001
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C."
These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH · 19V297000
2019-04-11
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.
Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 15V323000
2015-05-28 · EA15001
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 14V311000
2014-06-10
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.
Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Consequence: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 13V110000
2013-03-27
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.
Consequence: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected area will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQG-43.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.