2014 Subaru Outback: brake failure

Filed Jan 13, 2025 · Engine, Steering · 201,206 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH or above, the front end and the steering wheel were shaking abnormally. While driving at various speeds, there was a metallic grinding sound coming from the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floorboard and the braking distance became extended. The contact stated that the brakes were squeaking while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the brakes, check engine, power steering, and engine overheating warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer seven times; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failures. The contact stated that the dealer replaced the passenger’s side rear wheel bearing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 201,206.

Filed Oct 30, 2023 · Brakes · AZ

My 2014 Subaru Outback, with only 42,000 miles on it, is unfortunately among the 3% (per Consumer Reports) with undiagnosable, therefore, unrepairable, brake failure issues. The brake failures began in April 2023 as I pulled out of my driveway in the Tucson Mountains, headed into town. On the downhill, I pressed my brakes to slow down. My foot went to the floor - no brakes. Terror! I pumped the brakes and gradually they came back. Luckily, no one was ahead of me. The brake fluid was down a very slight bit, so I brought it back up. No problem for two weeks, until the exact same thing happened again. Tucson Subaru has an excellent Service Center. I've kept the service on my Subaru up, so I booked in for a regular tuneup, plus advised them of the brake issue. The shop mechanic flushed the brake cylinder along with the usual tuneup: brake pads, etc. There was no problem for about two more weeks when brakes failed again. Took back to Subaru on a Friday. They kept over the weekend, but by Monday afternoon, brakes were still working "fine". They Ubered me to test, but I didn't need to even pull out of parking lot, everything seemed okay. Took my Outback home and all okay until brakes failed again. Took on AAA's and my friends' recommendations to Tucson's Primarily Japanese auto shop. The brakes failed once more in the interim, but worked fine at the shop. The owner thought possible a failing ABS unit. However, both Tucson Subaru/Primarily Japanese were reluctant to try replacing either the brake cylinder or the ABS unit as both are expensive fixes and they were unable to duplicate the failure. In the meantime, I went online and found that other owners of Outbacks across a range of years/mileage had the same problem - and the same results, none of fixes reliably worked. That included flushing/replacing the brake cylinder, the ABS unit, cleaning/replacing brake pads, etcs. Some owners were not as "lucky" as I was. The car is parked.

Filed Aug 27, 2022 · Acceleration, Brakes · NY · crash

I was driving home on a road I drive on regularly at 40 mph. The car unexpectedly accelerated to a high rate of speed causing me to go off the road. I was unable to stop. The brake pedal went to the floor. The car went airborne, just missing a huge tree. It slammed into the ground & continued on to crash into 3 cars & someone’s garage! The car continued to rev & was bouncing back & forth between the 2 vehicles in the garage. The engine continued to rev after I got out. The homeowner shut it off. He said my brake lights were flashing on and off on the dash. The air bags never deployed. I have a witness. I wasn’t able to do anything!! I’ve since learned there’s a class action lawsuit against Subaru for this problem. Please do something about this. I could be dead, that homeowner that was in his garage could be dead right now. All I want is for people to be aware of this & for Subaru to get held accountable. It’s not right that they are aware of this and doing nothing about it!!

Filed May 16, 2017 · Brakes · 37,000 miles · MA

Brakes completely failed while driving on a city street, slowing to let a pedestrian cross in a crosswalk. The vehicle had a 100% brake failure. The brake pedal went to the floor. There seemed to be a malfunction in the dual braking system. Front brakes and rear brakes were serviced at a subaru dealership at different times. The bolts holding the passenger side rear caliper separated from the car. The bolts had backed out. The lower one was missing. The other caliper bolt had backed out of the threads but was loosely held in place by the brake hose. The driver side rear caliper did not appear to be leaking.

Filed Sep 30, 2015 · Acceleration · 6,700 miles · WA

Three times engine has failed to respond to accelerator input. Duration, 3 to 15 seconds. Happens at low speed (<20mph) just after coasting for a few seconds and as engine is heating up. Last incident, 9/27/2015, backed out of parking space, then shifted into forward, did not use accelerator because cold engine speed was high enough to maintain 5mph through very congested parking lot. 20 seconds later attempted to accelerate to 35mph, engine speed never responded for the next 15 seconds, then engine started responding normally. No check engine light. These failures started 4 months ago, and happens when CVT transmission is in auto or manual mode. I checked internet and found several similar reports. Dealers and subaru corp., no help at all. In certain driving situations, loss of engine control could be just as dangerous as loss of brakes.