2007 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems
8 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Brakes Recalls (2)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected area will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQG-43.
Owner Complaints (8)
Your brake system failed completely due to corroded brake lines. Even though a recall was performed to address this exact problem, the repair didn't work properly and your brakes stopped functioning. You'll need the brake lines inspected and replaced, possibly with upgraded corrosion-resistant parts.
Parts you may need:
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Your brake pedal went to the floor without any resistance, leaving you with no brakes when you tried to shift into drive. You found brake fluid leaking heavily from the rear wheel well area — the brake line failed at a junction in the back, even though a recall in 2018 was supposed to have fixed this exact problem by rustproofing or replacing the brake lines. The repair will likely involve inspecting all brake lines for rust and corrosion, then replacing any failed sections and refilling the brake fluid system.
Parts you may need:
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Your right rear brake line corroded and failed while you were driving, causing a brake system problem. You contacted your dealer about the issue. The brake line will likely need to be replaced to restore proper braking function.
Parts you may need:
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While driving on the highway, your brake pedal went to the floor with no resistance, causing a complete loss of braking power. You discovered brake fluid leaking from a corroded metal brake line at the rear passenger wheel. Subaru had performed a recall repair in 2014 that involved only spraying anti-corrosion fluid on the line instead of replacing it, and the line has now rusted through and failed. The repair will likely require replacing the corroded brake lines with new ones to restore proper braking function.
Parts you may need:
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BRAKES FAILED ON A CITY STREET, APPROACHING HIGHWAY ON-RAMP - CAR BEING DRIVEN BY A 17 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER - THANKFULLY NO COLLISION OR DAMAGE TO PERSON OR PROPERTY OCCURRED. AFTER INSPECTION, REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION/PERFORATION AT 2-2 WAY CONNECTOR AT 176K MILES AFTER TWO PREVIOUS RECALLS WERE SUPPOSEDLY EXECUTED. DATES OF NOTE: ' 2007 - VEHICLE SOLD BY ANCHOR SUBARU, NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI TO ORIGINAL OWNER (NOT ME) ' JUNE 11, 2013 - RECALL WQG-43 PERFORMED WITH FIRST OWNER AT ANCHOR SUBARU ' SPRAY WAX APPLIED ' CAR HAS 132K MILES ' AUGUST 13, 2014 - RECALL WQK-47 PERFORMED WITH FIRST OWNER AT ANCHOR SUBARU ' SPRAY WAX APPLIED A SECOND TIME ' CAR HAS 152K MILES ' MAY 7, 2017 ' VEHICLE RE-SOLD TO 2ND OWNER (ME), ' CAR HAS 166K MILES ' MARCH 12, 2019 ' VEHICLE BRAKES FAIL ' CAR HAS 176K MILES MAKES NO SENSE HOW, IN A SPAN OF ONLY 24K MILES FROM WHEN THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED THE SECOND TIME AT 152K MILES, UNTIL THE BRAKE FAILURE AT 176K MILES, THE TWICE-APPLIED WAX 'REMEDY' PERFORMED IN THE RECALL ACTIONS WORE OFF COMPLETELY, AND, THE BRAKE LINE COMPLETED CORRODED AND FAILED. THIS DOES NOT SEEM POSSIBLE NOR PROBABLE, AND, IF IT IS POSSIBLE, THEN THE 'REMEDY' THAT WAS PROVIDED BY SUBARU WAS UNSUITABLE, OR, THE DEALERSHIP INCORRECTLY APPLIED THE MATERIAL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE CORROSION FROM HAPPENING. I HAVE NO PROOF THAT THIS WORK WAS ACTUALLY PERFORMED. I BELIEVE THAT THE SPRAY-ON WAX WAS NOT CORRECTLY APPLIED IN NEITHER METHOD NOR QUANTITY ON MY VEHICLE. ANCHOR SUBARU WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER THE RECALL. PAID MY OWN MECHANIC TO FIX THE ISSUE. SENT REGISTERED LETTERS TO SUBARU OF AMERICA AND TO THE 3 OWNERS OF THE DEALERSHIP OVER A MONTH AGO AND NONE HAVE RESPONDED TO MY CONCERNS.
BRAKE LINE BROKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE REAR DOOR . I COULD SEE THE FLUID COMING OUT THROUGH A COVER OF SOME KIND THAT I THINK IS TO PROTECT THE FUEL TANK. I WAS DRIVING AND NEEDED TO STOP AND THE PEDAL WENT SUDDENLY TO THE FLOOR AND I WENT PAST WHERE I TRIED TO STOP.
2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AFTER MARKET FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS ON VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PADS HE PURCHASED WERE A FULL HALF-INCH SHORTER IN LENGTH THAN THE ORIGINAL PADS THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE. THE ESTABLISHMENT INSISTED IT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE BRAKING FORCE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE PADS AND WENT TO ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT, WHO PROVIDED HIM WITH THEIR FRONT PADS WHICH WERE THE SAME LENGTH AS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.
THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKING ACTION WHATSOEVER. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND EVENTUALLY STOP BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED (60K INTERVAL) BY THE DEALER INCLUDING FLUSHING THE BRAKE LINES AND INSTALLING NEW REAR BRAKE PADS. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY A DIFFERENT DEALER REVEALED THAT THE CALIPER AND BRAKE PAD HAD FALLEN OFF THE CAR, CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AND PUTTING OCCUPANTS (INCLUDING A 4 YEAR OLD) AT EXTREME BODILY RISK. *TR