2011 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems

Your brake pedal suddenly went to the floor while you were shifting from park to drive, and brake fluid leaked out. Your brakes failed completely while the car was stopped, though no crash occurred. This may involve a brake line rupture, which is a known issue for some 2011 Subaru Outbacks in Michigan. A mechanic will need to inspect and replace the damaged brake line and refill the brake fluid system.

While driving, your brake pedal became soft and your car lost all braking power. You discovered the brake fluid reservoir was empty and brake fluid was leaking from a line underneath the vehicle. Your mechanic identified this as related to recall WQK47r. The repair will likely involve replacing the leaking brake line and refilling the brake fluid system.

Your brake pedal went completely soft while driving, and you discovered the brake fluid reservoir was empty with fluid leaking underneath the car. A mechanic determined the brake line box had corroded, causing total brake failure with no warning signs. The repair will likely involve replacing the corroded brake line box and refilling the brake system with new fluid.

While driving, your brake pedal went all the way to the floor, losing braking ability. Upon inspection, the rear passenger brake proportioning valve (4-way block) failed and fell apart due to rust. You've found multiple reports online of the same issue affecting other 2011 Subaru Outbacks. The brake proportioning valve will need to be replaced to restore proper braking function.

While driving at 30-35 mph, your brake pedal suddenly went all the way to the floor and your brakes stopped working entirely, nearly causing a crash. Your brake warning light came on, and the vehicle could only be stopped by coasting into a parking lot. The dealer found that your brake lines had failed and replaced them, but the manufacturer denied warranty coverage due to an unknown recall on your vehicle.

Your rear brake lines at the junction block on the right side have corroded and may need replacement. This appears to be a recurring issue affecting multiple model years and vehicle types with the same design. The repair will likely involve inspecting and replacing the corroded brake line sections at the junction block.

Your parking brake actuator has failed, which prevents your parking brake from working properly. Subaru has issued a recall for this component, but only for manual transmission vehicles—not automatics like yours. The repair costs over $1,300, with the part alone costing $850, making it unaffordable for many owners and leaving you without this important safety feature. Fixing this will require replacing the parking brake actuator assembly.

The emergency brake light and traction symbol have started flashing when I’m driving and now the EB has stopped working. I’ve visiting the Subaru dealership twice and two other mechanics. They’ve all told me different reasons why my car is doing this. I’ve never had an emergency break stop working.

Rear brake line rusted through at 4 way connector and again on side of tank. It is visible to inspect when a plastic cover is removed. The brakes failed and the car would not stop. The brake light did not appear until after I applied the brake pedal to stop. This could have caused a serious accident.

The rear brakes lines have rusted out to the point of leaking. Could of loss brakes on the road!

July 2023 badly leaking hard brake lines, apparently at Right Rear underbody 4-way connector. This caused radically diminished braking capability, rendering car not drivable.

When the check engine light is illuminated for any reason, it could be as simple as the gas cap isn't tight. It is designed to disable the cruise control, disable the traction control and what I feel is a safety factor, it disables the electronic hill holder. Being this is a manual transmission vehicle it has an electric parking brake. When the hill holder is activated, if you stop on a steep grade for traffic or traffic light, the electronic parking brake engages until you start to release the clutch. This would not be an issue on an automatic transmission, but on a manual transmission gravity will make the car start to roll backwards. I don't know how the design engineers figured this was a good idea to disable this when the check engine light illuminates. Also the fact that the parking brake is strictly a parking brake, it is not an emergency brake as it cannot be activated while the vehicle is moving. If you lose the service brakes for any reason, it's impossible to bring the car to a stop using the emergency brake as it will only beep because the car is in motion. I do believe that the braking system should in no way be interrupted due to a check engine light, supposedly this is done to get the driver's attention, but it seems a compromises the safety of the driver and passengers as well as any vehicle that could pull up close behind not knowing that it's a manual transmission and could roll backwards on startup. I just feel this is a flaw In the design of the electric parking brake and hill holder assist used on these vehicles with manual transmissions. This is not an isolated issue, this will happen anytime that the service engine light or check engine light if you will becomes illuminated. No specific date, just anytime that the check engine light becomes illuminated while driving.

rear break line failure at the junction box... complete rotten off... all other lines coating and integrity visually ok... defect in coating ..

Brake light came on while driving and brake pedal went to the floor..suddenly...NO brakes at all. Towed into repair facility and was informed the rear brake lines had rusted out and that the repair was major because of the routing of the rear lines under the rear seat and floor panel...a very bad rust area. Location is Maine. It was pointed out to me that there was a tech Bulletin and recall for Subaru Outbacks up to 2009....but the problem remained in the later models. MAJOR expense to access and replace the rear lines and route them properly with rust proofing! HELP!

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, extra brake travel time was needed upon the depression of the brake pedal while attempting to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard during the failure without warning. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V562000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, only the 2012 model was included in the recall. The dealer was then notified of the failure and the contact was informed that her vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 173,000.

Brakes become soft and sometimes depression of brake pedal to floor to activate brakes. Master cylinder appears to be in need of replacement

I was driving and suddenly loss almost all brake pressure. The brakes just went to the floor. Fortunately I was driving on a 30mph roadway near my home and was able to safely get the vehicle home. The mechanic said is it the brake lines corroded. Sudden loss of brake fluid. I see Subaru has recalls on earlier years for this. You need to get them to recall 2010 and 2011 Subaru Outbacks for this brake line issue. I see all over the internet other folks have the same problem with the 2010 and 2011. This is going to cause a major accident and people could. be killed. Had I been on the highway and this happened, I know this could have caused a terrible accident. Subaru is clearly aware of this brake line problem and you have not informed the customer that this is happening with the 2010 and 2011 Outbacks! Please take action immediately to inform owner of this problem. We have a right to know.

Partial brake failure while driving on Interstate. When applying brakes, the dash light came on and the pedal went to the floor. Car stopped, but braking distance was very long. The problem was caused by the failure of a brake junction on the right rear side, due to rust.

The Brake line on 2011 Subaru Outback are leaking in the rear. This vehicle is not listed under the " WQK-47 – Brake Line Corrosion – 2005-2014 Subaru", recall. But is exhibits the same problems. When Subaru USA was contacted, Customer Service said they was nothing they could do because the vehicle is not listed in the recall, regardless of it showing the same issues. The brake caution light was on. Brake fluid in reservoir was a minimum, I filled it to max level with Dot 3 brake fluid. Two days later the light came on with fluid level at minimum again. This is the family car and I do not want my wife or kids to have brake failure while driving. The above mentioned recall seems to be exactly what I am experiencing. When looking form below the vehicle fluid is leaking form the 2-2way connection area. Onset 5/15/2021. Vehicle is not currently being driven due to safety concerns.

BRAKES MUSHY, EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL, HAVE TO PUMP THEM UP TO STOP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. HAVE HAD NEW ROTORS, NEW PADS, DEALER FLUSH AND REFILL INCLUDING ABS WITH COMPUTER. NO CHANGE. BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SUSPECTED, ESPECIALLY AS THERE WAS APPARENTLY A RECALL REGARDING CERTAIN 2012 MODEL OUTBACKS, I BELIEVE THAT ISSUE MAY APPLY HERE TOO. DANGEROUS

A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTION. IT CAUSES AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE REQUIRED TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE. 2012 SUBARUS WERE RECALLED. IS MY 2011 RECALLED? IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHILE BRAKING OVER POTHOLES, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ABS WAS ACTIVATED (AND ONCE JUST DRIVING DOWN A HILL TOWARD A STOP SIGN), THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES VERY SOFT AND IS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, RESULTING IN AN INCREASE OF TRAVEL DISTANCE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FIRST SEVERAL TIMES THE ISSUE SEEMED TO RESOLVE ITSELF AND I FIGURED IT WAS JUST A RESULT OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS. WHEN IT CONTINUED TO OCCUR I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE ISSUE AGAIN RESOLVED ITSELF BEFORE THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AND THEREFORE NOTHING WAS DONE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER IT OCCURRED AGAIN, AND AGAIN THE ISSUE RESOLVED ITSELF BEFORE THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT IT. HOWEVER, THEY PERFORMED A BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSH AS A PRECAUTION. THREE MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE ENTERING THE ON-RAMP TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND PERSISTED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I ONCE AGAIN BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS FINALLY ABLE TO VERIFY THE CONCERN. THEY RE-FLUSHED THE SYSTEM AND ALSO REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER (WHICH WAS A RECALL ISSUE IN OTHER MODELS) AS A FORM OF GOOD WILL. WE ALL ASSUMED THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED AND I ONCE AGAIN TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. EXACTLY TWO WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT ONCE AGAIN RESOLVED ITSELF BEFORE A TECHNICIAN COULD LOOK AT IT, THEREFORE NOTHING MORE WAS TO BE DONE. I AM NOT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ROUGHLY. THERE ARE SOME ROADS IN OUR AREA THAT ARE JUST POORLY MAINTAINED AND THERE WAS ONE OCCASION WHERE SIMPLY PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE GRASS TRIGGERED THE ISSUE. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND I'M TOLD THERE ISN'T MUCH ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE AT THIS TIME.

I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHILCE WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULDNT STOP COMPLETLY, I HAD TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK,, PERHAPS CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY TRANSMISSION, UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION UNDER FUEL TANK SHIELD. BRAKE LINES HAVE A PROTECTIVE COATING TO HELP PREVENT THIS, HOWEVER WHERE THE LINES EXIT THE BODY OF THE CAR UNDER THE REAR SEAT THEY CONNECT INTO A JUNCTION BLOCK THEN PROCEED TO EACH REAR WHEEL, AT THIS JUNCTION THE PROTECTIVE COATING WAS REMOVED ALLOWING SALT SPRAY FROM OUR WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS TO LEAD TO CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.. PREVIOUS MODELS HAD A RECALL WQK-47 THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THIS VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED,

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND FREEWAYS, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, I HAVE NO BRAKES. NO BRAKE LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL) ON THE DASH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FIREWALL. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT; A VERY STRESSFUL AND ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING MOMENT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, BRAKES ARE NORMAL. THEN, IT HAPPENS AGAIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. IN TOTAL, IT HAS HAPPENED SEVEN TIMES. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND EXPLAINED MY CONCERNS. THE SERVICE WRITER INITIALLY RESPONDED THAT HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO (THE CONDITION CANNOT BE RECREATED; IT JUST HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING). I ASKED IF HE WOULD INQUIRE WITH OTHER SERVICE WRITERS TO SEE IF THEY WERE AWARE OF SUCH AN ISSUE. IRONICALLY, ANOTHER CUSTOMER'S CAR WAS THERE AT THAT VERY TIME, WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT/PROBLEM BEING DIAGNOSED. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS; IT WAS RECOMMENDED THE MASTER CYLINDER BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACE IT WITH OEM PART 26401AJ001 AS WELL AS DOING A BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSH AND FILLING WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID. THIS WAS IN NOVEMBER 2019. SINCE THEN, THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE MORE TIMES (MOST RECENTLY, TWO DAYS AGO). I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2012 OUTBACK MASTER CYLINDERS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. WHY ISN'T THIS RECALL BROADER AND RELATED TO ALL CARS WITH THESE IDENTICAL (SAME PART NUMBER) MASTER CYLINDERS? DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE BAD BRAKE SYSTEMS ARE REPAIRED? I'VE RESEARCHED AND COLLECTIVELY FOUND NUMEROUS OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I QUESTION THE CREDIBILITY OF DEALERSHIP SERVICE WRITERS WHEN THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE LOVED MY SUBARU; HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE NEEDS TO STOP WHEN MY BRAKES ARE APPLIED-EVERY TIME; NOT WITH THE FEAR OF; IS TODAY GOING TO BE THE DAY OF FAILURE YET AGAIN?

CAR STALLS OUT WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, ESPECIALLY IF I HAVE TO STOP SHORT DUE TO BEING CUT OFF. CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC, SO THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CARS ARE COMING BEHIND ME. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND EACH TIME THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THUS NO DIAGNOSIS. AFTER READING ONLINE, IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM TO SUBARU WITH A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER.

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE PEDAL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING A CRASH. THE BRAKE CONTROL MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. *JS

THE REAR BRAKE LINES ARE EXTREMELY CORRODED AT THE REAR BLOCK, NECESSITATING A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. IT APPEARS THAT OTHER MODELS OF THIS SAME YEAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE OUTBACK. SURELY THEY HAVE THE SAME BRAKE SYSTEMS.

BETWEEN 2011 AND 2019 WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS FOR A SECOND TIME. THE ORIGINAL SET OF BRAKES AND ROTORS LASTED ABOUT 31K MILES AND WERE REPLACED IN 2015. NOW IN 2019 THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE FAILED AGAIN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE DRIVEN FROM 2015 TO 2019 IS 19K MILES. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 5 DAYS A WEEK AND SINCE MAY OF 2019, SIX DAYS A WEEK. THIS IS BEYOND RIDICULOUS. BRAKE PEDAL WHEN TRYING TO STOP, WENT TO THE FLOOR FASTER THAN THEY NORMALLY WOULD HAVE. THAT WAS WHEN I SET THE APPOINTMENT TO FIND OUT WHY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE BATTERY TO RESET THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE AND ASSOCIATED IT WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V626000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARLSEN SUBARU (LOCATED AT 480 VETERANS BLVD, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063, (888) 520-5916) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EPB MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A TIRE CHANGE AND UPON RETURN, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND LEAKING FLUID. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS FOUND OUT AFTER I DROVE IT OUT OF THE SHOP AND I HAD NO ABILITY TO STOP WHATSOEVER. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED BEYOND BELIEF IN THE CENTER OF THE CAR. COINCIDENTLY THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN AND RECALLS ALREADY OCCURRED IN 2014 WITH 660,000 SUBARUS. HOWEVER, MY SPECIFIC YEAR WAS NOT A PART OF THIS RECALL. THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD MINIMAL CORROSIONS OR AT LEAST THE EXPECTED LEVEL AFTER 8 YEARS OF SERVICE. THE BRAKE LINES THEMSELVES HAD SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CORROSION AND THIS COULD HAVE EASILY LEAD TO AN AWFUL ACCIDENT. THIS IS POOR ENGINEERING AND I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU IS TO BLAME. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND SUBARU SEEMS UNSYMPATHETIC. THERE IS NO WAY A BRAKE LINE IN THE CENTER OF THE CAR SHOULD BECOME CORRODED SO QUICKLY. IT'S REASONABLE TO SAY THAT THE FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT OR BACK LEFT AND RIGHT LINES COULD HAVE BEEN PINCHED WHEN THE CAR TURNS, CREATING A LEAK OF SOME KIND. HOWEVER, THE CENTER OF THE CAR AND THE FITMENTS THAT PIECE THE BRAKE LINE TOGETHER WERE BEYOND SHOT. I FIND IT STRANGE THAT 2005-2009 OUTBACKS WERE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BUT WHAT CHANGED WITH 2010 AND BEYOND? MY GUESS IS THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHOS RAN INTO THE SAME ISSUE. THE POOR ENGINEERING WITH THIS MODEL IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY CONCERN.

ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE DEFECTIVE. NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN PUSHING IN THE BUTTON OR PULLING. THE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH. THIS FEATURE NO LONGER WORKS, AND APPEARS TO ALSO EFFECT THE HILL HOLDER AS THIS NO LONGER WORKS EITHER. ISN'T SAFE TO PUT ONTO A JACK WHILE CHANGING A TIRE WITH THIS FUNCTION NOT WORKING AS IT WILL ROLL OFF THE JACK.

IN OCT. 2018 SUBARU SENT ME A LETTER REGARDING THE SAFETY RECALL WTV-81 (NHTSA ID 18V-626). THIS RECALL STATES THAT THE MY VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE (EPB) MAY CRACK OVER TIME AND THAT REMEDY PARTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. IT IS NOW MARCH, 2019 AND A REMEDY STILL HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND IF MY EPB FAILS, THIS WILL CAUSE MY CALL TO ROLL AWAY AND CRASH. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I HAVE REPEATEDLY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS FOR ME. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT IT WILL PUSH SUBARU TO ACTIVELY FIND A REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL.

BRAKES FADE AND FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES.

THE GREEN LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK . I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO RELEASE THE GREEN LIGHT IT CAME OFF ON ITS OW. THE SAME THING HAS OCCURRED, BOTH THE RED AND GREEN LIGHT ARE ON AND NOT GOING OFF.

I HAVE 103.5K MILES AND MY MASTER CYLINDER IS GOING OUT. I WAS TOLD THE 2012 OUTBACK HAD ISSUES ALSO. WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR.

TWICE IN JULY THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT THE TIME. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD RELEASE. AFTER THE SECOND OCCURRENCE THE DASH WARNING LIGHT FOR BRAKES FLASHED FOR ABOUT 50 MILES. MY LOCAL DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED ELECTRONIC PARKING CONTROL MODULE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEMATIC DESIGN IF THIS WERE TO ENGAGE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION.

ON 06/12/2016, I ATTEMPTED TO ACTUATE THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE, TO NO AVAIL ONCE AGAIN. PARKING ON A HILL IS RATHER RISKY WITH THIS VEHICLE AS THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT FUNCTION MOST OF THE TIME, SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED IN 50 YRS OF DRIVING USING A MANUAL PARKING BRAKE. SO I HAVE MADE MY OWN PARKING BRAKE (SEE ATTACHED).

ONCE AGAIN THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE IS NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE 'BRAKE' LIGHT IS FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE [XXX] PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT FUNCTION. MY WIFE SAYS "I NEED A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE". OBVIOUSLY THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY. THE AUSTRALIANS AND RECALLED THIS BRAKE FOR YEAR 2015 AND WILL PROBABLY DO SAME FOR OTHER YEARS. ATTACHED YOU WILL SEE A LIST OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A LONG LIST. THIS IS FAULTY DESIGN, PURE AND SIMPLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON 5/30/16 THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE "BRAKE" LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD. I WAS PARKED ON A HILL AND COULD NOT ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE DUE TO MALFUNCTION. WHAT IF THE TRANSMISSION COG COULD NOT HOLD THE CAR? IT WOULD HAVE ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND DONE UNTOLD DAMAGE. THIS ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE SHOULD BE RECALLED AS IT IS DANGEROUS AS A CRITICAL SAFETY ELEMENT OF THE CAR. THE 2015 OUTBACK HAS BEEN RECALLED IN AUSTRALIA FOR THIS VERY ISSUE.

THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ON THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME. LAST EVENING IS AN EXAMPLE. PARKED ON SLOPE IN DRIVEWAY AND ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE. WHEN TIME TO LEAVE THE BRAKE COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED. IT WAS LOCKED UP. HAD TO MANUALLY DECOUPLE THE PARKING BRAKE WITH SPECIAL TOOL. MOST OF THE TIME THIS BRAKE CANNOT BE ENGAGED AS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS UNRESPONSIVE. THE "BRAKE" DASH LIGHT JUST FLASHES AND A 'CHIRP' IS HEARD WHEN THE BUTTON IS PUSHED. PARKING BRAKES ARE TERRIBLY IMPORTANT IN HILLY ENVIRONS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE THUS RECALLED/REDESIGNED TO A MORE DEPENDABLE SYSTEM (IE. MANUAL LEVER/CABLE BRAKE).

70% OF THE TIME I TRY TO ACTIVATE THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE, THE COMPUTER JUST 'CHIRPS' AND THE 'BRAKE' LIGHT ON THE DASH BLINKS. THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT ACTUATED THUS THE VEHICLE IS AT RISK OF ROLLING DOWN A HILL WITH NOONE AT THE WHEEL. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE RECALLED AT LEAST AND REDESIGNED TO A HIGHER STANDARD OF DEPENDABILITY. IT IS A BRAKE FOR GOD'S SAKE!!

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, BRAKES APPLIED, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. VEHICLE PULLED OFF ROAD INTO PARKING LOT. VEHICLE TOWED TO SUBARU DEALER. VEHICLE INSPECTED, DEALER STATES REAR BRAKE LINE SEPARATED FROM COUPLING, DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. DEALER FURTHER STATES THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINES AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA, NOR DO DEALERS HAVE ANY INVENTORY. D3ALER IS FORCED TO CRAFT BRAKE LINE TO RETURN VEHICLE TO SERVICE.

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER RECEIVED VEHICLE REPAIRS AND WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BRAKE HAD A LOCKED CALIPER, DAMAGED ROTOR AND A MISSING BRAKE PAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

I PULLED UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY COMING HOME FROM SHOPPING AS USUAL, IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 5:45PM ON JAN 7, 2014. THE ROAD TO MY HOUSE AND MY DRIVEWAY HAVE AN INCLINE. I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHICH WAS DRY (THE STREET WAS ICY) STOPPED, TURNED OFF CAR, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. MY FOOT BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO TENSION, I TRIED IT OVER AND OVER AS MY CAR WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS, WENT TO HIT THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE, NOTHING HAPPENED MY CAR WAS OFF ROLLING BACKWARDS OUT OF CONTROL PICKING UP SPEED, I THOUGHT THE ONLY THING THAT WILL STOP THIS CAR IS WHEN IT HITS SOMETHING, AND THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT! IT HIT THE ELECTRICAL BOX AND MAILBOX AND KNOCKED POWER OUT IN MY CUL-DE-SAC. THE ELECTRIC BOX FLIPPED OVER AND CAUGHT MY REAR TIRE AND STOPPED THE CAR! THIS WAS A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, NO WAY TO STOP THE CAR!! VERY SCARY! I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER AND I AM 59. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE OFFICER PUSHING THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE NOT ENGAGING! *TR

MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK EXHIBITS BRAKE FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY UPON FIRST START OF THE ENGINE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP WHILE I WAS APPLYING HEAVY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. AFTER A SERIES OF ACTUATIONS, THE BRAKES BEGIN TO WORK NORMALLY. TO DATE, THIS HAS NOT LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE AND AS A RESULT, HAVE INDICATED THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE FAILURE DOES NOT OCCUR EVERYDAY, SO IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE. DURING THE FIRST VISIT, THEY INDICATED THEY FOUND A LEAKING HOSE THAT WAS THE CAUSE, BUT THEN THE ISSUE RETURNED. AT MY REQUEST, THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID, BUT THIS ISSUE RETURNED ONCE AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU USA WHO ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON I-65 THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN, THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHTS BEGAN BLINKING. AND AS WE PULLED INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKES HAVING SEIZED. THE CAR WAS STARTED AGAIN BUT COULD NOT MOVE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHT KEPT BLINKING. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE BRAKES UNLOCKED AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE TOWED TO THE SUBARU DEALER IN NASHVILLE. THE SERVICE DEPT. TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. WHILE THE TEST SHOWED THAT A "BRAKING EVENT" HAD OCCURRED, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A CURRENT PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN DROVE THE CAR 50 MILES WITH A MONITOR, BUT EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. WE DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE SINCE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETECTED, AND BOUGHT A NEW OUTBACK TO DRIVE HOME. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IF OUR CAR HAD STOPPED IN A MIDDLE OR LEFT LANE OF THE EXPRESSWAY, WITH LARGE TRUCK TRAFFIC GOING 70 MPH., A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THAT WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION DRIVE BELT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

I PURCHASED A SUBARU OUTBACK (2011). SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER OF "SOFT BRAKES." THE CAR DOES NOT STOP IN A TIMELY, OR EFFECTIVE MANNER. I HAVE TO OVERCOMPENSATE FOR ROUTINE STOPPING DISTANCES; AND, YOU CANNOT PANIC STOP. THERE IS AT LEAST 2 INCHES OF PLAY IN THE BRAKE; IT FAILS TO STOP ADEQUATELY IN A SAFE MANNER; AND THE BRAKES ARE SIMPLY UNRESPONSIVE IN AN EMERGENCY STOP. *TR

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS STARTED SHORTLY AFTER HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE CAME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PEDAL ARRANGEMENT. HE STATED HE REALIZED HE WAS CROSSING HIS RIGHT LEG OVER HIS LEFT LEG TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE POWER ASSIST AMPLIFIED THE APPLIED FORCE VERY WELL, BUT AT TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED TO GET TOO CLOSE TO THE FLOOR BOARD. HE FOUND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HIGH WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND SANK TO A LOWER LEVEL WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE LEVEL COULD GET CLOSE TO THE OPERATING PLANE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ON ONE OCCASION, HE FLIPPED OFF THE COVER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS BRAKING ON A BARE STEEL PLATE. HE DISCOVERED HE WAS USING MORE NATURAL ERGONOMIC MOTION AND GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE EDGES OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ABOUT THREE INCHES. THE WIDTH OF THE SOL OF HIS SIZE 12 SHOE WAS ABOUT 4 1/2 INCHES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS AN ENGINEERING DESIGN PROBLEM THAT INVOLVED THE VACUUM BRAKING SYSTEM, THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE DESIGN AND ERGONOMIC.

AS BRAKES WERE STEPPED ON CAR WAS SLOW TO RESPOND TO BRAKING PRESSURE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL BUT FINALLY CAME TO A STOP BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ON SUBSEQUENTLY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL I HAD BRAKE RESPONSE, BUT IF I KEPT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. THIS IS UNUSUAL AS UP UNTIL THIS INCIDENT THERE WAS A VERY SOLID BRAKE FEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD STOP AND HOLD ABOUT HALFWAY TO THE FLOOR. ALSO OF NOTE AND REPORTED IS THAT AT 1500 MILE THIS CAR HAD STEERING VIBRATION AND STEERING CONTROL ISSUES, WHICH WERE FINALLY ADDRESSED AT 11,500 MILES. *TR

I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY (RELATIVELY LEVEL) AND PARKED MY CAR. AS I EXITED THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THAT MY CAR WAS ROLLING FORWARD (I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AND ATTEMPTED TO SET THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE BY PUSHING REPEATEDLY ON THE BUTTON TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT SET AND MY CAR GAINED SPEED AND CONTINUED DOWNHILL INTO THE WOODS BEHIND MY HOME. I AM NOT SURE IF I WAS DRAGGED OR PARTIALLY IN THE CAR, BUT WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT HIT A FENCE, A TREE AND EVENTUALLY COME TO A STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN MY GARAGE ONCE AND AT A GAS STATION, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY HITTING THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON. I DO NOT KNOW IF I AM NOT SETTING THE BRAKE BEFORE EXITING OR AM NOT DEPRESSING IT FULLY BEFORE EXITING OR WHY IT DID NOT STOP WHEN I HIT IT REPEATEDLY. I TYPICALLY SET THE CAR IN GEAR, BUT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT DO THIS ON THESE OCCASIONS. *TR

ALOT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL LOW BRAKE TOOK ALOT OF DISTANCE TO SLOW DOWN WASN'T ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AT 35 MPH HIT OTHER CAR. HAD CAR LOOK AT MANY TIMES STILL THOMAS SUBARU DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR FROM DAY ONE I TOLD THEM MY BRAKES WEREN'T RIGHT IT TAKES ALOT OF DISTANCE ( PEDAL ) WHICH INCREASE AMOUNT OF TIME NEEDED TO SLOW AND STOP THE CAR.. I FEEL THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER IS NOT WORKING RIGHT STILL THOMAS SUBARU WILL NOT FIX THE CAR UNTIL AN RECALL. I ALSO THINK RECALL NO. 11V562000 WHICH IS ONLY FOR 2012 CARS MIGHT ALSO NEEDS ADDED FOR 2011 CARS. I NOW HAVE 31,000 AND STILL HAVE BAD BRAKES. I NEED HELP SUBARU WILL NOT HELP. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AT A VERY LOW SPEED IN A PARKING SPACE. WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD ABOUT 20 FEET, PUSHING DOWN A METAL FENCE BEFORE STOPPING. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V562000( SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: PEDALS AND LINKAGES). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 6,815. UPDATED 02/28/12 *BF UPDATED 05/03/12

I HAVE TOLD THE SUBARU DEALER(S) THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT SAYS "OFF" UNLESS THE PASSENGER WEIGHS OVER 150 LBS OR SO. THE DEALER(S) DENY KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, IT IS ON A SUBARU BLOG AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO TELL ME IF THE AIRBAG IS WORKING OR NOT. MY BRAKE PEDAL MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE SUBARU DEALER TOLD ME HE KNEW THIS HAPPENED TO ALL OF THE 2010 MODELS BUT DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS HAPPENING TO THE 2011 MODELS AND HE SAID THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO ABOUT IT UNTIL SUBARU COMES OUT WITH A RECALL. SO FAR I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM SUBARU, IT'S BEEN 5 MONTHS. *KB

I TURNED RIGHT INTO A DRIVEWAY WITH A STEEP UPWARD INCLINE AND HAD TO STOP MY CAR BRIEFLY TO SPEAK TO A PERSON HELPING WITH PARKING FOR AN EVENT. MY CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, SO I ENGAGED THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE TO HOLD THE CAR SO I COULD GET MOVING AGAIN WITHOUT ROLLING BACKWARDS. HOWEVER, THE PARKING BRAKE ON MY CAR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AS SOON AS THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED (OR EVEN, ACTUALLY, TOUCHED AT ALL). BECAUSE OF THE VERY STEEP INCLINE, BY THE TIME I HAD ENOUGH REVS TO ENGAGE THE CLUTCH, MY CAR HAD ROLLED BACK INTO THE STREET BEHIND ME. FORTUNATELY NO VEHICLE WAS PASSING AT THE TIME, THOUGH A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE NEEDS TO BE MANUALLY DISENGAGED IF THE DRIVER SEATBELT IS UNFASTENED, PRESUMABLY AS A REMINDER TO FASTEN THE SEATBELT. IN THE FUTURE IN A SIMILAR DRIVING SITUATION I WOULD BE TEMPTED TO UNFASTEN MY SEATBELT BEFORE ATTEMPTING THE STEEP HILL START, WHICH WOULD BE THE LESS DANGEROUS OF TWO DANGEROUS OPTIONS. I EMAILED SUBARU TO POINT OUT THE PROBLEM AND ASK WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO MODIFY THESE VEHICLES SUCH THAT THE PARKING BRAKE IS ALWAYS CONTROLLABLE BY THE DRIVER. MY CONCERN WAS DISMISSED, SEEMINGLY WITHOUT MUCH CONSIDERATION. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE STEEP HILLS ARE THE NORM, AND HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ON MY NEW CAR PRESENTS A SERIOUS HAZARD. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. *TR