2007 Subaru Impreza Problems & Complaints

Average22% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Impreza at the same age

Owners have filed 68 complaints about the 2007 Subaru Impreza with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the Impreza at the same age. The most reported problem area is the air bags (27 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles). 9 recalls cover this model year.

68complaints
9recalls
6crashes
2fires
7injuries
0deaths

Most common 2007 Subaru Impreza problems

  • Air bags~34,000 miles
    2740%
  • Engine & cooling~73,000 miles
    1319%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~27,000 miles
    812%
  • Electrical system~41,000 miles
    710%
  • Wheels & tires~50,000 miles
    69%
  • Brakes~93,000 miles
    69%
  • Suspension~110,000 miles
    57%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~141,000 miles
    23%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~78,000 miles
    23%
  • Body & structure~75,000 miles
    23%
  • Equipment & accessories~5,000 miles
    11%
  • Steering
    11%
  • Other / not specified
    11%
  • Lights~105,000 miles
    11%
  • Speed control & acceleration
    11%

Share of the 68 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Subaru Impreza complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25462030302241112926296755668176104465824325110877751251511948514144325
Owner complaints per model year, Subaru Impreza. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Impreza years: 2023, 2021, 2022. Years to avoid: 2012, 2013, 2019, 2018, 2017. Compare all years →

2007 Subaru Impreza recalls (9)

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-001 · Jan 2, 2020 · 258,813 vehicles

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,…

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-003 · Jan 2, 2020 · 111,562 vehicles

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,…

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-002 · Jan 2, 2020 · 127,547 vehicles

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,…

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-026 · Jan 11, 2017 · 69,529 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland,…

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-016 · Jan 10, 2017 · 62,764 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2006-2008 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), Tribeca, and 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…

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-014 · Jan 10, 2017 · 53,480 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi,…

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.

Show 3 more recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-358 · May 25, 2016 · 302,127 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi,…

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-359 · May 25, 2016 · 146,010 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,…

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016.

Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm

NHTSA recall 11V-464 · Sep 6, 2011 · 318,215 vehicles

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 impreza, model year 2003-2008 forester, and model year 2005-2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured from September 5, 2000 through November 26, 2007 originally sold, or currently registered in, massachusetts, maryland, michigan, new hampshire, new york, pennsylvania, vermont,…

Remedy: Subaru will handle their vehicles and Saab will handle theirs. Dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2007 Subaru Impreza:

Front suspension control arm failure

NHTSA investigation PE11011 · opened Apr 7, 2011 · closed Sep 23, 2011 · led to recall 11V-464

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of…

What 2007 Subaru Impreza owners say

Air bags all 27 →

car just locking on its own as you're driving down the road cruise control light blinking on and off randomly had a brake light gets stuck when I got home and got other vehicle the other night it took you forever to get that off but I have received takata airbag recall notice do not drive and no one can be in the passenger seat also definitely progressed as time went on these unusual symptoms mostly computerized but have a hard time believing they're not related to the airbag recall yes it's available for inspection that's what I tried to do at not closest authorized dealership but they would not budge really on anything at all wouldn't have towed it then tow back wouldn't come pick it up exchange me a car then I would have means of transportation to pick it back up that makes the most sense but I can drive it is what they're telling me but there can be no passengers in the car they …

Sep 2025

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving about 60 MPH, the vehicle in front rear-ended the vehicle ahead of it and caused the contact's vehicle to rear end the vehicle. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. The contact's vehicle was totaled and was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was not contacted and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. The contact stated that he did not receive notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V359000 (air bags). Parts distribution disconnect.

140,000 miles · Jul 2017 · crash · 1 injury

Engine & cooling

The vvl pressure switch housing unit chipped causing oil to spill all over the engine and makes the oil I put back in the car jus tleak right back out the next day. The car is no undrivable I have no way to or from work the bus runs no wear near my house im losing money daily I searched up this problem and this happens to most people.

167,000 miles · Nov 2017 · fire

Left and right cylinder head gaskets were blown at 41,295 miles. Low mileage for this type of major engine failure. At 56,976 miles the ignition coil, spark plugs and ignition cables required replacement due to mis-fire condition associated with a cracked ignition coil. The exact same failure occurred at 81,856 miles. Both failures were accompanied by blinking check engine lamps requiring the vehicle be towed to the dealer for repair. Repeat failure of major components reflects persistent defects in design or manufacture.

41,000 miles · Oct 2015

Transmission & drivetrain

Tl contact owns a 2007 Subaru Impreza. The vehicle was parked on a slight incline. The contact exited the vehicle without the emergency brake being engaged. The vehicle had an occupant in the front passenger seat as it rolled and crashed into a four foot retaining wall. The failure occurred without warning. The passenger sustained minor injuries. The police were called to the scene and a report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The insurance company was notified of the failure, but the extent of the damage to the vehicle has not yet been determined. The failure and current mileages were 50,000.

50,000 miles · Apr 2009 · crash · 1 injury

To whom it May concern, I don't know if the NHTSA is someone that can help, but I figure I would try. I'm at my wits end. I have a 2007 Subaru wrx four door sedan. In April of 2008 I was driving my car in a 35 mile per hour zone and shifted my manual transmission from 2nd gear to 3rd gear. It popped out of gear when I began accelerating. Needless to say the car was undrivable and I had to have it towed to my nearest Subaru dealership, brown Pontiac, Subaru here in amarillo tx. They tore the transmission apart to find that the third gear was "stripped" out and not covered under warranty. They said I had abused my car. It was and still is in great condition. I paid $908.00, half the repair cost to get my one and only car out of the shop. Last Tuesday, 8-5-08, I was driving my car again. I shifted from 1st gear to 2nd gear. I could not put it in 2nd gear so, I didn't force it. …

Manual transmission · 28,000 miles · Aug 2008

2007 Subaru Impreza engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
2.5L 4-cyl4-speed automatic4WD/AWD20 / 25 / 22
2.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual4WD/AWD19 / 26 / 22
2.5L 4-cyl turbo5-speed manual4WD/AWD18 / 25 / 21
2.5L 4-cyl turbo4-speed automatic4WD/AWD18 / 23 / 20
2.5L 4-cyl turbo6-speed manual4WD/AWD17 / 23 / 19

EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2007 Subaru Impreza a good car?

Based on 68 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2007 Impreza rates average: 22% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Impreza at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2007 Subaru Impreza?

The air bags — 27 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (13) and transmission & drivetrain (8).

How many recalls does the 2007 Subaru Impreza have?

There are 9 recalls for the 2007 Subaru Impreza, the most recent from January 2, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Impreza?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2021 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2013, 2019, 2018 and 2017. See the full Subaru Impreza years comparison.

At what mileage do 2007 Subaru Impreza problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.