Body & interior
Sticky, glossy "melting" dashboard
The dash top on 2005–2009 cars degrades in heat and humidity until it is tacky, shiny and reflects in the windshield. It is cosmetic but it was common enough to draw a lawsuit.
Frequency basis: Subject of a 2015 class action covering 2005–2009 Legacy and Outback dashboards, listed as a headline problem article for the generation on subarucomplaints.com, and 12 interior complaints in its tally. Mostly a hot-climate problem; a Wisconsin car is less exposed.
Symptoms
- Dash surface tacky to the touch and glossy; glare on the windshield in sunlight
- Dust and fingerprints stick permanently
Causes found
- The dash material's plasticiser breaking down in heat and humidity
Check in this order
- Press the dash in direct sun; a tacky finish is the only test
What fixed it
- Dealer dash replacement under the class-action settlement for qualifying owners (now expired for most)
- A fitted dash mat or cover is the usual low-cost fix; owners report cleaning does not last
References on this site
Parts diagrams
Factory manual chapters
Sources
Forum threads are owner reports, not factory findings. Counts are from the threads and complaint records read for this page; read the sources before buying parts.
- 1.4th Generation (2004-2009) Outback Problems
subarucomplaints.com · Complaint aggregator · Melting Dashboards: Parks v. Subaru of America class action, filed Aug 2015
- 2.2005 Subaru Outback problems
carcomplaints.com · Complaint aggregator · interior accessories category