One problem related to ball joint has been reported for the 2005 Subaru Outback. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2005 Subaru Outback based on all problems reported for the 2005 Outback.
I am the third owner so after my problems, I researched to learn the first owner couldn't maintain tire life; Subaru replaced all four tires and kept trying realignment for her. The second owner informed me he could not maintain new tire life, never acknowledging to me that the car is all over the road and a hazard to your life. Being the third owner, I never thought when I purchased this 2005 Subaru Outback that it could be an engineering problem with a company like Subaru, not identified or recalled. I have learned the car is unsafe and after research online have learned there could be a serious engineering problem with the raised rear suspension. I have the Subaru receipts from former two owners (they were related) and obviously Subaru is negligent in not identifying the issue and reporting it. Two different shops have assured me it is not ball joints, or suspension, etc. I spent $750 on the rear end and new alignment at the specialty spring and suspension shop and those tires seem to be wearing evenly. The front tires are cupped on the outside severely in six months. The car is all over the road.