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.
On more than one occasion while braking over potholes, immediately after the ABS was activated (and once just driving down a hill toward a stop sign), the brake pedal becomes very soft and is almost to the floor before brakes were engaged, resulting in an increase of travel distance before the vehicle was able to come to a complete stop. The first several times the issue seemed to resolve itself and I figured it was just a result of the road conditions. When it continued to occur I decided to take it to the dealer. The issue again resolved itself before the technician was able to look at it and therefore nothing was done and the vehicle was returned to me. Several months later it occurred again, and again the issue resolved itself before the technician was able to look at it. However, they performed a brake system flush as a precaution. Three months later it happened again while entering the on-ramp to a major highway and persisted for several days. I once again brought it to the dealer where the technician was finally able to verify the concern. They re-flushed the system and also replaced the master cylinder (which was a recall issue in other models) as a form of good will. We all assumed the issue was resolved and I once again took possession of the vehicle. Exactly two weeks later it happened again. I immediately drove it back to the dealership and it once again resolved itself before a technician could look at it, therefore nothing more was to be done. I am not driving this vehicle roughly. There are some roads in our area that are just poorly maintained and there was one occasion where simply pulling off the road and into the grass triggered the issue. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle and I'm told there isn't much else that can be done at this time.
I was driving this vehilce while coming to a stop the brake pedal went to the floor and the vehicle wouldnt stop completly, I had to shift the transmission into park, , perhaps causing damage to my transmission, upon investigation I found the rear brake line failured due to rust and corrosion under fuel tank shield. Brake lines have a protective coating to help prevent this, however where the lines exit the body of the car under the rear seat they connect into a junction block then proceed to each rear wheel, at this junction the protective coating was removed allowing salt spray from our winter road conditions to lead to corrosion and failure of the brake system.. previous models had a recall wqk-47 that experience the same failure, but this vehicle wasn't included,
On multiple occasions, while driving on city streets and freeways, without any warning, I have no brakes. No brake light or check engine light (cel) on the dash. The brake pedal went all the way to the firewall. The car eventually stopped without incident; a very stressful and absolutely terrifying moment. Shortly thereafter, brakes are normal. Then, it happens again a couple of weeks later. In total, it has happened seven times. I contacted my local Subaru dealer and explained my concerns. The service writer initially responded that he had never heard of such a problem and didn't know what to do (the condition cannot be recreated; it just happens unexpectedly and without warning). I asked if he would inquire with other service writers to see if they were aware of such an issue. Ironically, another customer's car was there at that very time, with the same complaint/problem being diagnosed. After diagnostics; it was recommended the master cylinder be replaced. I had them replace it with oem part 26401aj001 as well as doing a brake system flush and filling with new brake fluid. This was in November 2019. Since then, the problem has occurred three more times (most recently, two days ago). I recently discovered there was a recall on 2012 Outback master cylinders due to the same problem as described above. Why isn't this recall broader and related to all cars with these identical (same part number) master cylinders" do people have to die before bad brake systems are repaired? I've researched and collectively found numerous others that are having the same issue. I question the credibility of dealership service writers when they say they have never heard of this problem. I have loved my Subaru; however, my vehicle needs to stop when my brakes are applied-every time; not with the fear of; is today going to be the day of failure yet again"
On 2/11/20 around 12:30pm et, I was approaching the highway via an onramp, and my speed was barely 25 mph. Suddenly, as I was on the approach-road, I suddenly felt that the steering was locked and turning on the right side only (either steering or anti-lock malfunction). It hit the fence and then turned (flipped) on its driver side as can be seen in the picture. I believe this is a safety issue, so please make a proper investigation. My car was totaled. My damaged car is in 'county towing' in 49 fullerton ave, yonkers, NY 10704, phone: (914) 423-1101
Car stalls out when I come to a complete stop, especially if I have to stop short due to being cut off. Car is an automatic, so this is not supposed to happen and is very dangerous when cars are coming behind me. I took it back to the dealer 3 times over the years and each time they said they could not replicate the problem and thus no diagnosis. After reading online, it seems to be a known problem to Subaru with a faulty torque converter.
- Cicero, IL, USA
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2011 Subaru Outback. Consumer writes in regards to defective brake pedal. The consumer stated the while attempting to park the vehicle behind another vehicle, the brakes failed causing a crash. The brake control module failed causing the anti-lock system to malfunction.
The rear brake lines are extremely corroded at the rear block, necessitating a very costly repair. It appears that other models of this same year have been recalled for this problem, but not the Outback. Surely they have the same brake systems.
Between 2011 and 2019 we have had to replace the rear brakes and rotors for a second time. The original set of brakes and rotors lasted about 31K miles and were replaced in 2015. Now in 2019 the brakes and rotors have failed again and need to be replaced. The mileage driven from 2015 to 2019 is 19K miles. The vehicle is driven 5 days a week and since may of 2019, six days a week. This is beyond ridiculous. Brake pedal when trying to stop, went to the floor faster than they normally would have. That was when I set the appointment to find out why.
Noticed that dome/map lights not working and front time clock out. Then when going to put it in park the engine revved and the brakes would not engage and ran into a fence causing damage to front end of vehicle. Parking break has not worked for some time either.
Driver was attempting to make a turn around in a driveway and needed to stop and switch reverse. The car would not stop and driver was not able to switch gears and hit garage wall.
My 2011 Subaru Outback was brought in for a tire change and upon return, it was found that the brake lines were completely corroded and leaking fluid. Unfortunately, this was found out after I drove it out of the shop and I had no ability to stop whatsoever. Luckily the traffic in the area was light and I was able to pull to the side of the road after putting the car into neutral. The brake lines were corroded beyond belief in the center of the car. Coincidently this issue is known and recalls already occurred in 2014 with 660,000 Subaru. However, my specific year was not a part of this recall. The rest of the undercarriage had minimal corrosions or at least the expected level after 8 years of service. The brake lines themselves had significantly more corrosion and this could have easily lead to an awful accident. This is poor engineering and I believe that Subaru is to blame. I could have been killed because of this issue and Subaru seems unsympathetic. There is no way a brake line in the center of the car should become corroded so quickly. It's reasonable to say that the front left and right or back left and right lines could have been pinched when the car turns, creating a leak of some kind. However, the center of the car and the fitments that piece the brake line together were beyond shot. I find it strange that 2005-2009 Outbacks were covered under the recall but what changed with 2010 and beyond? my guess is that I'm not the only one whos ran into the same issue. The poor engineering with this model is most certainly a safety concern.
Electric parking brake defective. Nothing happens when pushing in the button or pulling. The brake light continues to flash. This feature no longer works, and appears to also effect the hill holder as this no longer works either. Isn't safe to put onto a jack while changing a tire with this function not working as it will roll off the jack.
I was driving home tonight and the car stalled everything quit working, the car jumped a few times and turned back on. I lost brakes and no steering coming down a 8 % grade. I turned the car back on and it kept doing it. I was out of cell service range so I could not call for help. It was scary. I got home and I see there was a recall but my car is out of that recall range at 100000 miles. I just paid 11,000 for this car. I believe I should not have to pay for this known issue.
In Oct. 2018 Subaru sent me a letter regarding the safety recall wtv-81 (NHTSA id 18V-626). This recall states that the my vehicle's electronic parking brake (epb) may crack over time and that remedy parts are not yet available. It is now March, 2019 and a remedy still has not been found. I have a manual transmission and if my epb fails, this will cause my call to roll away and crash. This is not acceptable. I have repeatedly contacted the dealer and they have no answers for me. I am filing this complaint in hopes that it will push Subaru to actively find a remedy for this recall.
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving and coming to a stop, excessive force had to be applied to the brake pedal, in order to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The contact stated that the failure intermittently occurred. The cruise control, overheat, brake and check engine warning lights illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that when at a stop sign if the brake pedal was not steadily being depressed the brake would disengage and the vehicle would accelerate independently. The contact also stated that the electronic emergency brake failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the torque converter and valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called Continental Subaru dealer (907) 562-2722, 4900 old seward hwy, anchorage, ak 99503) where it was recommended to replace the transmission and to schedule an appointment. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
The green light illuminated and would not unlock. I was driving on a city street and the red brake light came on. After an attempt to release the green light it came off on its ow. The same thing has occurred, both the red and green light are on and not going off.
Takata recall" I was driving on the interstate hwy. The car in front of me slammed on brakes, so I stepped on my brakes, car turked to a stop while engine stalled. Dead stop on interstate. Not a good thing. I started it back up, kept driving, when, I came to a safer stop sign. I tried to step on brakes like I had done on interstate and it turked to a stop again stalling. It doesn't seem safe to me. I am glad no one was behind me on interstate or I am afraid it would not have ended well.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Macungie, PA, USA