NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
13 reportsClear category filter168,000 miles · Apr 4, 2013
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic
ON MARCH 19, 2013, I WAS RETURNING TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AFTER PICKING UP MY OUTBACK FROM BLOOMINGTON ACURA SUBARU, BLOOMINGTON, MN AFTER A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT WHEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM HAD A TOTAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A NEAR CATASTROPHIC COLLISION WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EV…
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ON MARCH 19, 2013, I WAS RETURNING TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AFTER PICKING UP MY OUTBACK FROM BLOOMINGTON ACURA SUBARU, BLOOMINGTON, MN AFTER A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT WHEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM HAD A TOTAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A NEAR CATASTROPHIC COLLISION WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. DEALER INSPECTION CONFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE BY THE FUEL TANK PROTECTOR HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION RESULTING IN SEVERE FLUID RELEASE THUS NOT ALLOWING THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO PROPERLY PRESSURIZE RESULTING IN A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED WERE PART NUMBER 26522AA010 AND 26522AA020 (RIGHT AND LEFT). ON MARCH 27, 2013, THE NHTSA ISSUED CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V110000 FOR SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACKS REGARDING "BRAKE LINES MAY FAIL DUE TO CORROSION". THIS RECALL PERTAINS TO MODEL YEAR 2005 TO 2009. THIS CITIZEN REQUESTS, NAY, INSISTS THAT THIS RECALL NOTICE BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE LATER MODEL YEARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10507047
63,000 miles · Dec 30, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10052097
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA ODI #10001073
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
CAR ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. ENGINE ROARS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR. PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS GOING 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP CAR. THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH OUR 2001 SUBURU OUTBACK (SEE…
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CAR ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. ENGINE ROARS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR. PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS GOING 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP CAR. THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH OUR 2001 SUBURU OUTBACK (SEE ODI#764455).*AK
NHTSA ODI #764457
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE IN FRONT SLOWED DOWN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF ON ITS ON. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, BUT AVOIDED OTHER CARS. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, FLIPPED THREE TIMES, AND ENDED ON DRIVER'S SIDE . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING …
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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE IN FRONT SLOWED DOWN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF ON ITS ON. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, BUT AVOIDED OTHER CARS. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, FLIPPED THREE TIMES, AND ENDED ON DRIVER'S SIDE . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER WAS BRAKING, IN WHICH CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE, HOWEVER VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*JB
NHTSA ODI #893147
Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingParking Brake
EGR SOLONOID FAILED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #555503
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOOSE STEERING OVER ROUGH SURFACE WHEN TRAVELING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #856987
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE TAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME TO STOP. OWNER HAS VEERED INTO INTERSECTIONS SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOLUTION BECAUSE PROBLEM CAN'T BE DUPLICATED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #856482
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835554
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THEN, WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL FOR SOME SECONDS. DEALER IS ALSO REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORM…
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ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THEN, WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL FOR SOME SECONDS. DEALER IS ALSO REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #834189
Official recalls
2Jun 25, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Feb 20, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. DUE TO POOR WELDS, IGNITION KEYS CAN STICK, SHIFT LEVERS/LINKAGES CAN BREAK AND SHIFT LEVERS CAN MOVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗