1998 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems

While driving in city streets, your brakes failed to stop the car. A mechanic found that three brake lines had broken, requiring $500 in repairs. You note that newer Subaru Outback models have a recall for this issue, but your 1998 model experienced the same problem. The repair will likely involve replacing the broken brake lines.

Your brake system completely failed while driving shortly after a clutch replacement, nearly causing a collision. The dealer found severe corrosion on the right rear brake line near the fuel tank, which allowed brake fluid to leak out and prevented the brakes from working. A recall was issued for 2005-2009 models with the same corrosion problem, but your 1998 model wasn't included. The fix involved replacing both the right and left brake lines.

ON OCTOBER 6, 2004, I WAS COASTING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN MY 1998 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. MY HEADLIGHTS WERE FACING A CURB, SIDEWALK, AND CEMENT BRICK BUILDING, AND I TOUCHED THE BRAKES TO PREVENT BUMPING THE CURB. AS SOON AS MY FOOT HIT THE BRAKE, THE CAR VROOMED AS IF THE THROTTLE HAD BEEN FULLY OPENED, AND THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD. I PRESSED THE BRAKE HARDER, BUT THE CAR SEEMED TO TAKE OFF ON IT'S OWN AND WAS TOTALLY OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE EASILY BUMPED UP THE CURB, AND THE CAR FLEW INTO THE AIR AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT (THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY). THE ENTIRE INCIDENT HAPPENED VERY FAST AND WAS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. ALTHOUGH I AM THANKFUL THAT THERE WAS NO PEDESTRIAN WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THAT I AM ALIVE TO BE WRITING THIS, I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS WAS A CAR MALFUNCTION THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK

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

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.

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

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

PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD UNLESS IT WAS PULLED UP TO THE VERY TOP NOTCH, BRAKE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL INTO A TREE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC

ABS RECALL WAS COMPLETE, HOWEVER 2 WEEKS LATER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WAS OUT. *SLC

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

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

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

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT DIMS THE HEADLIGHTS FOR A SECOND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN IN SECOND GEAR AND PREPARING TO STOP WHEN THE ABS APPARENTLY TOOK CONTROL OF MY CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE THE INTERSECTION AND NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR. I DID NOT FEEL THAT THE ROAD CONDITIONS WARRENTED THE ABS RESPONSE (THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY WET) AND I DID FEEL THAT I WAS IN CONTROL OF MY CAR BEFORE THE ABS TOOK OVER. I WAS TRAVELING UNDER 10 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR IN CONSIDERABLY WORSE WEATHER AND WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO ANTICIPATE MY STOPPING DISTANCE. THE ABS LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. INFO THAT MAY BE RELEVENT...I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A MINOR CAR ACCIDENT BUT I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD'VE AFFECTED THE BRAKES. I ALSO HAD MY CAR REALIGNED TODAY AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS COULD HAVE ANY AFFECT ON THE ABS.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK