10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
102,077 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Subaru Outback brakes problems

brakes problem

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2010 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

Jun 192024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brake failure - after inspecting vehicle 6/20/2024 noted brake fluid leaking from underneath the vehicles right hand side. Removed splash guard and noticed the brake lines had extensive corrosion in a small section with no protective coating. Brake fluid noted leaking from the unprotected area. The rest of the brake lines were fully intact.

- Hampstead, MD, USA

problem #28

Aug 052023

Outback

  • miles
Brake line corrosion, I noticed it about 10 months after buying the car. they finally broke five days ago I called Subaru. They told me it-??s just regular wear and tear and there is no recall for the corroded brake lines and the junction box.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #27

Jun 132023

Outback

  • 177,000 miles
The brakes completely gave out while the vehicle was being driven, without warning. The BRAKE light did not turn on until after the car had been stopped and restarted and the brakes had already gone out. Fortunately, the vehicle was being driven on a side street, and it was able to coast into a parking lot. Had the brakes given out before then, when it was on the highway, the outcome could have been far worse. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. The mechanic stated that once they removed the cover over the rear junction box near the fuel tank, they found the junction box to be corroded away. The vehicle has been to several mechanics over the past several years, and none of them have ever identified any issues with the brakes or brake lines. Subaru had issued a recall for the same issue but for model years 05 to 09.

- Roselle, IL, USA

problem #26

Jul 262022

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2010 Subaru Outback that has significant corrosion on the rear four-way brake joint connector that can lead to a serious accident. There was a campaign that addressed this very issue (NHTSA ID: 14V-311) but it did not include 2010 Outback even though it had the same design. This issue is very serious.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #25

Nov 162021

Outback

  • miles
Failure of rear hydraulic braking system (brake lines) due to corrosion. Steady loss of fluid due to corrosion around the double brake line union underneath rear passenger side. Plastic cover prevents corrosion issues from being spotted prior to it becoming a catastrophic failure. Vehicle has been inspected by a service center. The "brake" warning lamp illuminated in the dash to alert the drivers of a possible problem, but a significant amount of fluid was lost.

- Ajax, Ontario Canada, NY, USA

problem #24

Jul 192021

Outback

  • miles
The abs system failed at 117K miles and rendered the ABS inoperative. The Electronic parking brake recall could not be completed because of this. We were quoted $1600 to replace the abs pump and computer so that the recall could be completed. The vehicle was dangerously difficult to stop and almost caused a crash.

- West Jordan, UT, USA

problem #23

Feb 222021

Outback

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Code C0251 electronic parking brake malfunction/inoperative; sometimes epb will engage when driving at a slow pace <10mph no accidents associated

- Starkville, MS, USA

problem #22

Feb 152021

Outback

  • 150,000 miles
2010 Subaru Outback. When my wife was entering a 4-way stop, the brake pedal went to the floor. Was able to get home without incident. Upon inspection, found the brake lines at a junction block near the gas tank severely corroded and leaking. Why was this not part of the recall which went from 2005-2009. Car was mfg'd in 2009, about 150000 miles

- Marion, NY, USA

problem #21

Jan 202021

Outback

  • 121,000 miles
Multiple times over the past 6 years I will be driving and if using my cruise it stops working and I have flashing lights, brake and cruise light flashes on and off, check engine and traction control light stay on. These lights stay on from 1 day to almost 2 weeks before they go out. I have had them checked many times by Subaru dealer and other mechanic shops with no resolution except to clear the codes

- Menomonie, WI, USA

problem #20

Dec 272020

Outback

  • 143,200 miles
I lost the brakes going down our steep driveway into the private road. We discovered that the brake fluid reservoir was empty. When my husband removed the plastic fuel tank cover to check for a leak, he discovered that the hard brake lines were heavily corroded right around the brake line junction box, similar to the 2005-2009 Outbacks. The car had one owner before us, in Massachusetts. We are in Maine..

- Acton, ME, USA

problem #19

Oct 292020

Outback

  • 265,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I went out to start my car and let it warm up. I got in set the electronic parking brake started the car and put the manual transmission in neutral. I went in the house to finish getting ready, when I looked out the window the car was in the ditch at the bottom of the driveway. I had the parking brake recall done in March at the local Subaru dealer

- Bucksport, ME, USA

problem #18

Nov 212020

Outback

  • 74,870 miles
11/21/2020 at oil temp light, brake light, and vehicle dynamics control lights come on while driving after around 30 minutes on a major route (not highway) after already being "fixed" by a dealership. At the end of August I brought the car to the dealer because all 3 lights had come on after I had arrived near my place of work. I had driven for 35 minutes on the highway and cruising local streets for a spot when they came on. When I first got back to my vehicle after work (I had parked and was waiting until end of day to deal with it) and turned on my car - no lights. I was nearly home when all 3 came back on (35 mintues of highway driving). Took to dealer that weekend where they replaced engine air filter, cabin air filter, cvt- valve body and brake light switch for $1934.97 on 9/21 the lights came back on after driving for around 20 minutes on a 2 lane route. Dealer had the car for 1 week and all they could find / do was change a brake light bulb.

- Bedford Hills, NY, USA

problem #17

Jul 062020

Outback 4-cyl

  • 104,000 miles
Rear brake lines are rusted and one off the pipes has busted I now have no brakes. Happened on Monday 7/6/2020.

- Reardan, WA, USA

problem #16

Mar 132020

Outback

  • 70,715 miles
While driving the following warning lights have come on: Brake, vehicle dynamics control, and at oil temp. It has happened twice now and lights go away once car is turned off and back on again.

- Bedford Hills, NY, USA

problem #15

Oct 312019

Outback

  • 190,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Outback. While driving 5 mph, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The brake pedal traveled to the floorboard without warning. The contact called white river Subaru (429 sykes mountain ave, white river junction, vt 05001, (802) 526-9810). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 1-50024654201. The contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign number: 14V311000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The failure mileage was 190,000.

- Orford, NH, USA

problem #14

Jul 122019

Outback

  • 120,000 miles
While driving the check engine, cruise control, ABS, and vehicle dynamics control lights all came on. I later learned that a bad O2 sensor was the cause. It was raining and when I applied the brakes moderately firmly due to another car stopping hard in front of me, my car's brakes locked up and I slid on the wet pavement. Fortunately no accident occurred. After replacing the 02 sensor, the lights went off. Weeks later the same lights came on again due to what turned out to be a bad gas cap. When it was replaced, the lights went out. Now the other 02 sensor is intermittently going out, and it triggers the same lights. However I have been very surprised to learn that when these lights are on, those systems are disabled. It is astounding that safety is intentionally removed from a car due to a loose gas cap or bad 02 sensor.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #13

Mar 292019

Outback

  • 157,000 miles
When coming to a stop on any road the vehicle stalls, uphill or downhill. The car then needs to be restarted after putting the vehicle in park then turning the key to restart, as vehicles are coming quickly from behind. This could be a potentially deadly vehicle failure and needs to be addressed and recalled. It started about a week ago and continues to happen.

- Burnsville, NC, USA

problem #12

Sep 182018

Outback 4-cyl

  • 129,204 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Outback. While driving various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart and drive normally, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact called heritage Subaru catonsville at (844) 224-1954 (located at 6624 baltimore national pike, catonsville, md 21228) and was informed to schedule a diagnostic appointment. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 129,204. Consumer stated dealer fixed the transmission.

- Catonsville, MD, USA

problem #11

Nov 132018

Outback

  • 145,000 miles
Electric parking brake closed during repair of vehicle and would not respond to reprogramming or any attempt to repair. Car was stationary, but unable to release brake resulted in necessary replacement of faulty component. Subaru unwilling to reimburse for part.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #10

Oct 222018

Outback

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 10-15 mph, there was an abnormal burning odor in the vehicle. Additionally, there was smoke emerging from the hood and into the vehicle. The gear shifter was stuck and failed to engage into first gear. The emergency brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer muller Subaru (1350 park ave w, highland park, il 60035 (888) 285-8152) where diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact declined to pay for the $1800 fee. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 1-373-484-69104 however no further assistance was provided. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 18V626000 (parking brake) was not received. The failure mileage was 83,000.

- Lake Forest, IL, USA

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