IllustrationLost brakes. Corroded brake lines. Recall was completed for this very issue. Fix was ineffective.
2007 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Subaru Outback do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
825–50K
1650–75K
2075–100K
19100–150K
16150K+
94 reports with mileage · 35 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Service Brakes complaints
6 reports2007 Subaru Legacy Outback 2.5i automatic. Had recall campaign 14V311 completed in 2018 for brake lines. According to Subaru brake lines were rustproofed and/or replaced. 9 June 2024 I start vehicle and place it into drive in doing so applying brake pedal to allow selection of transmission range. Pedal goes to floor without feed…
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2007 Subaru Legacy Outback 2.5i automatic. Had recall campaign 14V311 completed in 2018 for brake lines. According to Subaru brake lines were rustproofed and/or replaced. 9 June 2024 I start vehicle and place it into drive in doing so applying brake pedal to allow selection of transmission range. Pedal goes to floor without feedback pressure. No brakes. I check rear of car to find large amounts of brake fluid covering rear passenger wheel well area. Brake line has failed at rear junction as described in recall. Recall was not curative and did not address safety fault. 73k miles.
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
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 MI…
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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
BRAKES FAILED ON A CITY STREET, APPROACHING HIGHWAY ON-RAMP - CAR BEING DRIVEN BY A 17 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER - THANKFULLY NO COLLISION OR DAMAGE TO PERSON OR PROPERTY OCCURRED. AFTER INSPECTION, REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION/PERFORATION AT 2-2 WAY CONNECTOR AT 176K MILES AFTER TWO PREVIOUS RECALLS WERE SUPPOSEDLY EXECUTE…
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BRAKES FAILED ON A CITY STREET, APPROACHING HIGHWAY ON-RAMP - CAR BEING DRIVEN BY A 17 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER - THANKFULLY NO COLLISION OR DAMAGE TO PERSON OR PROPERTY OCCURRED. AFTER INSPECTION, REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION/PERFORATION AT 2-2 WAY CONNECTOR AT 176K MILES AFTER TWO PREVIOUS RECALLS WERE SUPPOSEDLY EXECUTED. DATES OF NOTE: ' 2007 - VEHICLE SOLD BY ANCHOR SUBARU, NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI TO ORIGINAL OWNER (NOT ME) ' JUNE 11, 2013 - RECALL WQG-43 PERFORMED WITH FIRST OWNER AT ANCHOR SUBARU ' SPRAY WAX APPLIED ' CAR HAS 132K MILES ' AUGUST 13, 2014 - RECALL WQK-47 PERFORMED WITH FIRST OWNER AT ANCHOR SUBARU ' SPRAY WAX APPLIED A SECOND TIME ' CAR HAS 152K MILES ' MAY 7, 2017 ' VEHICLE RE-SOLD TO 2ND OWNER (ME), ' CAR HAS 166K MILES ' MARCH 12, 2019 ' VEHICLE BRAKES FAIL ' CAR HAS 176K MILES MAKES NO SENSE HOW, IN A SPAN OF ONLY 24K MILES FROM WHEN THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED THE SECOND TIME AT 152K MILES, UNTIL THE BRAKE FAILURE AT 176K MILES, THE TWICE-APPLIED WAX 'REMEDY' PERFORMED IN THE RECALL ACTIONS WORE OFF COMPLETELY, AND, THE BRAKE LINE COMPLETED CORRODED AND FAILED. THIS DOES NOT SEEM POSSIBLE NOR PROBABLE, AND, IF IT IS POSSIBLE, THEN THE 'REMEDY' THAT WAS PROVIDED BY SUBARU WAS UNSUITABLE, OR, THE DEALERSHIP INCORRECTLY APPLIED THE MATERIAL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE CORROSION FROM HAPPENING. I HAVE NO PROOF THAT THIS WORK WAS ACTUALLY PERFORMED. I BELIEVE THAT THE SPRAY-ON WAX WAS NOT CORRECTLY APPLIED IN NEITHER METHOD NOR QUANTITY ON MY VEHICLE. ANCHOR SUBARU WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER THE RECALL. PAID MY OWN MECHANIC TO FIX THE ISSUE. SENT REGISTERED LETTERS TO SUBARU OF AMERICA AND TO THE 3 OWNERS OF THE DEALERSHIP OVER A MONTH AGO AND NONE HAVE RESPONDED TO MY CONCERNS.
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.
Official recalls
820V001000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 2, 2020
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
20V002000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 2, 2020
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
20V003000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 2, 2020
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
19V297000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Apr 11, 2019
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
16V738000 · Electrical System
Oct 13, 2016
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
15V323000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
May 28, 2015
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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 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.
14V311000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jun 10, 2014
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
13V110000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 27, 2013
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.