2008 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems

Your brakes completely failed, which could have caused a serious accident. Subaru addressed a known recall (WQK-47) by spraying rust inhibitor on the brake lines instead of replacing them. According to a certified mechanic, this temporary fix didn't work—your brake lines are now failing for the same reason the recall exists. A proper repair would require replacing the brake lines entirely, not just coating them with spray.

Your brakes failed suddenly while driving on the highway, leaving you with virtually no braking power—a dangerous situation that could have caused a serious accident. A Subaru dealership found a split brake line, which is a known issue covered by a recall. Subaru's recall fix only applied anticorrosion coating to the brake lines rather than replacing them, which may have only delayed the problem from happening again. The brake line will likely need to be replaced to fully resolve this issue.

Your brake line ruptured while braking downhill due to rust damage from salt exposure, causing you to rely on the parking brake to avoid an accident. Subaru applied a protective wax coating in 2014 as part of a recall, but this didn't prevent the rupture. A second recall exists that requires replacing all four main brake lines, but Subaru denied your request, stating they have no further obligation after the first recall. You'll need to have all four brake lines replaced to ensure your brakes are fully functional and safe.

Your brake pedal became soft and less responsive, and your brake warning light turned on. You discovered brake fluid leaking from under the right rear passenger seat, caused by rusty, corroded brake lines that weren't properly protected. This issue was subject to a recall on earlier Outbacks, but since the previous owner didn't have the work done and the recall has expired, you'll need to pay out-of-pocket to replace the affected brake line.

Your brakes failed to respond when you pressed the pedal while turning downhill at 40 mph, causing your vehicle to crash into a ditch. The brake pedal went down but your car didn't slow down, with no warning lights appearing beforehand. This issue may be related to your vehicle's hydraulic brake system, and the problem could involve your brake fluid, master cylinder, brake lines, or related hydraulic components.

Your brake line ruptured without warning, leaving you with barely enough braking power to reach a repair shop. While you were fortunate this happened at low speed, losing brakes on a highway could have been dangerous. Subaru's recall solution—spraying brake lines with a wax coating—only delays the problem rather than fixing it, and the brake line's location under the undercarriage makes regular inspection impossible. Repairing it required removing the undercarriage structure, making it an expensive fix.

Your 2008 Outback had a 2014 recall for corroded brake lines, but Subaru only sprayed them with anti-corrosive coating instead of replacing them. Two weeks ago, you lost brake pressure while driving—fortunately without an accident. The brake lines are located underneath and partially blocked by the gas tank, making inspection impossible for owners. A proper replacement requires dropping the gas tank and rear substructure, costing around $3,000, because the lines were poorly designed or positioned for salt exposure.

RUST AND CORROSION HAS RESULTED IN A BRAKE LINE FAILURE AND LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT AND DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT

THE BRAKE LINES SHOW EVIDENCE OF CORROSION WITH ONE LEAKING FLUID. MY DTR WAS DRIVING TO FL AND NOTED EXCESS BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL UPON ARRIVAL AND BROUGHT IT TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MEC.H INFORMED HER OF PROBLEM AND SENT PHOTOS OF CORRODED BRAKE LINES. I'LL FORWARD WITH ADDTL. CORRESPONDENCE IF NEEDED.

CORRODED BRAKE LINE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 20 MPH EXITING HIGHWAY RIGHT SIDE REAR AT JUNCTION BLOCK ABOVE GAS TANK COVER

WHILE DRIVING IN BLOOMINGTON, THE BRAKE LINES FAILED. MANAGED TO PULL OVER INTO A MALL PARKING LOT. BRAKE FLUID POURED OUT FROM THE BRAKE LINES WHICH HAD RUSTED THROUGH NEAR THE GAS TANK. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED BASED ON RECALL WQK47, BUT IT WAS THIS AREA THAT HAD CORRODED, LEAVING THE BRAKES USELESS.

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS GIRLFRIEND WHO OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THE BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RUSTED BRAKE LINES ON THE REAR AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

DRIVING AT 70 MILES AN HOUR ON I95 IN PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND, TAPPED THE BREAK TO KEEP KEEP SAFE DISTANCE FROM CAR IN FRONT, PEDAL SEEMED A BIT SOFT. THEN HAD TO PREFORM A HARD STOP AS THE ENTIRE 3 LANES HAD STOPPED DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR, NO STOPPING POWER WHAT SO EVER. FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SWERVE LEFT INTO THE HIGH SPEED BREAKDOWN LANE AND DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR. UPON COMING TO A ROLLING STOP WITH USE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IT WAS NOTED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS SPEWING FROM UNDER THE CAR, THIS CAR NEARLY KILLED MYSELF AND MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. CONTACTED SUBARU REGARDING THE RECALL WQK-47 WHICH THEY STATED WAS COMPLETED IN SEPT 2015 WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I INQUIRED AS TO THE EXTENT OF THE WORK AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL, AND A RESULT OF WEAR AND TEAR. THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION IF THE BRAKE LINES WERE COATED, OR REPLACED FOR MY PARTICULAR CAR, THEY COULDN'T COMMENT IF THE ANTI- CORROSIVE AGENT WAS APPLIED TO THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM, NOR THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE REPLACEMENT. THE BRAKE LINES USED BY SUBARU AR CLEARLY SUBSTANDARD AND UNSAFE. IF ONE AREA IS ABLE TO CORRODE AND LEAK, WHAT SAYS ANOTHER AREA WONT DO THE SAME. MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF WERE PLACED IN HARMS WAY AND COULD HAVE POTENTIAL BEEN SEVERELY HARMED, AND EVEN WORSE HARMED SOMEONE ELSE OR ANOTHER FAMILY HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE HIGH SPEED BRAKE DOWN LANE. SUBSTANDARD PARTS NEARLY KILLED MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTER

MY CAR WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE CAUSE IS A RUPTURED, CORRODED BRAKE LINE AS OUTLINED IN RECALL WQK-47 FOR MY MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS ISSUE IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND THE RECALL SHOULD COVER ANY REPAIRS FOR THE MODELS OUTLINED IN THIS RECALL. IT IS A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT THAT SUBARU REFUSES TO REMEDY FOR ACTIVE CARS STILL ON THE ROAD.

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN I LOST BRAKING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO A STOP AND GET IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WITHOUT DAMAGE TO MY CAR OR SOMEONE ELSE'S VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THEY HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. I CALLED SUBARU. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE PROBLEM.

THIS ISSUE IS ON THE TOPIC OF A RECALL: "BRAKE PIPE CORROSION" NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 14V311000 SUBARU SERVICE CAMPAIGN: WQK47 SUBARU OF AMERICA IS REFUSING TO PROPERLY HONOR THIS RECALL, AS THEY WILL ONLY COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF CORRODED BRAKE LINES IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY LEAKING. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE CRITERION FOR BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT, AS IT IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE FAILURE MODE WITH POTENTIALLY-LETHAL CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF A CORRODED AREA OF THE BRAKE LINES ON MY 2008 OUTBACK, AN AREA UNDER THE FUEL TANK WHICH IS EXPLICITLY COVERED BY THIS RECALL. AS CAN BE SEEN, THEY ARE TERRIFYINGLY CORRODED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF SUBARU'S IMPROPER RUST-PROOFING OF THIS AREA. THEY WILL START LEAKING AT ANY MOMENT. INCLUDED IN THE RECALL IS A PRELIMINARY MEASURE TO APPLY SOME RUST-PROOFING COATING TO THE AREAS IN QUESTION. IF THAT ACTION IS TAKEN, THE RECALL IS CONSIDERED 100% RESOLVED PERMANENTLY. THIS RESOLUTION CRITERION IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE, AS THE RECALL MAY NOT BE DONE BY A VEHICLE OWNER UNTIL THE BRAKE LINES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY CORRODED BUT JUST BEFORE THEY START LEAKING DUE TO CORROSION. THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE RESOLUTION TO A RECALL FOR CORRODED BRAKE LINES IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE BRAKE LINES, NOT SOME MEAGER BAND-AID THAT SUBARU IS EFFECTIVELY CLAIMING IS A PERMANENT FIX TO THE ISSUE. THAT IS NOT TRUE AT ALL, AS BRAKE LINES WILL CONTINUE TO CORRODE TO A DEGREE EVEN IF THEY HAVE SOME COATING ON THEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE COATING CAN WEAR OFF. THIS RECALL WAS SUPPOSEDLY ADDRESSED ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE BY CITYSIDE SUBARU OF BELMONT, MA. HOWEVER, 2.5 YEARS LATER, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NO RUST-PROOFING COATING REMAINING. EITHER THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T DO THE RECALL PROPERLY (OUT OF SCOPE OF THIS ISSUE SUMBISSION TO THE NHTSA), OR THE COATING WORE AWAY COMPLETELY. HOWEVER, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE FORMER OF THOSE TWO.

WHEN DRIVING HOME, BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR THEN LIGHT CAME ON. TRIED BRAKE FLUID AND GUSHED OUT. INCHED TO NEARBY MIDAS WHO RAISED CAR AND FOUND MAJOR LEAK BY GAS TANK. RECALL ON THAT AREA WAS TREATED WITH WAX IN 2014. CALLED SUBARU WHO DID NOT GUARANTEE HELPING BY WANTED US TO BRING CAR TO A SUBARU SERVICE CENTER.

BRAKE LINES CORRODED, FAILED STATE INSPECTION. BRAKE LINES HAD BEEN SERVICE UNDER SUBARU RECALL TWICE AND SPRAYED WITH A COATING. TREATING INFERIOR, CORRODED BRAKE LINES DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. BRAKE LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. I HAVE GOTTEN NO SATISFACTION FROM EITHER THE DEALER OR SUBARU AMERICA. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON ISSUE FOR SUBARU.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GLANZMANN SUBARU (95 OLD YORK RD, JENKINTOWN, PA 19046, 215-885-8282) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ONCE AND COULD NOT BE DONE AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR BRAKE LINE, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY APPLIED ANTI CORRESIVE. APPROX 16 MONTHS LATER BRAKE LINE BLEW WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM ON A CITY STREET. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY ASKED SUBARU TO COVER UNDER RECALL BUT WAS DENIED DUE TO HIGH MILAGE. BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING WHERE ANTI CORRESIVE WAS APPLIED. HAVE HEARD IF OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. WE IN 3 OTHER SUBARUS ARE UNDER THE SAME RECALL AND HAVE CONCERNS.

BRAKES FAILED AT A STOPLIGHT WHILE BRAKING FOR A RED LIGHT. BRAKES FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 10MPH. BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED DOWN TO THE FLOOR, A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR AND THE BRAKES COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. NEEDED TO USE HAND BRAKE TO SAFELY STOP CAR. MECHANICS SAID THE BRAKE LINE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HAD CORRODED THROUGH AND BROKE. BRAKING FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE CAR AROUND THE BROKEN HOSE. THE BROKEN PORTION OF THE CABLE WAS INSIDE THE THE CAR, AND NOT DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE ROAD OR OUTSIDE. CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED FOR RECALL 14V311000 INVOLVING BRAKE LINE CORROSION, BUT THEY FAILED TO FIX THIS PART OF THE LINE. RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR BEFORE INCIDENT. CONTACTED SUBARU USA ABOUT THE ISSUE, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY PART OF THE REPAIR.

BRAKE LINE FAILURE, LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON US HWY 221. BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT FROM THE GAS TANK SPLASH SHIED. THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. ACCORDING TO RECALL BULLETIN A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SPLASH SHIELD ALLOWS SALT TO ACCUMULATE IN THIS AREA. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS WHY I HAVE HAD THIS FAILURE.RECALL PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. SUBARU APPLIES BAND AID BY SPRAYING WITH ANTI-CORROSION NOXRUST. THIS DOES NOT ALLEVIATE/SOLVE THE CORROSION ALREADY OCCURRING LEADING TO FAILURE LATER ON, AS IN MY CASE. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE LOSS OF LIFE OCCURS. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU TO INFORM OF THE ISSUE INVOLVING MY SITUATION. THEIR AGENT INDICATES THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE DUE TO PREVIOUSLY PERFORMING SERVICE WQK47. THIS DOES NOT REMOVE THE FAILING COMPONENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO DETERIORATE DUE TO SURFACE CORROSION. THIS SHOULD CAUSE AN IMMEDIATE ALARM TO ANY OWNERS KNOWING THEY COULD POSSIBLY EXPERIENCE MY SITUATION. I WAS LUCKY. NO ONE WAS INJURED OR NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS WILL NOT ALWAYS BE THE CASE. BE AWARE SUBARU IS TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE REAL DANGER OF THESE FAULTY, CORRODED BRAKE LINES. I DO NOT TRUST THEM TO DO ANY FURTHER INSPECTION OR REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE AND WILL TRUST IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAS MY FAITH. SUBARU HAS FAILED!!!! MY HOPE IS THAT THE NHTSA WILL OPEN AN INVESTIGATION BEFORE THIS GOES MAINSTREAM NATIONALLY. WHO CAN REPLACE A LOST LIVE?

SEVER CORROSION OF REAR BRAKE LINE CAUSED SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF ABILITY TO BRAKE.

ON THURSDAY, DEC. 22, ABOUT 11:25 A.M., I CAME TO A INTERSECTION OF MEADOWLARK LANE AND RT. 528 IN RIO RANCHO, NM. AND GOT IN THE RIGHT TURN LANE. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL PART-WAY, FELT AND HEARD THE GRINDING UNDER MY FOOT. I LIFTED OFF MY FOOT AND DEPRESSED IT FULLY (NO NOISE OR GRINDING) AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I TURNED INTO THE RIGHT LANE OF THE 3-LANE STREET. I WANTED TO GET TO THE FAR LEFT LANE. I SIGNALED AND TURNED LEFT. THE CAR PASSED THROUGH THE CENTER LANE. AS THE CAR ENTERED THE LEFT LANE, IT SUDDENLY VEERED RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE LANE AND CONTINUED FORWARD IN A "S" PATTERN FOR A FEW FEET! THE ROAD WAS DAMP, BY NO MEANS SLICK (NOT SHINY AND NO PUDDLES OR VISIBLE WATER OR ICE ON THE ROAD). I BELIEVE THE TEMP WAS ABOVE FREEZING. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR BACK TO THE FAR LEFT LANE. THE NEXT DAY, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANICS FOR AN APPT. I HAD MADE FOR TO HAVE THE CV BOOTS? REPLACED AND THEY SAID THEY CHECKED OUT THE STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. AND TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE SAME THING. THEY SAID THEY WAS NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG. POSSIBLY THE ANTI-SKID ACTION WAS SET OFF. THIS WAS VERY UNNERVING. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE, AND OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

WE TOOK OUR SUBARU INTO THE DEALER TO GET REGULAR SERVICES. WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY GROUND DOWN WHILE THE OTHERS WERE FINE AND OR NORMAL FOR OUR MILEAGE. OUR CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND ALTHOUGH THE DEALERS EXPLANATION WAS " A STUCK BRAKE CALIPER" THEY MADE US PAY FOR NEW BRAKES. AND, THEY FAILED TO GIVE US A NEW BRAKE CALIPER. WHEN WE ASKED FOR THE MANAGER, HE REFUSED TO HELP US AND BLAMED IT ON THE REGIONAL REPAIR MANAGER. WE COMPLAINED FOR NEARLY A YEAR AND WERE FINALLY GIVEN THE MONEY BACK JUST FOR THE BRAKE, BUT SINCE WE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN , THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE BRAKE CALIPER AS WELL. THIS WAS A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING AND WE HAD BOUGHT THE CAR "BRAND NEW" . WE THINK THIS IS A AN OVERALL MANUFACTURERS DEFECT BUT WHEN WE CALLED SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICES , THEY SLAMMED THE DOOR IN OUR FACES AND WE WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO TALK TO A PERSON OTHER THAN "CUSTOMER SERVICE" IN THE SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICES. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 3 SUBARU DEALERS AND ALL 3 REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PARTS AND SERVICES FOR FREE. WE HAVE EMAIL AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM. PLEASE HELP US. *TR UPDATED 11/14/12 *CN UPDATED 11/14/2012*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A STORE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURY. THE KANAWHA COUNTY SHERIFF WAS PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, BUT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,837.