Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Subaru Outback owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
All rear lights, rear hatch lock, brake lights all failed due to wiring going from the body to the hatch getting cut from the action of opening and closing the hatch door. This seems to be a pretty common thing with at least the 2005-2007 models years.
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. …
Wire harness, that passes through rubber articulated gasket that connects between vehicle body and rear hatch door of wagon, suffers from wire fatigue that causes individual wire insulators to crack and conducting wires to break, leading to failure of critical automobile safety equipment; namely, rear wiper motor, rear back-up lights, rear middle brake light, rear license plate lights, rear window defroster. This design defect has be reported by numerous owners and has been documented on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amekptvgmhs) and Outback owners' bulletin board websites (http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/20718-rear-wiper-does-not-return-park-home-position.html). …
Dashboard airbag light turned on. Airbag safety system is subsequently disabled, even in the event of an accident. Source of problem is traced back to indicator light in the over head console. The warning lights do not light up as they should. The passenger seat belt or off lights do not appear when they should sometimes they are dim and resolve with a light tap or change in ambient temperature. Brief internet search reveals this is common and is the result of faulty solder in the overhead console. Dealership advises replace the entire console at owner expense. Part costs $130, labor is even more. I am not an electrical engineer and have no idea if solders should fail at 8 years. This particular solder is an integral part of the airbag system and renders the vehicle unsafe to drive. Subaru should remedy this with a recall or at least reimburse my cost. …
Audio/HVAC controls flash and do not respond to attempts to change modes or cut out altogether. Problem started on a very hot summer day four years or so ago. When controls are acting up, not only does the panel not display properly, but also fails to respond to any adjustments. Not being able to adjust the audio or climate control is an inconvenience. However, not being able to defrost front or rear windows when needed is a safety hazard. Problem has been reported on Subaru forums (for example, http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/80-electrical-electronics/23909-08-o-b-radio-HVAC-control-lighting-prob.html). Problem has occurred both while driving and immediately after ignition. Goes away sometimes on its own, sometimes when turn off car and turn back on, sometimes doesn't resolve even with re-ignition. Happens on city streets and on highways but I spend more time on city streets.
This is my second complaint to be filed. This has been an ongoing problem since 2013. My 2007 Subaru Outback loses vehicle power as the accelerator stops responding. The cruise control, traction, and check engine lights all become illuminated or flashing. This is especially common upon restarting the car after a short drive, coming to a stop, or after 5-10 minutes from a cold start. Restarting the vehicle until the vehicle will not restart and then restarting once more resets the issue for approximately 24 hours. Cleaning the connector plug to the accelerator temporarily resolves the issue anywhere form 6 months to one week. Subaru has been contacted and issued a generic response mostly dealing with air bag safety concerns. This is a very hazardous default in the vehicle which is being ignored.
Several broken wires in the passenger side flexible joint where the electrical wiring travels between the rear cargo area and the tailgate were discovered. It appears that inferior wire insulation becomes brittle over time and leads to broken wires. Symptoms were that the rear window windshield wiper fails sporadically / does not return to home location, and there is no power at the license plate light. Wiring for rear brake lights and locks also travel through this joint and can be affected. Many Subaru Outback owners are discovering this issue and discussing online. Since this can affect the windshield wiper and the rear lights, this is a safety issue. Given the number of owners discovering the issue, there should be a recall issued to fix this problem.
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?
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Subaru Outback. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power. The cruise control and traction lights illuminated. The contact coasted to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted after a couple of minutes. The contact drove home and called an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The failure recurred several times. The failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not provided. The failure mileage was 249,000.
Well I lost all throttle control for the first time. Engine light was on which disabled the vdc and cruise and the gas pedal. It has happened several times since then. When shutting the car off it is very hard to restart. When this happens and you try to stop the car doesn't want to it just pulses forward so more brake pedal is needed. If you put it in park the engine revs high. This is a known issue with the tps not being able to communicate with the throttle servo via the TCM. This issue happens at random. Usually when I've been driving it for about 10 minutes.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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.
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.
Electrical system
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.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2007 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the electrical system of the 2007 Subaru Outback, 16% of the model year's 129 complaints. The component named most often is software (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Subaru Outback electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-297 (switch, Apr 11, 2019); NHTSA recall 16V-738 (electrical system, Oct 13, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Subaru Outback electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 130,000 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.