FaultScore

2007 Subaru Outback engine problems

18 of the 182 complaints about the 2007 Subaru Outback are about the engine — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,326 miles.

A

18

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 15 83.3%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 2 11.1%
Emission Control 1 5.6%

Engine & Cooling across every Subaru Outback year

1996 11 1.1%
1997 29 2.9%
1998 46 4.6%
1999 28 2.8%
2000 41 4.1%
2001 26 2.6%
2002 22 2.2%
2003 19 1.9%
2004 16 1.6%
2005 27 2.7%
2006 50 5.0%
2007 18 1.8%
2008 20 2.0%
2009 18 1.8%
2010 67 6.6%
2011 93 9.2%
2012 52 5.2%
2013 68 6.7%
2014 36 3.6%
2015 50 5.0%
2016 56 5.6%
2017 43 4.3%
2018 36 3.6%
2019 40 4.0%
2020 52 5.2%
2021 23 2.3%
2022 22 2.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 145,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

ENGINE

AN ACCELERATOR THAT BECAME UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON 3 LANE HIGHWAY. THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT WITH SUBARU AND YOU CAN READ ABOUT MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE PROBLEM WHICH IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU GO ONLINE AND SEARCH FOR SUBARU OUTBACK CODE P2138/THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR YOU WILL FIND THAT THE SENSOR HAS INTERMITENT FAILURES WHICH CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR TO BECOME UNRESPONSIVE. EVEN WHEN PEOPLE GET THIS RESET AT A MECHANIC AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT WILL BEGIN RECURRING AGAIN. OR SOMETIMES THE MECHANIC CANNOT MAKE THE CAR FAIL BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS A SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SUBARU MUST FIX THIS PROBLEM!! THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 5 TIMES NOW OVER THE LAST YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #11299992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,000 miles Libertyville, IL

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. LIBERTY AUTO CITY SUBARU (1000 E PARK AVE, LIBERTYVILLE, IL 60048, (847) 362-3800) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. *BF

NHTSA complaint #11209777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,000 miles Aspen, CO

ENGINE

SERIOUS MECHANICAL ISSUES REGARDING DEFECTIVE RADIATOR COOLING FANS & MOTOR THAT PROPELS THE FANS TO SPIN PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #11203311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Osceola, PA

ENGINE

IN 2015 AT 90,000 MILES THE HEAD WAS LEAKING FROM A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. HAD TO HAVE THE TOP END OF THE MOTOR TOTAL REBUILT. I HAVE READ THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #11013513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 138,000 miles Kill Devil Hills, NC

ENGINE

MY SUBARU HAS A 2.5L ENGINE. A SUBARU SERVICE CENTER HAS VERIFIED THE HEAD GASKETS HAVE A SEVERE OIL LEAK. MY CAR IS ALSO LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, MY MECHANIC BELIEVES IT IS LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKETS. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT THE ISSUE, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS SAME SIZE ENGINE BACK IN 2002. I AM STUCK WITH A $2600 REPAIR. I FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME ENGINE ON DIFFERENT YEAR MAKES OF SUBARUS ON THIS SITE. HTTP://WWW.SMART-SERVICE.COM/BLOG/2010/02/SUBARU-HEAD-GASKET-WILL-SUBARU-PAY-FOR-REPAIR

NHTSA complaint #10971780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Brunswick, MD

ENGINE

I JUST BOUGHT A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK FROM A CERTIFIED SUBARU DEALER (STOHLMAN SUBARU IN VA), IT HAD 65000 MILES ON IT, I DID ALL THE MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIRS ON IT. I PAID $12,000 FOR THE VEHICLE. ON 2/5/2017, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING SO I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. APPARENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF OIL DESPITE THAT IT WASN'T DUE FOR ANOTHER OIL CHANGE IN 1500 MILES AND WE HAD CHECKED THE OIL A WEEK BEFORE AND IT WAS FULL. THE ENGINE HAS SIEZED UP AND REQUIRED A NEW ENGINE. NO OIL INDICATOR LIGHT HAD COME ON, NO SMOKING OR OVERHEATING, AND FROM THE SERVICE STATION, NO LEAKS ON THE VEHICLE. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER SUBARU SPECIALIST SERVICE STATION IN FREDERICK, MD AND AGAIN WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR, NO LEAKS, NO INDICATOR OF LOW OIL, THE OIL JUST DISAPPEARED? THE AUTO MECHANICS ARE DUMBFOUNDED AT WHAT CAUSED THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10953903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Cleveland, TN

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SENSORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ON, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10899532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Victor, NY

ENGINE

WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 DEGREES F, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES OR GAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN YOU TURN THE CLIMATE CONTROL TO THE CABIN AIR RECIRCULATING POSITION THE SMELL DECREASES DRAMATICALLY. THIS CAR MUST BE DRIVEN WITH A WINDOW PARTIALLY OPEN FOR FRESH AIR FOR SAFETY. THE ODOR IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE NAUSEA. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH SUBARU. SUBARU HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL TO THE BEST OF BY KNOWLEDGE.

NHTSA complaint #10676957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 109,000 miles Clifford Twt., PA

ENGINE

NO HEAT, ENGINE TEMP. CLIMBED. ENGINE COOLANT BOILED OUT A MILE LATER. 2.5 ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10652223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Tomahawk, WI

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA complaint #10645024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,000 miles Bellingham, WA

ENGINE

ENGINE MADE A SUDDEN RATTLING SOUND THAT GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER, THEN HAD A LOUD BANGING SOUND.AFTER A FEW DAYS OF INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER BOLT CAME LOOSE,BOUNCED AROUND IN MY ENGINE, DAMAGING A PLATE AND "TAKING A FEW 'CHUNKS' OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK,ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC.THE MECHANIC SAID IN HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION,THE ONLY WAY THE BOLT COULD HAVE BEEN LOOSE,IS THAT IS WAS NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE.THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO A SUBARU THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF.THE CAR IS 6YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR 5YEARS(BOUGHT IT IN 2009 WITH 33 MILES ON IT,AS IT HADN'T SOLD IN 2008), AND IT HAS ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO RECALL, AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 7MONTHS AGO. SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD COVER HALF THE COST OF REPAIRS, BUT WE ARE STILL PURSUING OPTIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10639518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 81,147 miles Soquel, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

IN JUNE OF 2013 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER FOR SERVICE AFTER NOTICING A BURNING SMELL. I WAS TOLD MY FRONT RIGHT AXLE WAS BROKEN. SEVEN MONTHS LATER (JANUARY 2014) I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THIS TIME THE LEFT AXLE AND LEFT WHEEL BEARING WERE BROKEN. TWO MONTHS LATER (MARCH 2014) I WAS BACK AT THE DEALER AND MY RIGHT AXLE AND RIGHT AXLE SEAL WERE BROKEN AGAIN. THAT IS THREE AXLES IN NINE MONTHS! THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER AT SUBARU TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT ABNORMAL; THAT THE CAR HAS A "DESIGN FLAW" WHERE THE AXLE BOOT SITS VERY CLOSE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SO IT HEATS UP, WHICH CAUSES THE AXLE TO CRACK AND BREAK.

NHTSA complaint #10587355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Holly Springs, NC

ENGINE

OIL LEAKING FROM PASSENGER SIDE HEAD GASKET ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. READ WEB AND SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE ITEM FOR SUBARU ENGINES 2000 THRU 2009. MY CONCERN IS POTENTIAL FIRE. REPAIR COSTS $1800-3000. WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND FIRE HAZARD THUS I HOPE SUBARU WILL ADDRESS THIS DESIGN ISSUE MORE PROACTIVELY.

NHTSA complaint #10564588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,506 miles South Salem, NY

ENGINE

LEAKING HEADGASKET ON A 6 YEAR OLD SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 WITH 79,000 MILES. REPAIR JOB COST OF $2,000. HEAD GASKET ISSUES ARE A MAJOR COMPLAINT/DEFECT ON SUBARU 2.5 4CYL ENGINES. SUBARU SHOULD EITHER OFFER TO SUBSIDIZE OR COVER MAJOR REPAIR COST.

NHTSA complaint #10556894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,800 miles Quincy, MA

ENGINE

THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL. ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL HEAD GASKET REPLACED. SUBARU USED IN 2007 A PAPER GASKET WHICH HAS BEEN FOUND NOT TO HOLD UP. NEW HAD GASKET MUCH STRONGER. TRYING TO GET SUBARU TO WARRANTY THIS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS ONLY 43,800 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10515980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,270 miles Odessa, FL

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK SW ON A 6 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND LOST ALL GAS PEDAL RESPONSE. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALTHOUGH SHE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THE CAR STARTED FLASHING THE CRUISE CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND CHECK ENGINE DASH LIGHTS. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND GET HOME. I CHECKED THE ERROR CODES AND GOT A P02138. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SUBARU BLOGS. ALL OF THE OTHER REPORTS POINTED TO THE SAME SOURCE(S) THE GAS PEDAL POSITION SENSOR OR THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. MOST REPORTED SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENTS CLAIMING NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE EVER HAPPENING BEFORE. BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES SINCE IN BOTH LOCAL AND HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. I HAVE CLEANED THE TERMINALS ON BOTH SENSORS AND THIS SEEMS TO HELP, BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNS. I READ WHERE SEVERAL OTHER DRIVERS HAD THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY CHANGED AND THE ISSUE SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. HAVING A CAR SUDDENLY BECOME DEAD ON THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS TO ANYONE AROUND. *TR

NHTSA complaint #10451086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,000 miles Vinyard Haven, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL WOULD SPILL BACK OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VENT VALVES IN THE DUEL FUEL CANISTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 49,000. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF MECHANIC STATED THE EVAP WAS FROZEN SO GAS COULD NOT GO IN AND FUMES COULD NOT PASS THROUGH. UPDATED 08/05/11

NHTSA complaint #10406183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80 miles Outlook, MT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED ON VARIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT RESET THE COMPUTER AND COULD NOT EXCHANGE IT EITHER. ALSO, THE DEALER EXPRESSED THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THIS WAS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 I WAGON. UPDATED 12/05/06.

NHTSA complaint #10171137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2007 Subaru Outback problems

← Full 2007 Subaru Outback report