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2007 Subaru Impreza Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2007 Subaru Impreza has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Corroded brake line causing loss of braking.” Subaru's symmetrical AWD system places unusually high demands on differential fluid and transfer case service — skipping these is the most common cause of premature drivetrain wear. Older Subarus with the EJ25 engine (pre-2011) require timing belt replacement; FB and FA engines (2011+) use a maintenance-free chain. Subaru's published intervals below align with the owner's manual Schedule II (severe) which most US drivers qualify for.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2007 Subaru Impreza.

Reported to NHTSA

Corroded brake line causing loss of braking

SERVICE BRAKES

4 NHTSA complaints · 2010-04 → 2023-09

“My brake line was extremely rusted and broke while driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11546912
“WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD(LUCKILY AT 35 MPH) THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I DOWN SHIFTED AND USED THE EBRAKE AND STOPPED SAFELY AND NOTICED A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11363134
“ROAD SALT RUSTING OUT BRAKE LINES AT JUNCTION RIGHT IN FONT OF RIGHT REAR WHEEL. VEHICLE LOST BREAKING. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND USE HAND BRAKE TO STOP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11082309

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front suspension corrosion tied to knuckle recall

SUSPENSION

3 NHTSA complaints · 2012-12 → 2018-09

“2007 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER WRITE IN REGARDS TO RECALL AND REPAIRS. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED THE KNUCKLE/HUB WAS RUSTED. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL WVX-34 THAT WAS NOT BEING HONORED. *JS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11131250
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTROL ARM FAILED AND THE WHEELS SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11103865
“I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVING A RECALL DONE FOR MY FRONT SUSPENSION A FRAMES. (WVX34) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED MORE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS AS PARTS WERE CORRODED AND COULD NOT BE CHANGED WITHOUT BEING DAMAGED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10487582

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Manual transmission and clutch failure

POWER TRAIN

6 NHTSA complaints · 2007-03 → 2014-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10578338
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIFTH TO FOURTH GEAR, THE GEARS BECOME STUCK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10203020
“TRANSMISSION FAILURE: BRAND NEW 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA, HAS BROKEN DOWN TWICE NOW. SUBARU DENIES WARRANTY. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION REPAIR COST ME $2700, NOW THEY WANT ANOTHER $4500, FOR THE 2ND REPAIR. THIS CAR HAS 5959 MILES ON IT. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10188824

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tire sidewall blowout at low mileage

TIRES

3 NHTSA complaints · 2007-08 → 2008-12

“WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 14 AT ABOUT 9 PM WHEN WE HEARD (AND FELT) A LOUD BANG AND THEN FELT THE NOTICEABLE BUMPINESS OF A FLAT TIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10251115
“THE FOLLOWING WAS SENT TO BRIDGESTONE VIA EMAIL THIS IS TO INFORM BRIDGESTONE TIRE OF A CATASTROPHIC SIDEWALL BLOWOUT THAT OCCURRED ON A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRE ON JULY 25, 2008”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10239858
“BAD TIRE THIS LETTER WAS SENT TO BRIDGESTONE TIRE COMPANY ON 8/07/2007 AND MADE CALLS TO THE COMPANY ON AUG 7,8 2007 CONSUMER AFFAIRS AT 1-800-367-3872 IN CHICAGO,IL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10198928

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Takata air bag recall parts unavailability

AIR BAGS

21 NHTSA complaints · 2016-08 → 2017-12

“TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SUBARU TODAY STATING THAT MY CAR IS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL, BUT THAT THEY DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE SUFFICIENT PARTS TO BEGIN REPAIRS UNTIL MARCH 31, 2018”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10966523
“TAKATA RECALL SUBARU SENT A RECALL NOTICE IN JULY 2016 INDICATING THAT "SUBARU IS IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING PARTS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THIS REPAIR". MEANING THAT THEY ARE NOT PRESENTLY ABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10914116
“TAKATA RECALL IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AND SUBARU STILL HAS NOT PRODUCED A FIX”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11004888

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag deployment failure in frontal or rear crash

AIR BAGS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2008-08 → 2017-08

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11012415
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED ON A WET ROAD COVERED WITH LEAVES, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SLID OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO TREES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10248544
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO CRASH HEAD ON INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE TWO FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON THEIR ARMS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10238400

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Head gasket failure and oil leak

ENGINE

10 NHTSA complaints · 2007-08 → 2016-08

“WE BOUGHT OUR SUBARU IMPREZA WITH 119.000 MILES ON IT. THE MOTOR LEAKS OIL AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD GASKETS. OURS BLOW UP. WARP THE HEADS IN ANOTHER. WE HAVE DONE HAD 5 MOTORS PUT IN IT, N THEY ALL DO IT. THIS LAST MOTOR DOES IT BUT NOT AS BAD AS THE OTHER ONES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10894512
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10788229
“SINCE THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. MY CAR KEEPS BREAKING DOWN. I HAVE A TODDLER. BY THE OIL SENSOR GAUGE IT KEEPS BREAKING AND MY CAR STARTS SMOKING. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IF I KEPT DRIVING THE CAR WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE HOT OIL UNDERNEATH THE HOOD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10609767

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 6,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 6,000 miles. WRX/STI 2.0L/2.5L turbo: 3,750 miles. Non-turbo FB engines: 6,000 miles severe / 10,000 normal.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Critical on Subaru AWD — uneven tread depth across all 4 tires (>2/32") forces the center differential to bind, damaging the AWD coupling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, calipers, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Outback and Forester pads commonly last 35,000-50,000 miles depending on terrain.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Front Differential / Manual Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace front differential and manual transmission fluid every 30,000 miles. CVT models use proprietary Subaru CVT fluid — a separate item.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace rear differential fluid every 30,000 miles. Use Subaru 75W-90 GL-5 — substitutes can cause whining noises within months.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

CVT Fluid (Lineartronic)

Every 30,000 mi

Subaru CVT models (Outback, Legacy, Forester, Crosstrek, Impreza, Ascent): replace Lineartronic CVT fluid every 30,000 miles severe / 60,000 normal. Subaru High-Torque CVT-II fluid only — incorrect fluid destroys the chain-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Timing Belt (EJ25 engines, pre-2011)

Every 105,000 mi

Older Subarus with the EJ25 boxer engine (Forester, Outback, Legacy 1996-2010): replace timing belt every 105,000 miles. FB and FA boxer engines (2011+) use a chain — no scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$935–$1175

Shop

~$655–$825

DIY

Pro only

On interference engines, a snapped belt destroys valves. Worth doing on schedule. Bundle water pump + tensioner — labor is already there.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 30 months. Subaru's brake hold and EyeSight automatic emergency braking depend on uncontaminated fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. WRX/STI: inspect every oil change due to the higher airflow demand of the turbo intake.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Iridium plugs every 60,000 miles on FB engines. WRX/STI 2.5L turbo: 30,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures and EGT.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Super Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

Subaru Super Coolant (blue): first change at 137,500 miles or 11 years, then every 30,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange — head gasket sealing chemistry depends on the formula.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Behind the glove box on most Subaru models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

76 crashes 1990–2024

How the 76 occupant deaths break down

58

driver deaths

18

passenger deaths

76

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2007 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

6

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2007 Subaru Impreza reflects Subaru's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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