2020 Subaru Outback brakes problems

Filed Sep 11, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · MI

I was driving to a medical appointment in Ann Arbor Mi, and was in the area where [XXX] has a few big turns in the road .... like at ... [XXX] .All of he sudden the car started to accelerate a little on the turn so I attempted to brake the vehicle and I could not feel the brake pedal. I slowly moved into the right lane and frantically trying to slow the car down. I still could not feel the brake pedal and I believe when I hit the speed control off is when it slowed down and I was able to finally brake the car. It all happened in a matter of 10-20 seconds I would guess and it was absolutely terrifying. I have on occasion used the speed control to slow down the vehicle and wonder if that might have some connection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 11, 2025 · Brakes · MI · crash

While in a Dairy Queen drive-up lane, I stepped on the brake pedal and it went right to the floor. The car did not stop, causing me to hit the car in front of me. When backing away from the car in front, the brakes again failed and I hit the car in back. I moved forward again , swiping the car in front again. The cars were merely feet apart and my car was thankfully moving very slowly. Had I been traveling at a higher rate of speed there could have been serious injuries. Car was taken to an Auto repair shop where the mechanic experienced the same problem with the brake pedal. He says the pedal went to the floor and the car wouldn’t stop. Car is currently at a collision shop where they report that inspection of the brakes is normal. They also report that the brakes worked when they pulled the car into the shop. The car has not yet been moved to the Subaru dealer service department for inspection of the brake pedal. There were no symptoms, warning lights or messages before the incident and there were none found by the shop after. My car was built in the same time frame as those involved with Recall #19V664000 which involves the brake pedal mechanism although my VIN was not included. The car is available for inspection. I initially received a ticket but it was dismissed after the repair shop owner reported the same failure.

Filed Jul 5, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · NJ

Hi: When I was driving yesterday, the engine warning light and brake warning light both turned on. The car was like frozen on the road cannot be moved no matter how to press the gas pedal. The police helped to call tow and move my car out of the road. The tow driver left my car at a flat parking lot. On the lot, when I tried to restart my car, the car started to shake side to side and up and down. I can feel some part is dislocated and one piece of heavy thing was swaying in the car. The engine warning light was on for two times during the last two years. First time when I sent the car to the dealership, they performed the check and fixed it by free. The customer service person told me the problem is the sensor failing and the fixing was free. So, I guess it is the system defect and the manufacture already knew it. So the repairing was free. However, with one year, the situation happened again. The second time I sent the car for fixing, the service person told me it was the same problem of sensor failing but they charged me around two hundreds dollar for the second time fixing. Yesterday, the same situation happened again with the brake warning light on at the same time. It is almost another one year after the second time I sent car for repairing. My most concern is the car completely suddenly stopped during the driving. If I was on the highway, serious collision may happen and I am already passed away.

Filed Nov 22, 2023 · Brakes, Driver assistance · MN

On November 21th, 2023, we were driving on a 30 mph street at 8:00 pm with no traffic and our automatic emergency braking system deployed on our 2020 Outback, we jolted to a stop for no apparent reason. This could have been dangerous if a car was behind us. Just had our oil changed with free inspection at Miller Hill Subaru 1 week prior. First incident. Will have the dealership inspect ASAP. The "Auto Start /Stop No Activity Detected" indicator message light came on afterward.

Filed Jul 5, 2023 · Brakes · OH · fire

I had a fault/issue with the Electronic Parking Brake on my 2020 Subaru Outback that resulted in a vehicle fire. I had set the electronic parking brake, and received a warning light. I retracted the electronic parking brake and the warning light disappeared. I did this twice. The warning light stayed off. I drove the car and the passenger rear brakes caught on fire, damaging the brakes, the electronic parking brake motor, the brake caliper, the wheel bearing, the ABS sensor and all wiring to that wheel. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer had the vehicle for over 2 months. In that time, my insurance inspected the vehicle. The dealer inspected the vehicle. The dealer had a Subaru (Subaru of America) factory tech visit and inspect. Subaru factory sent out a second tech (from quality control) to inspect the vehicle. The dealer tech and both Subaru factory techs could not determine the root cause of the failure. Subaru replaced all components damaged in the fire (at my cost) and sent me on my way without a determination of what caused the issue. Issue was well documented here... https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/parking-brake-fault-caught-on-fire.551030/ I have attached a scan of the Subaru Dealer repair order.

Filed Dec 28, 2022 · Brakes, Electrical · FL

the car brake, with the foot on the gas all the lights came on and it stopped on the street (traffic being stuck) it's a car safety problem it can cause a serious accident if I end up on I-95, if something happens to me they will be responsible for it I have everything the records and photos of everything that happened to the car Check . what happens to that car with the same failures over and over again in 2 months 3 time on the dealer with the same problem I buy this car on October 2022 and over and over again the same problem

Filed May 20, 2022 · Brakes · WA

2020 subaru outback. Consumer writes in regards to unintended braking. The consumer purchased a 1up bike rack for the vehicle, but it interfered with the rear sonar sensors. The consumer requested that the vehicle manufacturer and bike rack manufacturer work together to determine a fix.

Filed May 1, 2022 · Acceleration, Brakes · TX · crash

On April 13th 2022, me and my wife were returning home. We were at a complete stop on a left only turn intersection red light (Spring-Cypress Rd & Telge Rd in Cypress, TX. Coordinates: 29.985660988461188, -95.65465736615674). There was a vehicle ahead of us and also behind us at the light. It was raining lightly and the roads were wet. When the light turned green we started slowly accelerating making our left turn and as we were doing so, the vehicle skid causing uncontrolled acceleration, non-responsive braking and non responsive steering. I tried my very best to save us from running over the curb into the ditch ahead and succeeded to do so resulting in the vehicle hitting the curb at probably 15-20 mph. The steering and brakes were non-responsive and it took a lot of effort on my part to save us from running over the curb into the ditch ahead. This accident resulted in the right front passenger wheel, suspension, axle etc. to break. No other vehicle was involved in the accident. No warning or safety lights were displayed to the best of my knowledge. The vehicle was disabled and could not run, it was blocking the intersection and traffic. I called the police who then arrived to redirect traffic and also help with the tow. Currently, my car is being repaired through my insurance. My vehicle was purchased in Jan 2020 and has approx. 9500 miles on it. The reason i brought a Subaru was because of its capability to handle most weather conditions and also its great safety ratings. This unfortunately wasn't the case for me and wife and we were left stranded in the road because of some safety feature/software/mechanical malfunction of the vehicle. I request the federal safety agency administration to look into this issue with Subaru and help me reach closure on the safety of this vehicle. Thank you.

Filed Feb 23, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · TX

The car randomly breaks when it’s in motion in reverse. This has happened multiple times.

Filed Feb 17, 2021 · Acceleration, Brakes · 1,000 miles · WA · crash

On tuesday 9 february, 2021 I was returning home from picking my two children up from school (age 4 and 6). As I approached the drive way the brakes functioned properly to allow me to turn into the driveway, but suddenly the brakes stopped functioning and the car accelerated driving straight through my closed garage door. I was able to control steering but regardless of my foot pressing firmly on the brake pedal, the car continued to accelerate. Thankfully, installed in the cement was a rogue r3 weight rack that was bolted into the cement at four locations. The car proceeded forward until colliding with the weight rack, a mere 3 feet from our HVAC system and the home structure. I immediately turned the vehicle off. If the weight rack did not stop the vehicle myself and my two children could have been significantly injured, not to mention, if my husband or two small children were in the garage at the time, this could have potentially resulted in death. My air bogs did not deploy, the auto collision safety mechanism failed. This is a very dangerous situation. We bought this vehicle with extended warranty in hopes to keep this as a family vehicle for many years to come, primary reason for purchase was safety. This vehicle is not safe and I am afraid to drive it. My vehicle was immediately towed to RPM performance in burlington washington for inspection. Later, brought to dwayne lanes subaru (purchase location) for inspection. Findings were that the vehicle operated as designed and driver is at fault. This vehicle is defective. Dangerously unsafe and this must be made highest priority to prevent future accidents and potential deaths.