The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The contact downshifted to slow down, and the vehicle came to a stop. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that at the rear of the vehicle there was brake fluid leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V311000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); in 2014. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
Subaru Legacy abs comes on
46 of the 3,183 owner complaints about the Subaru Legacy describe aBS light or ABS activating, most of them for the 1995 model year.
- owner complaints
- 46
- worst model year
- 1995
- typical mileage
- 47,600
By model year
Often reported together
Brake failure 8Adaptive cruise 4No deployment 3Won't shift 2Premature wear 2Power steering loss 2Headlights 2Harsh shifting 2
What owners say
I own a 2025 Subaru Legacy. On at least two occasions during rainy weather, while driving at low speeds (20-30 mph), the brake pedal suddenly became soft and sank to the floor with little braking response. I had to mash the pedal to stop the car to stop the car and there was a "grinding" sensation, possibly from ABS activation. On July 26, I was trying to stop at a stop sign. Fortunately, there was no car in front of me, otherwise I could have rear-ended them. This created a dangerous situation where I wasn't able to stop the vehicle properly.
After shifting my car into reverse, I slowly started removing my foot from the brake pedal. At this time, the car started rapidly accelerating backwards so I put pressure back on the brake pedal to stop the car. When doing so, the ABS light came on my dashboard, I heard a griding sound like the car was still trying to accelerate, and there was a loud constant beep. I was able to shift the car into neutral and then into park to stop the car and then turned the car off. I contacted the dealership about the issue, but have not yet been able to further investigate or bring it into the dealership.
I had run into a few small problems this winter, like my steering wheel not turning when the car was cold, but I experienced my first major problem while my vehicle was stationary, but had been running. I was going through a drive through, had to put my car in park, then when I went to shift it back into drive, nothing would happen. It was stuck in park. I don't think the problem was temp. Related, it was about 40 degrees outside. After turning the car on/off four or five times I was able to get it going, but my headlights went out, which I thought was strange. While driving home I noticed that the "brake" light was illuminated. The next day, I started my car before work to defrost my windows. The car started just fine (all the electrics worked and the engine was on and running), and I went inside. About 15 minutes later I came back to my car, and the engine had turned off. At first the electrical components worked. My friend came and tested the voltage anyway, because a dead battery is common when it gets cold, and the battery was fine. The warning lights that I noticed were on were the "brake" light, as well as the "ABS" light. After trying to turn it on a couple times, all the electrical components stopped working as well. It will start if I leave it for a few hours, but I am terrified to drive it anywhere to figure out what is going on.
About 2 months ago I was braking for a stop light. While I was braking (from about 35mph) I ran over some bumps in the road, at that time the pedal suddenly went to the floor. Luckily there was no one in font of me. I drove to a parking lot to park the car. The brake pedal had little resistance going to the floor as I pumped on the pedal. I had the car towed to the dealer to be serviced. The tow truck driver also mentioned the brakes are non existent at that time. The dealer could not find anything wrong with the brake system. However today (18nov2015) the car experienced the same issue. The conditions was wet. As I braked to a stoplight, I hit a bump and the pedal went to the floor. I felt the ABS kick in for a split second. The car will be going back to the dealer for another inspection. I would suspect they wont find anything wrong.
I think there is a potential recall problem with eyesight-equipped 2015 legacy models. I took my car in several weeks ago because one day all of the hazard lights came on, including the ABS light and the brake light (flashing red) on the speedometer gauge, the eyesight and the anti-skid light on the center console, and the check engine light, the adaptive cruise control light, and the lane departure light on the tachometer. I stopped driving it for two days while I waited for my service appointment day to arrive. The lights did not come back on when I drove it to the dealer. The service department kept my car for a day and said that the lights must have come on as an "attention getting device" to alert me that the car was about a quart low on oil (even though it was not quite yet time for my 6 month/6,000 mile oil change). After getting the recommended oil change, I drove the car without any problems for several weeks. This past weekend, the problem occurred again. All of the lights mentioned above came on and stayed on when I started it and pulled out of my garage. Based on my last experience, I drove the car anyway. Later in the day, when I turned the car on again, all of the lights once again came on and stayed on, except that this time the brake and the ABS lights were not illuminated. The car can be driven, but cruise control and associated features (lane departure, etc.) do not work when these lights are on. After driving the car with these lights on all day saturday (including several complete shutdowns followed by restarts an hour or two later), the problem disappeared the next day, just as it did last month. I took pictures of my dash both times when the lights came on this past weekend. I can supply them on request. It has only been a few weeks and 1000 miles or so since my last oil change, so I think we can rule out that explanation.
Tl*the contact owns a 2011 subaru legacy. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH in snowy conditions, she noticed the check engine and ABS lights illuminated on the instrumental panel. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that she needed to replace battery, the starter, the cable and the ECM. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100. The VIN was unavailable.
While driving at a rate of speed between 15-35 MPH and down-shifting the car shuts off! I lose power-steering and my ABS brakes. It has happened while pulling into parking lots and also while going around corners. It seems to occur when the AC is on however I have been told by the dealer (who worked with subaru of america tech line) that it is not an AC problem. My car has been at the dealership for a week and a half. A "reflash" has been sent to the dealers to supposedly correct the problem. Soa states my car is now fixed however they refuse to guarantee me 100% that the problem has been corrected but they insist that it is safe to drive. This is a major safety issue and I am concerned for my life and/or the life of another. No accident to date.
Traveling west on i90 near mentor ohio I attempted to stop my 2003 subaru legacy wagon on a snow covered portion of the road. My speed was about 45 MPH. Traffic stopped suddenly, and when I applied the brakes, the car would not stop. Also, the ABS brake system did not activate. Further, upon impact with the truck in front of me, the airbags did not deploy.
Car shakes and steering wheel vibrates when applying brakes. Gives sensation of inability to brake. Feeling of insecurity. Have taken to dealer on several occasions and the following have been done: resurfaced front and back rotors at 17,002 miles. Replaced front and rear pads and front rotors and resurfaced rear rotors at 29,154 replaced rear rotors and resurfaced front rotors at 42,325. Now at about 53,000, front rotors need replacing again! A quick internet search found one reported failure of ABS in 2005 legacy that potentially could have caused an accident. I am concerned and worried that this car could prove unsafe for my family if our brakes fail.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Outback and Legacy vehicles. The brake pedal mounting bracket may have a missing or insufficiently tightened bolt.
- Risk
- A missing or loose bolt may cause the brake pedal mounting area to deform over time, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal mounting bracket hardware and replace the hardware or brake pedal assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUL-97.
Recall number 19V664000 · Recall details
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.
- Risk
- A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPB actuator assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTV-81.
Recall number 18V626000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 14V311000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 13V110000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
- What is wrong
- Subaru is recalling certain model year 2012 impreza sedans and wagons (except wrx/sti models), manufactured from april 21, 2011, through november 15, 2011, and legacy and outback vehicles manufactured from october 17, 2011, through november 23, 2011. These vehicles may be equipped with a brake master cylinder that could malfunction and cause an increase in the amount of brake pedal travel distance required to slow or stop the vehicle.
- Risk
- The driver might misjudge the amount of brake pedal travel required to achieve the desired stopping distance. This could occur unexpectedly and without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder and if necessary, replace it, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during december 2011. Owners may contact subaru at 1‑800‑782‑2783.
Recall number 11V562000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, the brake master cylinders may not function properly in ambient temperatures below freezing 32 degrees fahrenheit and lower).
- Risk
- At these temperatures, the brakes may not release after being applied, even when the driver's foot is no longer on the brake pedal. This can occur withour prior warning, possibly resulting in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the master cylinders. Owner notification began march 21, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact subaru at 1‑800‑782‑2783.
Recall number 02V079000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles equipped with anti-lock braking system (ABS). (the 1999 2.2 liter legacy vehicles are excluded). In extremely cold weather, the brake pedal goes to the floor and the vehicle stopping distance is increased.
- Risk
- This condition causes the vehicle stopping distance to be increased, possibly resulting in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder.
Recall number 99V040000 · Recall details
Questions about the Subaru Legacy abs
Why does the abs come on in the Subaru Legacy?
Owners who report it most often also describe brake failure, adaptive cruise control problems and airbags did not deploy in a crash.
Which Subaru Legacy years have aBS light or ABS activating problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1995 (9 complaints), 1996 (8 complaints) and 1997 (6 complaints).
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