NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Suspension complaints
14 reportsClear category filter46,000 miles · Apr 2, 2010
Suspension
I OWN A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE IS AN EARLY WARNING INDICATOR FOR BLACK ICE ON THE ROAD SURFACE. THE OUTBACK VEHICLE HAS A STABILITY CONTROL PROBLEM IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS. WHILE DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEED (CONSTANT AND LOW THROTTLE POSITION) ON A FLAT ROAD, THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE …
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I OWN A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE IS AN EARLY WARNING INDICATOR FOR BLACK ICE ON THE ROAD SURFACE. THE OUTBACK VEHICLE HAS A STABILITY CONTROL PROBLEM IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS. WHILE DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEED (CONSTANT AND LOW THROTTLE POSITION) ON A FLAT ROAD, THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE TENDS TO OSCILLATE FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN ICY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO SPIN OUT, ALTHOUGH THAT HASNT HAPPENED TO ME YET. OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME SEEM TO HAVE ADEQUATE TRACTION (2WD, AWD, 4WD). THE PROBLEM IS NOT TRACTION WHILE: 1) CORNERING UNDER SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, 2) HARD ACCELERATION ON ICE, OR 3) BRAKING ON ICE. ROAD CONDITIONS THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE OSCILLATION ON ARE VERY THIN ICE (BLACK ICE). I SUSPECT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION DESIGN ON MY 05-09 OUTBACKS. THE PROBLEM IS MORE PREVALENT AND PRONOUNCED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS OCCUPANTS IN THE REAR SEATS. THE STABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE MARGINAL AND IT ONLY TAKES CERTAIN CONDITIONS (ROAD AND VEHICLE PARAMETERS) TO BE ON THE EDGE OF DISASTER. SUBARU RELEASED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 05-36-07 WHICH ELIMINATED THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE ORIGINAL TOE TOLERANCE FOR REAR TIRE ALIGNMENT. I THINK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LARGE REAR TIRE TOE IN WHEN WEIGHT IS ADDED. I SUSPECT THIS LARGE REAR TIRE TOE IN WHEN WEIGHT IS ADDED CONTRIBUTES TO THE STABILITY PROBLEM IN ICY CONDITIONS I HAVE BRAND NEW (JAN 2010) HANKOOK IPIKE W409 STUDLESS WINTER TIRES. ITS NOT THE TIRES. THOSE WHO HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS SITUATION NATURALLY RESPOND BY SAYING IT IS ICE, WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTING, JUST SLOW DOWN. I HAVE LIVED IN COLORADO SINCE 1981 AND CONSIDER MYSELF A COMPETENT DRIVER IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. WITHOUT A DOUBT, I WOULD ACTUALLY FEEL SAFER AND MORE IN CONTROL DRIVING MY 2WD MINIVAN (OR ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED) IN THESE CONDITIONS. I IMPLORE YOU TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE. IT IS UNSAFE.
NHTSA ODI #10323442
20,000 miles · Mar 6, 2010
Suspension
2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH SNOW TIRES (SNOW FLAKE SYMBOL). I FIRST NOTICED THE OCCURRENCE LAST YEAR WHEN DRIVING SLIGHTLY SNOWY ROADS IN COLORADO,. THE BACK END OF MY CAR WOULD WOBBLE SIDE TO SIDE AT A HIGH RATE -- PROBABLY 5 INCHES TO EACH SIDE. IT FELT AS IF THE CAR WAS SENDING POWER TO EACH WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAS…
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2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH SNOW TIRES (SNOW FLAKE SYMBOL). I FIRST NOTICED THE OCCURRENCE LAST YEAR WHEN DRIVING SLIGHTLY SNOWY ROADS IN COLORADO,. THE BACK END OF MY CAR WOULD WOBBLE SIDE TO SIDE AT A HIGH RATE -- PROBABLY 5 INCHES TO EACH SIDE. IT FELT AS IF THE CAR WAS SENDING POWER TO EACH WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY. THE FASTER I WOULD GO, THE MORE VIOLENTLY IT WOULD WOBBLE SIDE TO SIDE. I WAS SUDDENLY HAVING TO DRIVE 20MPH ON INTERSTATE 70, I WAS BEING PASSED BY LARGE SEMI- TRUCKS AND LITTLE MIATAS. SINCE THEN, I HAVE FELT THE WOBBLE ON GROOVED CONCRETE SURFACES, BUT MOSTLY ROADS THAT HAVE A LITTLE SNOW ON THEM, BUT I CAN STILL SEE THE ROAD SURFACE. ONE TIME, THE CAR WOBBLED SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT SWUNG INTO ANOTHER LANE. I'VE CONTACTED SUBARU AMERICA, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN VERY LITTLE HELP AND DO NOT SEEM TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER 2005-08 SUBARU OUTBACK DRIVERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. OUR BEST THEORY IS THAT THE SUSPENSION IS TOO SOFT AND WHEN IT GETS WEIGHTED DOWN (WITH TWO OR MORE PEOPLE IN THE CAR) IT CHANGES THE GEOMETRY OF THE SUSPENSION AND THE ALIGNMENT WITH SOME HOW PLAYS WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10317317
22,000 miles · Jan 8, 2009
StructureSuspensionTires
2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I, 4 SNOW TIRES, 5MT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT (NO TURNS) ON SLIGHTLY ICY OR BLOWING SNOW ROADS, THE REAR END BEGINS TO WOBBLE APPROXIAMTLEY 3INCHES SIDE TO SIDE. I AM GIVING THE CAR LITTLE TO NO THROTTLE AND IT WILL STILL SWAY. THE SWAYING BECOMES MUCH WORSE…
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2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I, 4 SNOW TIRES, 5MT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT (NO TURNS) ON SLIGHTLY ICY OR BLOWING SNOW ROADS, THE REAR END BEGINS TO WOBBLE APPROXIAMTLEY 3INCHES SIDE TO SIDE. I AM GIVING THE CAR LITTLE TO NO THROTTLE AND IT WILL STILL SWAY. THE SWAYING BECOMES MUCH WORSE WITH MORE WEIGHT IN THE CAR (1 FOOT SIDE TO SIDE). THE SWAYING IS SO BAD THAT I OFTEN HAVE TO DRIVE 15-20MPH SLOWER THAN GENERAL TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON (SNOW TIRES) AND HAD THE CAR ALIGNED. IT STILL OCCURS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10254318
25,000 miles · Dec 4, 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 ALIG…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10250742
Official recalls
8Jan 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ↗
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