2007 Subaru Outback Air Bags & Restraints 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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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 .

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. NOTICE SAID THAT PARTS WERE IN SHORT SUPPLY, BUT THEY WOULD CONTACT ME. I WAITED TWO MONTHS. HEARD NOTHING. CALLED FITZGERALD SUBARU, ROCKVILLE, MD. DEALER ON APRIL 14, 2016. SERVICE DEPT. SAYS THAT THERE IS A FURTHER APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTH WAIT. WHAT IS THE POINT OF A RECALL IF YOU CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM WITHIN 5 MONTHS? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO KEEP SUBARU'S FEET TO THE FIRE? THEY ARE EFFECTIVELY FAILING TO COMPLY WITH YOUR RECALL ORDER. MAYBE A $1 MILLION FINE PER DAY WOULD GET THEM MOVING?

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.

TL* 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 04/12/16.*JB

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.

I HAVE BEEN ON THE LIST AT MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT FOR OVER A MONTH BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED PARTS TO MAKE REPAIRS. I FEEL THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN SO I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THEM. BUT NOW I GET A LETTER FROM SUBARO NOT TO HAVE ANYONE RIDE IN PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL REPAIRS ARE MADE. SO NOW THEY ARE APPARENTLY COVERED LEGALLY BUT I CAN'T USE MY CAR SINCE I OFTEN NEED TO TRANSPORT SEVERAL CHILDREN AT ONE TIME . I AM SICK OF HEARING THE PARTS ARE BACK ORDERED. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED NOW WITH NO EXCUSES!!!

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.