2007 Subaru Outback

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2013· ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  THIS IS THE 5TH SUBARU I HAVE OWNED IN MY LIFE AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THEM WITH STABILITY IN SNOW AND ICE. I AM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER AND HAVE DRIVEN IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES AND 4. I PURCHASE THIS CAR IN JUNE OF 2012 AND ALWAYS FELT THAT IT WAS NOT STABLE ON THE ROAD. WHEN THE SNOW FELL, I WAS TESTING THE ROAD CONDITIONS ON VERY DRY CRUNCHY SNOW, WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE TO GO AROUND A LEFT CORNER. (THIS IS SOMETHING MY OTHER 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS NO PROBLEMS WITH.) THE VEHICLE STARTED TO TURN AND THE REAR END CAME UNDONE AND THE CAR SLID INTO A 4 WHEEL SKID. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE WHOLE REAR END HAD LOST ANY TRACTION. IT TOOK ACCELERATION TO GET IT TO ENGAGE AGAIN. BOTH OF MY SUBARU'S HAVE ALL SEASON RADIALS THAT ARE IN GREAT SHAPE. LATER IN DECEMBER MY HUSBAND (WHO IS ALSO A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER) AND I WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 55 MPH, THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 38 DEGREES AND THE ROAD SURFACE WAS WET. WE HAD JUST A FEW GROCERIES IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND IT WAS NOT HEAVILY LOADED. WE HIT A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE CAR STARTED SWAYING AND WOBBLING LIKE ON ICY ROADS. HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL, BUT BOTH OF US WERE SHOCKED AT HOW UNSTABLE IT WAS. WE AGAIN CHECKED THE ROAD SURFACE AND IT WAS NOT ICY. I HAVE ALSO ENCOUNTERED INSTABILITY IN SNOW AND SLUSH, THAT IS NOT NORMAL TO THE SUBARU OUTBACK. MY OTHER CAR HAS NO PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

• 12/30/2016· AIR BAGS

  TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN DECEMBER OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

• 12/30/2014· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COLD OR WET OUTSIDE. *JS

• 12/23/2016· AIR BAGS

  TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

• 12/23/2010· AIR BAGSCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED BUT THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVED FROM THE LOCATION OF THE CRASH AND WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 39,000.

• 12/21/2013· ENGINE

  LEAKING HEADGASKET ON A 6 YEAR OLD SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 WITH 79,000 MILES. REPAIR JOB COST OF $2,000. HEAD GASKET ISSUES ARE A MAJOR COMPLAINT/DEFECT ON SUBARU 2.5 4CYL ENGINES. SUBARU SHOULD EITHER OFFER TO SUBSIDIZE OR COVER MAJOR REPAIR COST. *TR

• 12/17/2021· AIR BAGS

  A couple of months ago I noticed the airbag lamp stayed on after starting my car. After I had parked and later restarted the car, the airbag light went off as normal. A month or so later the airbag light again stayed on after starting the car. I also noticed that the passenger airbag indicator (on or off) didn’t seem to be working. It didn’t say “on” or “off”. It only said “Passenger”. I took it to the dealer and they diagnosed it and said I needed a new overhead lamp assembly that would cost $400 installed. They said it would take several days (it took over 2 weeks) to get the part. In the meantime, they could not tell me whether the airbag system would function properly in an accident. The part was ordered and I kept driving the car, hoping the airbag light wouldn’t stay on which was very stressful. The repair was finally made today and appears to be functioning properly. After some online research, I found out that this is a known issue with these cars. There is a soldered connection inside the overhead lamp assembly that was either improperly or insufficiently soldered or used defective solder. People have videos posted online of them taking the assembly apart and re-soldering the connection which appears to resolve the issue. I wasn’t comfortable doing that since properly functioning airbags are a critical safety component. I believe that Subaru either knows about this or should know. I would bet they have fixed this issue on newer vehicles. But lots of these vehicles still on the road.

• 12/10/2018· SERVICE BRAKES

  BRAKE LINE BROKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE REAR DOOR . I COULD SEE THE FLUID COMING OUT THROUGH A COVER OF SOME KIND THAT I THINK IS TO PROTECT THE FUEL TANK. I WAS DRIVING AND NEEDED TO STOP AND THE PEDAL WENT SUDDENLY TO THE FLOOR AND I WENT PAST WHERE I TRIED TO STOP.

• 12/05/2019· SERVICE BRAKES

  STEPPED ON THE BRAKES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GRAB THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND DODGE INTO THE NEXT LANE OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE SLAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING UNKNOWN DAMAGE/INJURY. I USED THE PARKING BREAK AND MANUAL SHIFTING OPTION TO LIMP IT BACK TO MY HOUSE A FEW MILES AWAY. I WALKED AROUND THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND AT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I FOUND A METAL BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING FLUID WHERE IT WAS CLAMPED TO THE VEHICLE BODY. AS I WAS LOOKING FOR THE PART/INFORMATION ON IT, I CAME ACROSS A KNOWN RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE ON 8/8/2014. PART OF THE RECALL STATED THAT IF IT WASN'T LEAKING AT THE TIME, THEY WERE TO SPRAY IT WITH AN ANTI-CORROSION OF SOME SORT AND CALL IT GOOD. APPARENTLY THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO MINE BECAUSE THE LINES ARE VERY RUSTY AND CORRODED. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THE REPAIR COMPLETED. IF THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AND THE RESULTS OF FAILURE ARE POSSIBLY CRASHING AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURES, HOW ARE THEY ABLE TO SPRAY AN ANTI-CORROSION FLUID OVER TOP OF RUST AND WASH THEIR HANDS OF SUCH A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS/FATAL KNOWN PROBLEM? RECALL #WQK-47, 14V311000, AND WQG-43

• 12/04/2008· SUSPENSION

  2007 SUBARU OUTBACK DOES NOT HANDLE PROPERLY ON ICY ROADS. THE AWD FAILS OR PULLS, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AT SPEEDS OVER 35-40MPH. OTHER 2WD CARS ON THE ROAD PASS AND HANDLE THE SAME CONDITIONS BETTER WITH NO APPEARANCE OF SLIDING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE TIRES AND HAD TWO ALIGNMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS WHENEVER WE ARE ON AN ICE PACKED ROAD, BUT DOES NOT PRESENT IN SNOW OR WHERE THE ROAD HAS BEEN TREATED WITH ADEQUATE MAG CHLORIDE. *TR

• 12/03/2014· AIR BAGS,STRUCTURECrash

  A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY FOR A PEDESTRIAN, AND I REAR ENDED IT. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I ENDED UP WITH A CONCUSSION. HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE THINKING AND SLEEPING - AND FINALS ARE NEXT WEEK! *JS

• 12/01/2023· POWER TRAIN

  Both front driver and passenger side CV Boots have failed prematurely on several occasions well before the expected life and mileage expectancy for these parts (they have been replaced on four separate occasions). The CV boots hold grease in to provide lubrication to the axels. Safety was at risk as lack of lubrication increased chances of axel and associated component damage (braking and steering) at higher driving speeds. Subaru dealer has verified on each of the four separate occasions that the CV boots failed prematurely. The car has never seen any off road or rough condition driving conditions. The vehicle has always been meticulously maintained and all preventive maintenance requirements complete ahead of or on schedule and any recommended repairs by authorized mechanics are addressed immediately. Was urged by Subaru Dealer to contact Subaru of America (SOA) about the CV boots again failing prematurely. Previously, SOA was contacted and acknowledged parts should not have failed in the timeframes as it had. This time with even less mileage and time in service, Subaru is refusing to address the problem and replace the Subaru OEM parts at their expense.

• 12/01/2021· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  All rear lights, rear hatch lock, brake lights all failed due to wiring going from the body to the hatch getting cut from the action of opening and closing the hatch door. This seems to be a pretty common thing with at least the 2005-2007 models years.

• 11/29/2016· AIR BAGS

  AIRBAG LIGHT ON. DIAGNOSED AS CODE 26. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING OVERHEAD CONSOLE DUE TO FAULTY LED LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR. ESTIMATED $300 PART. ENDED UP FINDING A CRACKED SOLDER JOINT AND RESOLDERING. PREMATURE FAILURE.

• 11/27/2018· STEERINGCrash

  ON 11/23/2018, I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND DOWN A HILL IN THE INSIDE LANE OF A HIGHWAY IN LIGHT DRIZZLE, SPEED APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE HIGHWAY WAS WET BUT NO STANDING WATER. SUDDENLY THE FRONT WHEELS BEGAN ALTERNATELY PULLING TO THE LEFT, THEN RIGHT, THEN LEFT, THEN RIGHT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WEAVE UNCONTROLLABLY. AFTER JUST A FEW SECONDS THE CAR SWERVED ACROSS THE RIGHT LANE, SPINNING TO FACE THE WESTBOUND TRAFFIC. THE CAR THEN SWUNG UP AN EMBANKMENT ALONG THE ROADSIDE, SKIDDED BACKWARDS ON ITS LEFT SIDE, THEN CAME TO REST ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY, STILL FACING THE WESTBOUND TRAFFIC. IN A FEW MINUTES, HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED, AND A PATROLMAN BACKED THE CAR DOWN THE HILL ABOUT 200 YARDS TO AN EXIT. AS HE WAS BACKING, THE FRONT END AGAIN WAS WEAVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS THAT HAPPENED, BUT IT DID NOT BEGIN WITH APPLYING BRAKES OR SKIDDING ON THE WET SURFACE.

• 11/27/2016· AIR BAGS

  TAKATA RECALL; I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SUBARU IN FEBRUARY 2016 STATING THAT MY FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS IN DANGER OF DEATH FROM THIS RECALL. IT HAS BEEN 10 MONTHS SINCE RECEIVING THIS LETTER AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED AS TO HOW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT I CANNOT USE MY VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT. WHY AREN'T THESE ISSUES GETTING FIXED OR AT LEAST SCHEDULED TO BE FIXED? RECALL WAS INITIATED IN DECEMBER 2015 - ONE YEAR AGO! PASSENGER CAN DIE FROM THIS! *TR

• 11/24/2018· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  MY 2007 OUTBACK WAGON TAILGATE LIGHTS, LOCK FAILED TO WORK. SOME OF THE WIRING WITHIN THE FLEXIBLE RUBBER CONDUIT BROKE AND SHORTED OUT THE FUSE. THE WIRES COULD NOT ENDURE THE REPEATED MOTION OF THE TAILGATE MOVEMENT. I HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE UPPER BRAKE LIGHT, REVERSE LIGHTS, TAILGATE LOCK ARE AFFECTED. I BELIEVE THE REAR WIPER MOTOR WIRING IS IN THE SAME HARNESS. A PREVIOUS OWNER MADE A REPAIR OF ONE WIRE AS SEEN IN THE PHOTO. REPAIR DID NOT HOLD UP. SUBARU SHOULD CORRECT THE CONDITION AT NO CHARGE.

• 11/16/2015· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH DISABLED THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

• 11/03/2014· ENGINE

  NO HEAT, ENGINE TEMP. CLIMBED. ENGINE COOLANT BOILED OUT A MILE LATER. 2.5 ENGINE. *TR

• 11/03/2008· TIRES

  I EXPERIENCED AIR LOSS IN A TIRE. WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY PUNCTURE. TOOK IT TO A TIRE DEALER WHO FOUND A BROKEN VALVE STEM. THIS IS THE SENSOR TYPE OF VALVE STEM. IT APPEARED TO BE BROKEN IN HALF. THE SUBARU DEALER DIDN'T SEEM SURPRISED, AND AFTER CHECKING SAID THERE SEEMED TO BE A RUN ON THEM AND IT MIGHT BE A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THEY COULD OBTAIN ONE TO REPLACE THE BROKEN PART. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL AND HE SEEMED ALARMED AND VERY DEFENSIVE. *TR

• 11/02/2019· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET WHEN MY CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT I HAD NO GAS PEDAL RESPONSE .SO L COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD AN SHUT IT OFF AN STARTED IT .THEN AFTER I DID THAT I GOT GAS PEDAL RESPONSE .THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AFTER RESTARTING VECHILE SO I HAD A CODE SCAN CHECK IT,AN A CODE P2138 SHOWED . THE CODE IS FOR THE THROTTLE/PEDAL SENSOR. I'M JUST GLAD I WAS NOT DOING 65 ON A HIGHWAY AN A SEMI WASN'T BEHIND ME OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE

• 11/01/2024· SERVICE BRAKES

  Lost brakes. Corroded brake lines. Recall was completed for this very issue. Fix was ineffective.

• 10/20/2015· AIR BAGS

  DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS LIT AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR 2007 OUTBACKS DUE TO FAULTY SOLDERING OF THE OVERHEAD CHIP.

• 10/19/2021· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS

  The Airbag light on my dash was lighting intermittently. I called Kendall Subaru here in Fairbanks, AK and was told I shouldn't drive the car as such a light indicated a problem with my airbags and that even a low level bump could set them off or that they might not function at all in a major accident. I scheduled an appointment to have this problem diagnosed. They told me there was a fault in the wiring and that I'd have to have the passenger seat indicator replaced. I have done some online research and found that there are several instances of faulty soldering in the wiring for the indicator. This would seem to me to be a reason for Subaru to issue a safety recall as a pot hole hit could set this thing off or people could get killed because the airbag didn't deploy! Kendall told me that they didn't have the part in stock. It would be in in 7-10 days. That was a month ago. I have noticed that since my vehicle was in for diagnosis, that the light has only come on whe the car is started, like it's supposed to!

• 10/18/2011· POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE HAD TWO WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. FRONT PASSENGER AT 65,000 AND REAR PASSENGER AT 73,000. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR TREATED BADLY. SUBARU'S IN THE PAST HAVE HAD RECALLS ON THIS PART. I THINK THERE IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

• 10/17/2010· VISIBILITY

  AUDIO/HVAC CONTROLS FLASH OR CUT OUT ALTOGETHER. PROBLEM STARTED INTERMITTENTLY IN JAN. 2010 AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES BUT HAS NOW BECOME CONSISTENT AS OF OCTOBER 2010 AT ABOUT 22,000 MILES. WHEN CONTROLS ARE ACTING UP, NOT ONLY DOES THE PANEL NOT DISPLAY PROPERLY, BUT ALSO FAILS TO RESPOND TO ANY ADJUSTMENTS. NOT BEING ABLE TO ADJUST THE AUDIO OR CLIMATE CONTROL IS AN INCONVENIENCE. HOWEVER, NOT BEING ABLE TO DEFROST FRONT OR REAR WINDOWS WHEN NEEDED IS A SAFETY HAZARD. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON SUBARU FORUMS (FOR EXAMPLE, HTTP://LEGACYGT.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/LOSS-OFF-POWER-RADIO-AND-CLIMATE-CONTROL-3459.HTML?P=2220291&POSTCOUNT=114 [SEE #114 AND #137, IN PARTICULAR] AND HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/80-ELECTRICAL-ELECTRONICS/23909-08-O-B-RADIO-HVAC-CONTROL-LIGHTING-PROB.HTML). PROBLEM SEEMS TO STEM FROM A POORLY MANUFACTURED CIRCUIT BOARD. HONDA HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH POORLY MADE CIRCUIT BOARDS, BUT HAS ISSUED A TSB THAT NOW COVERS THESE UNITS FOR 7 YEAR/100,000 MILES. IT WOULD BE NICE IF SOMETHING SIMILAR WOULD BE ISSUED FOR SUBARUS AS OWNERS EXPERIENCES WITH DEALERSHIPS HAVE RANGED FROM THEN NEVER HEARING OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE IT TO HAVING IT BE A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THEY WORK WITH SOA TO PROMPTLY ADDRESS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE OWNER. *TR

• 10/17/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED ON VARIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT RESET THE COMPUTER AND COULD NOT EXCHANGE IT EITHER. ALSO, THE DEALER EXPRESSED THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THIS WAS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 I WAGON. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB

• 10/16/2014· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

• 10/12/2016· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT

  2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT REFUSES TO REPAIR/REPLACE VEHICLE RADIO. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $1,00 TO REPLACE THE RADIO. *JB

• 10/09/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THIS IS A 2007 OUTBACK 2.5I PZEV WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE WILL BOG DOWN UNLESS THE ENGINE IS REVVED HIGH PRIOR TO RELEASING THE CLUTCH. WHEN IT BOGS DOWN, THE RESULT IS VERY SLOW ACCELERATION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING LEFT IN TRAFFIC. TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THIS MODE, THE CLUTCH NEED TO BE PUSHED IN AGAIN AND THE ENGINE REVVED TO A HIGHER RPM. ONCE THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AND ACCELERATES QUICKLY. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO WAY TO ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY AND QUICKLY. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN USING GASOLINE WITH 10% ETHANOL AND IS MUCH WORSE WITH MOBIL REGULAR GAS. *JB

• 10/05/2010· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  DRIVER SIDE IMPACT TO 07 SUBARU OUTBACK DAMAGED FRAME, INSURANCE TOTALED VEHICLE, SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN SEAT AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RESULTING IN PERMANENT INJURIES TO NECK AND LOWER BACK AS WELL AS HEAD HITTING ON DRIVER SIDE FROM BEING RAG DOLLED. I BELIEVE IF FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED OR SEATBELT LOCKED, THE INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE. *TR

• 10/03/2016· AIR BAGS

  TAKATA RECALL. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM EMPIRE NISSAN IN LAKEWOOD, COLORADO IN JUNE 2016. I FOUND OUT LATER IT HAD AN OPEN AIRBAG RECALL. EMPIRE REFUSED TO FIX IT. I'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE JUNE 2016 TO HAVE AUTO NATION SUBARU WEST, A SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN GOLDEN, COLORADO TO ORDER PARTS AND GET THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPAIRED. WHEN I CALLED THEM, THEY PUT ME ON SOME INFORMAL LIST AND SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN. I'VE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR THAT CAN HOLD 4 PASSENGERS SINCE BUYING THE SUBARU. 4 MONTHS SEEMS LIKE TOO LONG TO REPAIR A RECALLED AIRBAG. THE SUBARU REPAIR RATES FOR THIS RECALL ARE A DISMAL AT 22%. SUBARU, AND THE DEALERSHIPS NEED TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.

• 10/02/2017· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  DRIVING AT 55 MILES PER HOUR ON HWY 213, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, LOST POWER(LIMP MODE), CRUISE CONTROL FLASHING. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD ON HILL(BARELY ABLE TO MAKE SAFE SPOT). TURNED OUT VEHICLE. RESTARTED(LIGHTS STILL WARNING), BACK UP AND FORWARD TO ASSURE POWER. DECIDED TO TRY TO GET TO NEARBY COMMUNITY/AUTO SHOP. WAS ABLE TO DO SO. DIAGNOSIS: P2138. THEY PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE, RESULTS INCONCLUSIVE. CYCLED THE ACCELERATOR THROUGH NUMEROUS POSITIONS AND RATERS WITH VARIATIONS ON POSITION/PRESSURE APPLIED TO PEDAL, AND MONITOR LAB SCOPE. SENSOR SIGNALS WERE PRECISE AND WITHOUT ERRORS. OWNER RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS CASED OF SAME-WITHOUT RESOLUTION FOR MANY PEOPLE-REOCCURRING WITH COSTLY REPAIRS TO ATTEMPT REPAIR. SUGGESTED CALLING SUBARU.COM WHICH I DID. NO REASSURANCE AS TO PROBLEM BEING FIXED, JUST SAID TAKE IT TO A DEALER. CONCERNED WITH SAFETY AS I DRIVE MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN CAR, AS WELL AS SAFETY FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS. WILL TAKE IT TO DEALER BUT NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT A PERMANENT FIX AND SAFETY OF FUTURE DRIVING.

• 09/30/2016· AIR BAGS

  TAKATA RECALL - NOTIFIED IN FEB 2016, IT'S NOW LAST DAY OF SEP 2016, AND ALL I HAVE IS THE INITIAL LETTER, NO FOLLOW-UP, NO ESTIMATE OF WHEN THIS WILL GET FIXED. I CAN'T USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THIS VEHICLE, A GREAT INCONVENIENCE. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO GET FIXED???

• 09/27/2014· ENGINE

  ENGINE MADE A SUDDEN RATTLING SOUND THAT GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER, THEN HAD A LOUD BANGING SOUND.AFTER A FEW DAYS OF INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER BOLT CAME LOOSE,BOUNCED AROUND IN MY ENGINE, DAMAGING A PLATE AND "TAKING A FEW 'CHUNKS' OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK,ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC.THE MECHANIC SAID IN HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION,THE ONLY WAY THE BOLT COULD HAVE BEEN LOOSE,IS THAT IS WAS NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE.THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO A SUBARU THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF.THE CAR IS 6YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR 5YEARS(BOUGHT IT IN 2009 WITH 33 MILES ON IT,AS IT HADN'T SOLD IN 2008), AND IT HAS ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO RECALL, AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 7MONTHS AGO. SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD COVER HALF THE COST OF REPAIRS, BUT WE ARE STILL PURSUING OPTIONS. *TR

• 09/22/2017· SUSPENSION

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SHOCK SUPPORT WAS FRACTURED AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. BILL MCBRIDE SUBARU (5105 U.S. AVE, PLATTSBURGH, NY 12901, (518) 561-7400) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

• 09/22/2007· POWER TRAIN

  THE LATEST INCIDENT DATE IS SHOWN BELOW, THE FIRST TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS IN FEB 07. THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR OCCURRENCES. IN EACH EVENT THE AUTOMOBILE WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD BEEN DECELERATING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO AN IMMEDIATE NEED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A RAPIDLY APPROACHING VEHICLE WHILE EITHER MAKING AN EVASIVE MANEUVER DUE TO ROAD OBSTACLES OR WHILE MERGING IN CONGESTED HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE SPEEDS UP TO NEAR "RED LINE" WITH NO ACCOMPANYING ACCELERATION OR ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME IN EXCESS OF ONE FULL SECOND TO AN ESTIMATED THREE SECONDS THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. IN EACH INSTANCE, THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN ON THE PART OF THE DRIVERS (THREE DIFFERENT ONES) THAT A "NEAR ACCIDENT" OCCURRED. WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS FIRST NOTIFIED AT THE DEALERSHIP, AN EXPLANATION OF THE LATEST "DRIVE BY WIRE" TRANSMISSIONS WITH "FUZZY LOGIC", ANTICIPATING COMPUTER PROGRAMMING WAS OFFERED. THOUGH PLAUSIBLE, IT DID NOT SEEM A VERY LIKELY "NORMAL" EXPECTATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DECLARED THAT ONLY THE LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE TROUBLE SHOOTING THE SYSTEMS. I WAS ASSURED THAT THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO WORK THROUGH THE MANUFACTURING TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS, AND I HAD NO NEED TO CONTACT THEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THOROUGHLY TESTED THE SYSTEMS, DROVE IT AT LENGTH, AND AGAIN ASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN CONDITION AND WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL TO AVOID ANY SITUATION WHERE ANY UNANTICIPATED RAPID CHANGES FROM DECELERATION TO ACCELERATION WOULD BE NEEDED. *TR

• 09/17/2012· SUSPENSION

  MY 2007 OUTBACK WITH LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT HAS REQUIRED 2 WHEEL BEARINGS PREVIOUSLY. TODAY THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED TWO MORE, REPLACING ONE THAT HAD LESS THAN 6 MONTHS ON IT. SUBARU EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE 2006 MODELS BECAUSE OF THE SAME ISSUE. FROM REVIEWING THE FORUMS IT SEEMS THIS PART IS PRONE TO EARLY FAILURE. I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AT WARRANTIED TO AT LEAST 100,000 MILES AS THEY DID WITH THE 2006 MODEL YEAR. *TR

• 09/12/2016· AIR BAGS

  TAKATA RECALL HAVE FOLLOWED UP WITH MANUFACTURER 3 TIMES AND ALL I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS THE LOCAL DEALER HAS ORDERED THE PART . . .

• 09/11/2014· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  PROBLEM P2138 THROTTLE CEASES TO CONTROL CAR ENGINE SPEED. IN NEUTRAL IT SETTLES AT ?4000 RPM. STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR STOPS THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES FOR 1-2 DAYS. CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT FUNCTIONAL WHILE IN THIS STATE. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, BUT TYPICALLY AT 55-60. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, NOW 3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. HAD THE THROTTLE SENSOR REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO, AND WE HAD NO PROBLEM FOR 11 MONTHS UNTIL THE PAST MONTH. *TR

• 09/02/2017· SEATS

  NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE OF ELECTRIC DRIVER SEAT BOTTOM DID NOT RAISE CORRECTLY. REMOVED SEAT TO FIND BROKEN SPOT WELDS ON BRACKET CONNECTING THE BAR THAT RAISES SEAT FRONT TO THE SEAT FRAME ITSELF.

• 09/01/2010· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. WHEN ANALYZED, THE STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR FAILED TEST. PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT REPLACEMENT PARTS ACCORDING TO SERVICE DEPT. THIS IS FAIRLY EXPENSIVE $387 AND I SUSPECT SOME PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM WILL NOT FIX. *TR

• 08/30/2016· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SENSORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ON, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

• 08/23/2010· WHEELS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE LUG STUDS EXHIBITED STRESS FRACTURES. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE PREVIOUS AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

• 08/23/2007· EQUIPMENT

  I PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEBRUARY. UP UNTIL LATE MAY, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS WORKING FLAWLESSLY. IT THEN STARTED BLOWING COLD FOR ABOUT TEN SECONDS AND THEN WARM FOR FIVE. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BEHAVE ERRATIC, THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY AND THE ENGINE TO SURGE BECAUSE THE COMPRESSOR IS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS ISSUE FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST THREE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS OVERCHARGING OF THE AC SYSTEM. THE LAST ONE I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION (BUT WHY JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN START AT 4000 MILES?) *TR

• 08/20/2016· AIR BAGS

  TAKATA RECALL: I WAS NOTIFIED IN FEBRUARY THAT IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BUT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF PARTS. I HAVE NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED TO HAVE CAR LOOKED AT.

• 08/20/2007· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE GAINED SPEED DOWN HILL AND ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER FOUND NO FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPONENTS DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,751 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,841. UPDATED 01/02/08. *LJ

• 08/17/2020· SERVICE BRAKES

  2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *JS

• 08/15/2025· AIR BAGS

  The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V003000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer declined to repair the vehicle due to possible damage to the dashboard while replacing the air bags. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.

• 08/14/2007· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE KEY FOB AND THE INNER BUTTONS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. UPDATED 09/12/07 *TR