I purchased this 2007 Subaru Outback for my daughter after checking Subaru's official recalls website. That site listed Takata recall WQR-53 as completed [XXX]. My independent Subaru-certified mechanic diagnosed code 72 on the passenger airbag circuit and referred me to Don K Subaru in Whitefish, noting that the master technician there had trained him on the recall procedure. Don K installed Subaru test harness P on that circuit. Code 72 cleared, and the technician's written conclusion was that the inflator needs replaced. I opened case [XXX] with Subaru Customer Advocacy. Across two emails, their representative Tyler gave two different completion dates: [XXX], then [XXX]. He later admitted the first date was only the recall's effective date. Subaru's public website still displays [XXX]. I have asked twice, in writing, for the part number of the inflator that was installed and whether it was an interim Takata unit or the final non-Takata remedy. Subaru has not answered. A safety-critical airbag inflator throwing a failure code after a recall repair is not something I can accept as closed. I'm filing this complaint because Subaru's own records cannot agree on when or how the remedy was performed on this vehicle, and because the information the public relies on to judge airbag safety is wrong. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2007 Subaru Outback airbags problems
47 complaints (36% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 106,500. 6 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 47
- of this car's complaints
- 36%
- typical mileage
- 106,500
- crashes
- 6
- recalls
- 4
Which part fails
- Side/window1
- Frontal1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Subaru Outback airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2007 Subaru Outback airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 20V001000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 20V002000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 20V003000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 the federal safety agency 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.
Recall number 15V323000 · Recall details
What 2007 Subaru Outback owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency 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.
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.
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!
Was told to come here to render a complaint. They want me to travel 4hrs there and 4hrs back to get recall done. At this time I am unable to get this done. And I don't belive I should have to put 8hrs of wear and tear on my vehicle for a safety recall which is the manufacturers responsibility.
As I'm driving my airbag light comes on and all the lights on the dash starts flashing and cruise control gets disconnected one day it will happen next day it won't
2007 subaru outback airbag light is on. Subaru customer service says the airbag system will not function if the airbag light is on. This defect should be covered for no charge. Please issue a safety recall. The airbag light is on under all conditions after starting the vehicle
I bought the 2007 subaru outback ll bean new. This is the second time that the airbag light goes on and off intermittently. The first time I replaced the overhead circuit board. This time I am having trouble finding one. The solder joints in the circuit board are faulty, causing loose connections. This is a dangerous situation that has been reported to the federal safety agency many times by other owners. When the air bag light is on, the air bags will not deploy. Some people have been seriously injured because of this. There should be a recall on this problem. There is currently a second recall on the air bags themselves, but not on the circuit board. How many accidents does there have to be for you to demand a recall on this problem?
Red airbag warning is intermittently displayed on drivers instrument panel. The passenger airbag is also shown as not functioning properly above the rear view mirror. The car can be stationary or in motion.
We have experience a multitude of electrical issues with the ll bean version of the 2207 outback. Most recently the airbag light staying on consistently, which appears to be a reported issue. This is a safety issue since the air bag will not function with the light on, it is costly to repair over $400 + diagnostic of $115. Several weeks ago, it would com eon intermittently, no it remains on 100% of the time. I commute 100 miles each day 5 days a week on a two-lane, rural highway and worry I need to get rid of the vehicle sooner than later due to a safety issue. This only passing the safety issue to a new owner. This safety issue should be subaru's responsibility to fix as there are many that cannot afford such a fix and is not regular maintenance. This should never be an issue. Not sure if I would buy a subaru again after owning this one. The other issue is with the rear wire harness that controls the rear defroster, etc. $800 to replace this after we had diagnostics completed during our last tune up. Seems as though there are many faulty electronic assembly issues that were not of the highest quality - maybe a taping or soldering issue. Hopefully it doesn't spark and start a fire....
Questions about the 2007 Subaru Outback airbags
Does the 2007 Subaru Outback have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 47 complaints about the airbags of the 2007 Subaru Outback, 36% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2007 Subaru Outback airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 106,500 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2007 Subaru Outback airbags?
Yes, 4 recalls: 20V001000, 20V002000, 20V003000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Subaru Outback have bad airbags?
The Subaru Outback model years with the most airbags complaints are 2008 (104 complaints), 2011 (73 complaints) and 2007 (47 complaints).
Other 2007 Subaru Outback problems
Electrical 20Engine 18Acceleration 17Suspension 14Transmission 10Brakes 8Lights 7Fuel system 6Steering 6Body 5Driver assistance 5Wheels 3Seat belts 2Seats 2Tires 2Visibility 2Locks 1
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