2007 Subaru OUTBACK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
129 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
82,074 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 94 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 45 of 129 complaints (34.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 17.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 9.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 45 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Engine | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Suspension | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
Air Bags: 45; Electrical System: 19; Engine: 15; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Suspension: 11; Exterior Lighting: 6; Service Brakes: 6; Steering: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 16
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 35 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 8; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2010: 9; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2013: 6; 2014: 13; 2015: 10; 2016: 25; 2017: 8; 2018: 7; 2019: 8; 2020: 6; 2021: 6; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10182932 · 2007-02-19 (February 19, 2007)
WE PURCHASED A SUBARU OUTBACK ON 2/3/07 AND THE ACCIDENT WAS ON 2/7/07, AT 10:05 AM. I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH AND I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE, ALL OF A SUDDEN I STARTED TO GO TO THE LEFT, AGAINST THE GUARD RAIL, I THOUGHT I WAS ON BLACK ICE, BUT THE ROAD WAS DRY, BUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS ICE, I DID NOT TOUCH THE BRAKE, AND THEREFORE I WAS STILL GOING 60 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND BACK TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT AGAIN, STILL ON CRUISE CONTROL, I HIT THE GUARD RAIL ON MY RIGHT...HEAD ON..…
Owner-reported narrative. 307 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200154 · 2007-08-20 (August 20, 2007)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 8,841 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187978 · 2007-04-15 (April 15, 2007)
2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION -- WHEN MY FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO SHIFT THE ENGINE ACTUALLY ACCELERATES RATHER THAN DECELERATES. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO JUMP FORWARD MUCH QUICKER THAN THE DRIVER PLANNED WHEN THE NEXT GEAR IS SELECTED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10187978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200552 · 2007-08-23 (August 23, 2007)
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 J…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360944 · 2010-10-17 (October 17, 2010)
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/F…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669860 · 2015-01-03 (January 3, 2015)
SEVERAL BROKEN WIRES IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLEXIBLE JOINT WHERE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING TRAVELS BETWEEN THE REAR CARGO AREA AND THE TAILGATE WERE DISCOVERED. IT APPEARS THAT INFERIOR WIRE INSULATION BECOMES BRITTLE OVER TIME AND LEADS TO BROKEN WIRES. SYMPTOMS WERE THAT THE REAR WINDOW WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILS SPORADICALLY / DOES NOT RETURN TO HOME LOCATION, AND THERE IS NO POWER AT THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. WIRING FOR REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND LOCKS ALSO TRAVEL THROUGH THIS JOINT AND CAN BE AFFECTED. MANY SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS ARE DISCOVERING THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318738 · 2010-03-10 (March 10, 2010)
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON [XXX] PURCHASED CAR NEW. HAD WHAT I CALLED ENGINE 'REVVING' OR INCREASED ACCELERATION FROM FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING CAR. REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALER AND THEY WENT THROUGH A SERIES OF REPAIRS WITH NO CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE. THEY SENT A 'CORPORATE' MECHANIC TO TEST THE CAR. HE EXPERIENCED THE INCREASED RPM'S WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL BUT STATED THE CAR WAS NORMAL. HE THEN TOLD ME TWO THINGS, THEY HAD FOUND THE SAME PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353286 · 2010-09-01 (September 1, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11157245 · 2018-12-10 (December 10, 2018)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 185,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11157245 at NHTSA ↗