2007 Subaru Outback Airbags Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11680936

Incident

Aug 15, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11444170

Incident

Nov 1, 2021

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!

NHTSA ID

11437275

Incident

Sep 9, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11404616

Incident

Mar 24, 2021

Mileage

200,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11348382

Incident

Jul 30, 2020

Mileage

158,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11308638

Incident

Feb 6, 2020

Mileage

97,000 mi

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 NHTSA 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?

NHTSA ID

11306494

Incident

Jan 29, 2020

Mileage

308,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11301882

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

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....

NHTSA ID

11233105

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

162,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE MAP LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TO TURN OFF. LIBERTY AUTO CITY SUBARU (1000 E PARK AVE, LIBERTYVILLE, IL 60048, (847) 362-3800) CONFIRMED THAT THE MAP LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TO TURN OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. *AS

NHTSA ID

11209770

Incident

May 2, 2017

Mileage

97,000 mi

BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A DEALER AS IS .I WAS TOLD OF A RECALL FOR AIR BAG WICH IS SHOWING ZERO FOR RECALLS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE CAR IS RED THOUGH .

NHTSA ID

11097141

Incident

May 1, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID

10938703

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID

10937240

Incident

Dec 23, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID

10928601

Incident

Nov 2, 2016

Mileage

96,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10928163

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID

10911390

Incident

Jun 13, 2016

Mileage

102,738 mi

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???

NHTSA ID

10910826

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

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

NHTSA ID

10905682

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

62,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10897338

Incident

Feb 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10894189

Incident

Jan 8, 2016

I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF SAFETY RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG IN MY 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK DATED FEBRUARY 2016. THE NOTICE SAID THERE WAS A PARTS SHORTAGE AND SUBARU WOULD CONTACT MY WHEN PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE BUT NOBODY SHOULD RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE AIRBAG IS REPLACED. TIRED OF WAITING I CALLED THE SUBARU DEALER TODAY AND THEY SAID I NEED TO ORDER THE PART, WHICH WOULD TAKE 4 MONTHS, BEFORE IT CAN BE FIXED. THIS TIMELINE IS NOT REASONABLE GIVEN THAT I HAD ALREADY WAITED 6 MONTHS AND ASSUMED THAT SURELY THE SUPPLY SHORTAGE WOULD BE REMEDIED BY NOW. IT IS ALSO UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT NOBODY RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF A CAR PURCHASED FOR A FAMILY. IT SEEMS SUBARU SLOW RESPONSE IS PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER SUBARU IF THIS IS HOW SUBARU TREAT RECALLS. I ALSO EXPECT OUR GOVERNMENT SAFETY COMMISSIONS TO DO A BETTER JOB HOLDING CAR COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE.

NHTSA ID

10893484

Incident

Aug 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, 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.

NHTSA ID

10874197

Incident

Mar 14, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10870590

Incident

Feb 16, 2016

TAKATA RECALL -- WHEN WILL PARTS BE AVAILABLE TO FIX MY CAR'S FAULTY, RECALLED AIRBAG? THIS IS CREATING A GREAT DEAL OF STRESS, INCONVENIENCE, AND HAZARD FOR MY FAMILY. A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME HAS PASSED AND TAKATA HAS NOT RECTIFIED THIS SITUATION. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE ON THE ROADS WITH DEADLY AIRBAGS. HOW WILL THIS NOT BE PERCEIVED AS A REGULATORY FAILURE?

NHTSA ID

10862048

Incident

Apr 28, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADDED TO A WAITING LIST OF THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT FIVE REMEDY PARTS WERE RECEIVED EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10861325

Incident

Mar 25, 2016