Two problems related to clutch have been reported for the 2005 Subaru Legacy. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2005 Subaru Legacy based on all problems reported for the 2005 Legacy.
The clutch or some part of the car smells bad (like sulphur) when the clutch slips as the car starts rolling and gas is applied. It is awful and I have read that it was supposed to go away b/c its a new car. . . . . Well I have almost 4k miles on it now and it is still there. Subaru needs to recall the car and replace the part. Many people are having the issue and Subaru is not responding.
The clutch on this vehicle seems to slip during normal driving, causing the worst smell. It smells like a sewage tereatment plant in the summertime, and normally dissipates after a few minutes. The clutch slips during normal driving, such as starting on a mild grade, or even during bumper-to-bumper traffic. This last one is particulary annoying as this is an everyday occurence for many of us. Normal driving in rush hour traffic causes a prolonged overwhelming smell in the passenger compartment, causing occupants to become sick to their stomachs.