1997 Subaru Legacy Brakes Problems

IN COLD WEATHER (ZERO OR BELOW), THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 1997 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN BECOMES HARD, AND WHEN I PUT IT ANY GEAR, FORWARD OR REVERSE, THE IDLE SPEED WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO MOVE AND THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP THE CAR-I HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. I HAVE LEARNED THAT PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE THE CAR IS AT IDLE IN N OR P WILL USUALLY HELP, AT -20 DEGREES, I HAVE TO LET THE CAR IDLE FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AND THEN TRY IT. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT THAT THERE IS NO EASY FIX FOR THIS. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY WINTER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2001. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226565

Incident

Jan 15, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS. THE BRAKES HAVE GOTTEN VERY HOT AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE OR CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. THE DUAL PISTON DESIGN RESULTS IN ONE PISTON DOING MOST OF THE WORK SO THE OTHER PISTON BECOMES STIFF AND DOES NOT RELEASE. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES GRAB AND BECOME EXTREMELY HOT TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE NOW ON OUR FOURTH SET OF CALIPERS WITH JUST OVER 36,000 MILES ON THE CAR. OUR MECHANIC ADVISES THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON ON SUBARU'S FOR AT LEAST THE 1996 THROUGH 1998 MODEL YEARS. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10133120

Incident

Aug 8, 2005

THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED TO GET COLD. THE BRAKES SEEM TO FREEZE UP. DEALER HAD TO BLEED THE LINES. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10109548

Incident

Dec 17, 2001

Mileage

80,000 mi

VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD A FEW FEET BEFORE STOPPING COMPLETELY. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. LAST INCIDENT RESULTED TO IMPACT WITH ANOTHER CAR IN PARKING LOT. DEALER COULD NOT FIND FAULT ON TWO OCCASIONS. SAYS IT MAY BE DUE TO AIR CONDITIONER COMING ON.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105986

Incident

Dec 18, 2004

Mileage

44,000 mi

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN SNOW ONLY RIGHT FRONT BRAKE GRABS, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, AS WELL. BRAKES WORK FINE IN DRY ROAD CONDITIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007307

Incident

Mar 23, 2002

1) ALL 4 RIMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COLLECT ROAD SILT AND WATER INSIDE. THIS IMBALANCES THE CAR AND MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PERHAPS AIRFLOW UNDER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STUDIED. 2) PADS AND SPRINGS LOCATED ON FRAME WHERE THE REAR GATE CLOSES AGAINST THE BODY ARE RUSTED TIGHT. 3) DASH LIGHTS FOR HVAC HAVE FAILED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. 4) GAS GAUGE DOES NOT DESCEND ACCURATLY.

NHTSA ID

754517

Incident

Nov 15, 2000

7) ALL 4 RIMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COLLECT ROAD SILT AND WATER INSIDE. THIS IMBALANCES THE CAR AND MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PERHAPS AIRFLOW UNDER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STUDIED. 8) LEFT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT GO UP ALL THE WAY ANY LONGER. 84,000 MILES. 9) PADS AND SPRINGS LOCATED ON FRAME WHERE THE REAR GATE CLOSES AGAINST THE BODY ARE RUSTED TIGHT. 10) DASH LIGHTS FOR HVAC HAVE FAILED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. 11) GAS GAUGE DOES NOT DESCEND ACCURATLY.

NHTSA ID

754516

Incident

Nov 15, 2000

ENGINE WAS KNOCKING AND MAKING A TICKING NOISE, BRAKES WERE MAKING A SQUEAK/ LOUD NOISE, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES, ALSO RIM WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING BENT. *YD

NHTSA ID

899069

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

BRAKES DID NOT WORK WHEN DRIVER BRAKED TO AVOID ACCIDENT ON ROAD AHEAD. DRIVER HAD TO SWERVE OFF ROAD INTO DITCH, SLIDING DOWN SLOPE AND IMPACTING CULVERT AND CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CAR. CAR TOWED AWAY. CAR REPAIRED AT SPRINGFIELD VA SUBARU DEALER, AND COMPLETELY CHECKED OUT. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, CAR BROUGHT IN TO DEALER TO ADDRESS BRAKE CONCERNS (SHUDDERING, NOISE), DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE OK. CAR BROUGHT IN AGAIN FOR CONTINUING BRAKE CONCERNS, DEALER THEN SAID ALL 4 BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT COST OF ABOUT $800. WE CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE REGARDING THIS, THEY REFUSED TO COMMUNICATE A REPLY TO US UNTIL ONLY AFTER REPEATED CALLING. THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD REFUSE TO PROVIDE ANY REFUND ON THE BRAKE WORK (WE THOUGHT THE REPAIR EXCESSIVE IN COST). MY CONCERN IS THERE IS A BRAKE FLAW WITH THE SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK THAT IS NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BY SUBARU. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHEN STOPPED AT IDLE AT STOPLIGHT, REQUIRING STRONG BRAKE FORCE TO RESTRAIN THE CAR FROM MOVING.*AK

NHTSA ID

743563

Incident

Oct 18, 2000

SECOND MASTER CYLINDER WAS PURCHASED FROM SUBARU SERVICE CENTER, BUT FAILED IN LESS THAN A YEAR AND APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

743425

Incident

Mar 15, 2000

BRAKE ROTORS WOULD BE PULSATING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHCLE WOULD START TO SHAKE. BRAKES WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP LIKE IT SHOULD WHEN BRAKES WERE IN USE. WOULD NEED TO DRIVE SLOWLY (40MPH) INSTEAD OF 60MPH TO STOP VEHICLE FROM SHAKING. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK.*AK

NHTSA ID

872918

Incident

Jan 11, 1998

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND UPON ATTEMTING TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP ON WET PAVEMENT OR IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER WA SUNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

855154

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT. CONSUMER HIT BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEELS LOCKED UP/VEHICLE SKIDDED. CONTACT DEALER,WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. WHEN GOING DOWNHILL AND SOME WHAT SLIPPERY SURFACE, SUCH AS SNOW, THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ON SLIDING DOWN THE HILL. REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS, FRONT BRAKES ONLY, AND TIRES STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

851767

Incident

Oct 15, 1998

REPLACED PADS & ROTORS 3 TIMES; 15000, 22000, 36000 MILES, PATHETIC DESIGN

NHTSA ID

713532

Incident

May 1, 1998

BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING VEHICLE. IT HAS TO BE STOPPED BY TAKING THE BRAKES OFF THE ABS SYSTEM.DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK

NHTSA ID

845891

Incident

Dec 26, 1997

EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE UNDER FULL BRAKING PRESSURE -- CAUSED REAR-END COLLISION

NHTSA ID

701362

Incident

Oct 30, 1998

ALTERNATOR BELT SNAPPED, CAUSING BATTERY AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON AND HARD TO STEER.

NHTSA ID

780591

Incident

Sep 19, 1996

FRONT BRAKE PADS FAILED.

NHTSA ID

537000

Incident

Nov 9, 1997

THERE IS EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BRAKES . THE DEALER HAD TO TURN THE ROTORS, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

821343

Incident

Apr 9, 1998

ABS BRAKES REPLACED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ID

535182

ABS FAILED.

NHTSA ID

534593

Incident

Apr 18, 1998

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY APPROACHED AN AREA WHERE HAD TO SLOW DOWN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, TAPPED BRAKES AND IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO A SKID, BRAKES LOCKED UP. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

819379

Incident

Nov 15, 1997

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAIL CONTINUOUSLY, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY LOCK UP.

NHTSA ID

524944

Incident

Sep 23, 1997

BRAKES EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

522810

WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX 65MPH, EXPERIENCED. ABS FAILURE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL BY APPYLING BRAKES THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, SUBSEQUENTLY WHEN APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL, WHEELS LOCKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT BARRIER. *AK

NHTSA ID

807474