Subaru OUTBACK brakes problems
1,209 complaint narratives mention brakes terms.
Key facts
9,642 owner complaints analyzed
71 distinct recall campaigns
34,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 5,370 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Braking behavior evidence
1,209 of 9,642 complaints match this topic (12.5%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10002324 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. IT HIT A DELIVERY TRUCK AND A PARKED CAR, THEN JUMPED A CONCRETE BARRIER 8" HIGH, AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A GAS STATION. DRIVER WAS THEN ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED OFF ENGINE, NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT, REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE DASH LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING. NLM...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 552326 · 2000-05-19 (May 19, 2000)
THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND DOES NOT STOP THE VEHICLE DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 552326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102225 · 2004-12-06 (December 6, 2004)
CAR STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. POKED ACCELERATOR PEDAL A FEW TIMES WITH NO RESULT, AND PEDAL DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STUCK DOWN. HELD SPEED OF VEHICLE DOWN WITH BOTH FEET HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE RETURNED TO NEAR NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION ON ITS OWN AFTER ABOUT 30 SEC TO 1 MIN, ALTHOUGH VEHICLE COULD MAINTAIN 30-40 MPH WHEN NOT TOUCHING EITHER ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE. RETURNED TO FULLY NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255943 · 2009-01-22 (January 22, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED HER VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THEN DRIVE, IT SPED OFF ON ITS OWN AND DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AS WELL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO TALL GRASS; HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET LATER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RESPOND AND SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL. SHE CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS, BUT THEY CLAIMED TO NEVER HAVE HEARD OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 186,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10299746 · 2010-01-14 (January 14, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING VERY BUSY HIGHWAY, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO "H". I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED SOME STEAM UNDER HOOD. ADDED SOME WATER. A LITTLE LATER, STILL ON "H". MECHANIC WHO HAS SERVICED MY 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK SINCE I GOT IT IN 1998 SAID IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, COMMON WITH SUBARUS. IN 2009 I HAD THE 90K MILE MAINTENANCE DONE, VERY EXPENSIVE. ALSO HAD ALL NEW BRAKES, VERY EXPENSIVE. ALSO FOUR NEW TIRES AND LAST MONTH, A NEW BATTERY. ALSO, LAST MONTH, HAD OIL CHANGE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED EVEN ONE RECALL NOTICE FR…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299746 at NHTSA ↗