Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2007 Subaru Outback — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2018 to Dec 2013
The most reported issue is air bags problems (36 complaints). 9 complaints involved crashes. 2 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (8)
NHTSA Campaign: 20V003000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V001000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V002000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V297000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V738000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.
Risk: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V311000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V323000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V110000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 129)
Air Bags →5 issues
Your airbag warning light stays on intermittently after starting the car, and the passenger airbag indicator only displays "Passenger" instead of showing whether it's on or off. The dealer diagnosed a faulty overhead lamp assembly with a defective solder connection that affects the airbag system's display and monitoring. The repair involves replacing the entire overhead lamp assembly, which may take several weeks to order.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your airbag warning light stays on constantly after you start the vehicle. According to Subaru customer service, if this light is on, your airbag system won't function in a crash. This is a serious safety issue that could leave you unprotected in an accident. You'll need to have the airbag system diagnosed and repaired by a technician to restore proper airbag function.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your airbag warning light keeps turning on and off on your dashboard, and your passenger airbag is also showing a warning above the rearview mirror indicating it may not be working properly. This can happen whether your car is parked or driving. The issue likely involves diagnosing the airbag system's electrical connections or sensors with specialized diagnostic equipment.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your 2007 Subaru Outback is subject to a recall for airbag issues, but your dealer refused to perform the recall repair because they were concerned about damaging your dashboard during the replacement work. The vehicle hasn't experienced an actual failure yet, but the recall work remains incomplete. The repair will likely involve removing dashboard panels to access and replace the airbag assembly.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
You've been notified of an airbag safety recall on your vehicle, but the dealership is requiring you to drive 8 hours round-trip to have it serviced. You're concerned about having to travel such a distance and put wear and tear on your car for a manufacturer's safety issue that you believe should be addressed more conveniently.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Service Brakes →4 issues
Your brake system failed completely due to corroded brake lines. Even though a recall was performed to address this exact problem, the repair didn't work properly and your brakes stopped functioning. You'll need the brake lines inspected and replaced, possibly with upgraded corrosion-resistant parts.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your brake pedal went to the floor without any resistance, leaving you with no brakes when you tried to shift into drive. You found brake fluid leaking heavily from the rear wheel well area — the brake line failed at a junction in the back, even though a recall in 2018 was supposed to have fixed this exact problem by rustproofing or replacing the brake lines. The repair will likely involve inspecting all brake lines for rust and corrosion, then replacing any failed sections and refilling the brake fluid system.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your right rear brake line corroded and failed while you were driving, causing a brake system problem. You contacted your dealer about the issue. The brake line will likely need to be replaced to restore proper braking function.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
While driving on the highway, your brake pedal went to the floor with no resistance, causing a complete loss of braking power. You discovered brake fluid leaking from a corroded metal brake line at the rear passenger wheel. Subaru had performed a recall repair in 2014 that involved only spraying anti-corrosion fluid on the line instead of replacing it, and the line has now rusted through and failed. The repair will likely require replacing the corroded brake lines with new ones to restore proper braking function.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Electrical System,air Bags →2 issues
Your airbag warning light is turning on and off intermittently, and you've already replaced the overhead circuit board once before. The solder joints on the circuit board are failing and causing loose electrical connections. When the airbag light is on, your airbags won't deploy in a crash, which is a serious safety risk. Fixing this will likely require replacing the overhead circuit board with a properly manufactured unit.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your airbag warning light is staying on constantly, which means your airbags won't deploy in a crash—a serious safety issue. You're also experiencing a failing rear wire harness that controls the rear defroster and other functions. Both repairs are expensive (over $400 for the airbag issue alone, plus $800 for the harness), and you're concerned about potential electrical fires given the apparent quality issues with the electronic components. A technician will need to diagnose and replace the faulty airbag system sensor or module and the rear wire harness assembly.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Steering,suspension,power Train →1 issue
While driving on a snowy freeway at 50 mph in a straight line, your car suddenly fishtailed and went into a ditch after hitting a small bump in the road. Since then, you've noticed the rear end trying to slide out even at low speeds on icy conditions. You believe the issue may be related to the suspension or steering, and you've had to replace the struts and tires to regain confidence in winter driving.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Electrical System,air Bags,vehicle Speed Control →1 issue
While you're driving, your airbag warning light comes on and multiple dashboard lights flash simultaneously, causing your cruise control to disconnect. This problem occurs intermittently—it might happen one day but not the next. The issue likely involves an electrical fault affecting the airbag system and related controls, which may require diagnostic testing to pinpoint the underlying cause.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Vehicle Speed Control,electronic Stability Control (esc),engine →1 issue
Your accelerator became unresponsive while driving 65 mph on a highway. The issue appears to be related to an intermittent throttle position sensor failure (diagnostic code P2138), which causes the accelerator to stop responding. Even after mechanic repairs, the problem has recurred multiple times over the past year, and mechanics sometimes cannot pinpoint the issue because it's intermittent. The fix will likely involve replacing or reprogramming the throttle position sensor.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Electrical System,vehicle Speed Control,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
While driving, your engine continued running but the gas pedal stopped responding—you coasted to the side of the road, shut off the engine, and restarted it to regain pedal control. The check engine light came on after restart, and a diagnostic scan revealed a P2138 code, which points to a throttle or pedal sensor issue. This problem could cause sudden loss of acceleration without warning, creating a serious safety risk in traffic.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Power Train →1 issue
Your front CV boots (which seal grease around your front axles) have failed and needed replacement four separate times, each time much sooner than normal—despite regular maintenance and normal driving conditions. Your Subaru dealer confirmed the premature failures each time, and lack of lubrication from failed boots can damage your axles and affect braking and steering at higher speeds. Subaru initially acknowledged the boots shouldn't have failed so quickly, but is now refusing to replace them at no cost. Getting the CV boots replaced and inspected for any axle damage will be necessary to restore proper lubrication and ensure safe operation.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Electrical System,exterior Lighting →1 issue
All your rear lights, brake lights, and rear hatch lock stopped working because the wiring that runs between the car body and the hatch door got cut from repeatedly opening and closing the hatch. This appears to be a common issue affecting 2005-2007 model years. The fix will likely involve replacing the damaged wiring harness and possibly adding protective conduit to prevent the wires from being pinched or cut in the future.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Air Bags,seat Belts →1 issue
Your airbag warning light was turning on and off intermittently, which your dealer said could mean the airbags might deploy unexpectedly or fail in a crash. The dealer diagnosed a wiring fault in the passenger seat indicator and ordered a replacement part, but it hasn't arrived after a month. However, you've noticed the light now only comes on during startup, which is normal behavior. The repair will involve replacing the faulty wiring harness or passenger seat occupant sensor.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Suspension,structure →1 issue
Your rear stabilizer bar became detached while driving over a bump, causing your vehicle to swerve sideways. This is a serious suspension issue that affects your car's handling and stability. The stabilizer bar will need to be reattached or replaced to restore safe handling.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Electrical System →1 issue
You noticed that four wires near your rear defroster were cut, which affected your windshield wipers, hatch door lock, defroster, and rear stop lights. A mechanic confirmed these wires were damaged, but the vehicle wasn't repaired. Subaru said your VIN wasn't part of any recall for this issue. The repair will likely involve replacing the damaged wires and reconnecting them to restore power to all four affected systems.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Get notified when any of these become free repairs
We'll alert you if a new recall is issued for your vehicle — that means a free fix at the dealer.
Related Vehicles
Other Subaru Outback years: