While backing up (car in reverse) at about 5 MPH, acceleration occurred making the car go backwards very fast. Pressing the brake pad to the ground had no affect. The car, reversing out of control, side-swiped another vehicle and a piece of equipment. Car finally backed up into a huge forklift which went through the rear window and stopped the car. Luckily no one was hurt but the subaru forester was totaled.
2011 Subaru Forester brakes complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 20 of 20, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My car was stopped at a red light behind at least 2 other cars at around 4:45 p.m. On 9-8-14. My engine suddenly started racing and pulling my car toward the car sitting in front of mine. I already had my foot on the brake because I was stopped. I pressed even harder on the brake as the car took off out of my control. The brakes stopped working and my car crashed into the rear of the vehicle in front of mine.
I called boardman subaru regarding recall issued on brake line and spoke to their service dept. Manager. He said they are not recalling subaru's because of the brake line issue that this is just the national safety and they aren't doing anything to correct the problem at this date!!!he told me my car was safe. I am very concerned.
Every time I get my oil changed the dealer informs me I am down a quart of oil which they say is normal. I have owned 20 cars and this has never happened before and I think I am getting the run-around. Can you help?
Brake switch went bad. No tail lights, brake lights, or 4 ways. During a 300 mile trip, part of which was in the dark. Was stopped by state police and towed to dealership (toyota of scranton) where I purchased the car.
Anti-lock brakes have malfunctioned for me numerous times and I will now only drive my subaru (despite all wheel drive, which works well) when road conditions are good. Accident occurred when driving mid-day on plowed but snowy road; downhill; I was not turning, but wanted to go more slowly and tapped brakes. Anti lock brakes kicked in and car began to skid; skidded off road and into a mailbox; needed to be towed out. After being pulled out, and continuing down hill, at 10 MPH, car began to skid again. Friend following me said it appeared front brakes were working and back brakes were not. Had two mechanics look at the brakes (one I trust and the dealer) and both told me they are fine. Dealer said the computer record didn't record a problem but I think software that manages the ABS is malfunctioning. I looked online and saw numerous blog discussions about disconnecting ABS on subarus in winter so I think others must be having similar problems. This is very dangerous - fortunately, I was not going very fast and there were no other cars/pedestrians so no one was hurt. I have driven a subaru for 13 years in all kinds of conditions so I don't think it is me not being able to handle ABS. Abs problem occurs in conditions when I think awd is helpful but I need to slow down -- have no problem with awd when I am going uphill or not braking.
My husband purchased a new subaru forester in may of 2011 for me with an extended warranty for 7 years. It was a big investment for us and I had hoped to drive my new subaru forester 2011 for several years down the road. Shortly after purchasing it, I noticed the brakes to be defective and would not stop the vehicle in a timely fashion or quickly enough. I told my husband all the time, who also happens to drive my car, also complained about its brakes. I had my vehicle regularly serviced as per the companies warranty requirements and at only authorized subaru service & dealership centers. I recently told the service dept at my 30,000 mile servicing about the brakes issues I had again, to their attention but they said that- 'that was the way the forester's brakes were and that I had to push the pedal hard to the floor(pump the brakes) to stop it quickly enough" and my brakes were fine according 30,000 mile servicing, and I was disappointed with their response I was driving on a local road 25 MPH when another vehicle suddenly appeared in front of me to stop to make a left turn. I pushed the brakes but my vehicle just would not stop quickly enough. I was involved in a accident hitting the car in front of me. To discover that my front bumper now had a huge crack in it. I do not feel safe driving a vehicle whose brakes are so bad that it will not stop the vehicle quickly enough and needs to be pumped to stop it sooner(which may not be possible in many circumstances such as the one above) , .after the car came out from the body shop I had a recent occurence but this time it was a rainy day I started to slow down pressing the brake to turn to my road which I had the same issue, instead of stopping or slowing down the brakes are accelerating. Please investigate the brakes at the very least to prevent future accidents. I am determined to trade in my vehicle for safe car.
Took vehicle in for 30k maintenance. When I picked it up dealer had changed brake fluid (brakes had been functioning perfectly prior). When leaving dealer lot brake pedal went to floor and I went into oncoming traffic. Luckily oncoming vehicle dodged me. I pumped pedal and got brakes and went back into dealership. They bled brakes and said it was ready. When backing out of space brake pedal again went to floor but vehicle stopped. I called a service writer over and showed him pedal on floor. I left car and new master cylinder was ordered and installed next day. I went to pick up vehicle and again pedal went to floor and I had another service writer witness it. Took pic with cell phone. Service manager told me that it was normal for brake pedal to go to floor if engine was not running and was safe to drive. I told him engine was running and brake pedal should never go to floor if engine running or not. If booster bleeds down pedal may go somewhat lower than normal. Pedal had never went anywhere near floor before. I refused to drive car as I deemed it dangerous. If pedal was pumped it would come to normal position. He finally agreed to contact subaru representative to look at it next week. If I had not had mechanical background and had listened to him and drove a car where the brake pedal would intermittently go to floor what could have been the results? At no time even after I mentioned it was the ABS system checked for air to my knowledge. Normal bleeding at wheels will not remove air from master cylinder or ABS system. Note: by "pedal going to floor" the pedal arm hits floor/carpet and pedal can go no lower. I am waiting for the subaru representative to inspect car at this point. I emailed subaru, but they did not seemed too concerned.
I had purchased a new subaru forester in august of 2011 with an extended warranty for 7 years. It was a big investment for me and I had hoped to drive my new subaru forester 2011 for several years down the road. Shortly after purchasing it, I noticed the brakes to be defective and would not stop the vehicle in a timely fashion or quickly enough. My wife, who also happens to drive my car, also complained about its brakes. I had my vehicle regularly serviced as per the companies warranty requirements and at only authorized subaru service & dealership centers. I brought the defective brakes to their attention but they said that- 'that was the way the forester's brakes were and that I had to push the pedal hard to the floor(pump the brakes) to stop it quickly enough.' I was greatly disappointed with their response to my concerns and as a precaution I began to keep an even greater distance from all of the cars in front of me. Recently, I was entering a parking lot at about 10-15mph when another vehicle suddenly appeared in front of me. I pushed the brakes but my vehicle just would not stop quickly enough. If I would let go of the brake and then push it again harder and faster to the floor( pump the brake) as the service centre had previously advised me then I would have hit the car in front of me. So I swayed my cars steering wheel and avoided meeting with an accident but my vehicle only stopped when it touched the railing at about 5mph only to discover that my front bumper now had a huge crack in it. I do not feel safe driving a vehicle whose brakes are so bad that it will not stop the vehicle quickly enough and needs to be pumped to stop it sooner(which may not be possible in many circumstances such as the one above) , has defective bumpers and also has a rear center child safety seat seatbelt with a recall on it .please investigate the brakes at the very least.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 subaru forester. The contact stated that she applied the brakes at 20 MPH and the vehicle experienced an increased stopping distance. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped approximately five feet beyond where she intended to stop. The failure recurred approximately two months later while driving at a low speed. During the second failure, there was an increase in the engine rpms. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 300 and the current mileage was 2,500. The consumer stated the VIN we have is incorrect. However, she supplied the correct VIN twice, but in once case, there are too many numbers and the second case, there are not enough numbers. Updated 02/06/12
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