2012 Subaru Outback: brake failure

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Brakes · IN

The brake line junction box rusted through. This is a known issue with Subarus of this general era but the 2012 Outback is not on the recall list. Owner noticed brake fluid was getting low, after recently refilling the reservoir. Took the car to a shop and the brake light came on day of. The shop confirmed the brake line junction box was rusted through and leaking. Owner was advised that they were days away from a complete brake failure from a larger leak developing and brake pressure dropping catastrophically. As stated before this is a known issue Subaru recall campaign WQK-47. Looking online has revealed numerous Subaru owners experiencing the same problem.

Filed Aug 17, 2026 · Brakes · VA

Brakes failed completely due to excessive rust / corrosion on brake line junction area. Brake pedal suddenly went to floor and fluid leaked out near right rear quarter of vehicle in-front of right rear tire.

Filed Aug 26, 2025 · Brakes · NJ

I took my Outback to my local highly respectable mechanic on August 20, 2025 as I needed the oil changed and the concern I had about having to add brake fluid twice in the past 4 months. He inspected my car immediately and he refused to let me drive it out of his shop as there is a dangerous brake line leaking issue that could result in brake failure. He told me that my Outback is not the first that he had to repair this “Subaru manufacturing defect”. I had to get it repaired. I checked to see if there was a the federal safety agency recall on my Outback year and there was none, only prior years. Yet when I went online searching more, I found an article that stated that Subaru was going to recall the 2012 Subaru as well? The repair shop owner said to us that my wife is a "gentle driver" and that was good, because, if she had to apply the brakes very hard to avoid a collision, they probably would have failed. Please understand that I read the recall for previous years of Outbacks and other Subaru models, and my Subaru Outback had the exact same defect. I did contact Subaru of America and they responded that my Outback does not have a recall, only prior years. Unbelievable!!! The exact same make and model with the exact same defect and they just blow me off! I was lucky that we did not reach the point of a serious accident. I hope that the federal safety agency will evaluate my, and I am sure other safety issues with Subaru brakes, and take some action to give other owners the opportunity to make this very serious safety matter right, and avoid an accident. In a related question, can the federal safety agency somehow require auto manufacturers to inspect their vehicles that are still on the road after say 12 years to helpfully provide some safety assurance to the drivers of their vehicles?

Filed May 19, 2024 · Brakes · OH

Rear four way brake junction is completely corroded and leaking fluid causing a complete loss of braking. This appears to be the exact same issue as referenced in this recall [XXX] ) that affects previous model years. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 17, 2023 · Brakes · OH

The rear brake lines sprung a leak in a well-known trouble spot with Subarus. The junction area underneath the passengers rear seat is where brake fluid is leaking from. I was driving under normal conditions, went and depressed the break and the pedal went to the floor. The cars brakes were not performing and upon inspection I found the leak. I researched this issue and found that Subaru did acknowledge this issue and other outback model years through recall and technical service bulletins. This is a significant safety issue and should be upgraded to a recall.

Filed Feb 8, 2022 · Brakes · NY

Our low mileage car which we bought new and is under 10 years old experienced a complete brake failure in our driveway. The brake warning light did then come on. The brake pedal went to the floor when pressed. This event immediately followed a trip with a considerable passenger and luggage load on steep hills where complete brake loss would have been catastrophic and endangered us and the public. The dealer is familiar with the problem (rust-through of brake lines in a specific, well-known location). I am astonished to now learn that earlier years of Outback and other models are the subject of NHSTA 14V‑311 and a Subaru product safety campaign WQK-47R to inspect and replace or protect the brake lines that just failed in our car, specifically in the vicinity of the 2-2way connector, however our car is not covered by this campaign. I've attached a picture of the corroded lines on our car which is essentially identical to the picture of the 2-2way connector on . This failure is compounded by the lack of a conventional emergency/parking brake, as the steps to engage the vehicle's electronic parking brake while the vehicle is in motion and picking up speed are not obvious.

Filed Aug 30, 2021 · Brakes · MA

Brakes failed on the highway and it appears to be the brake lines as outlined in a Subaru Brake Line Recall. Of course I own a 2012 Outback which was not covered and now have a very expensive repair bill. Subaru and the federal safety agency annouced that the recalled models include the model year 2008 to 2011 Impreza, 2008 to 2014 WRX and STI and 2009 to 2013 Forester crossover SUV. All affected cars are currently or were formerly registered in the snowy states, where salt is applied to the roads. It was duly noted that these vehicles were previously subjected to another safety campaign, which was given the 14V‑311 recall number.

Filed Apr 12, 2021 · Brakes · 112,000 miles · VT · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 subaru outback. The contact stated that while their son was driving approximately 10 MPH, when the driver attempted to apply the brake pedal however the brakes failed. The driver had to drop the vehicle into first gear then crashed into the curb where it came to a stop. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the driver received a chest injury however there was no medical attention needed. The rear passengers all of which were children were not injured but all car seats needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (walker motors inc 265 river st, montpelier, vt 05602; (802) 229-0391) who diagnosed the brake line had corroded. The vehicle's brake line was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that their VIN was not included in any recall. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

Filed Aug 31, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 111,000 miles · FL · crash

Vehicle rear ended vehicle in front because of brake failure/potential acceleration at approximately 35mph. This happened in rainy conditions, which my wife had noticed many weeks before. Subsequently, we found these recalls: and lawsuit https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/subaru/outback/2012/reliability https://www.classaction.org/news/class-action-claims-subaru-concealed-sudden-acceleration-defect-in-forester-legacy-outback-models#:~:text=new%20jersey-,subaru%20of%20america%2c%20inc.,from%20a%20sudden%20acceleration%20defect.