2000 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems

EXPERIENCED POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE INCLUDING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE, VIBRATION, AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY. INSPECTION OF RIGHT FRONT DISC BRAKES SHOWED INSIDE BRAKE PAD WORN UNEVENLY. BRAKE CALIPER IS TWO-PISTON SYSTEM AND UNEVEN WEAR WAS DUE TO ONE CYLINDER NOT WORKING. SITUATION REPEATED APPROX. EIGHT MONTHS LATER ON LEFT SIDE AND NOW RIGHT SIDE SHOWS REPEAT OF SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE CALIPER ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10204210

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

1. EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM 50+ MPH ON A FREEWAY BECAUSE THE DRIVER IN FRONT, IN THEIR OWN WORDS, "JUST STOPPED"! 2. 2000 OUTBACK FAILED TO SLOW. HIT REAR OF THE LEXUS SUV. "TORPEDOED" UNDER THE SUV UP TO 1/2 THE HOOD LENGTH. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT (AGAIN!) 3. CAR IS TOTALED! THIS IS THE 2ND MAJOR ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. SUBARU OF AMERICA DENIES ANY PRODUCT DEFECT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10151058

Incident

Aug 24, 2005

Mileage

87,000 mi

THE BRAKE LIGHT/TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON OUR SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON FILLS WITH WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS. IT IS A CLAMSHELL DESIGN SPANNING THE ENTIRE REAR HATCH OF THE VEHICLE AND INCLUDES THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND REVERSE (BACKUP) LIGHTS. IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAT IN FLORIDA HAS AFFECTED THE SEAM OF THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING IT TO FAIL PREMATURELY, SO THAT RAIN WATER FILLS UP IN THE TAILIGHT ASSEMBLY EVERY TIME IT RAINS, WHERE A SHORT CIRCUIT IS INEVITABLE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WATER INSIDE THE REVERSE LIGHTS PORTION OF THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY, AS THE LENS IS CLEAR. THIS IS A BIG LIFE SAFETY HAZARD. I CONTACTED SUBARU MOTORS OF AMERICA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND 1) THEY DENY THAT THEY HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM HAVING EVER HAPPENED TO ANY SUBARU OWNER, AND 2) THEY ARE DENYING MY REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR (VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY). HOWEVER, THE DEALER'S REPAIR TECHNICIAN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN FLORIDA - HE HAS REPAIRED THE SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. I EXPRESSED CONCERN TO SUBARU AMERICA ABOUT LIABILITY FROM THIS SAFETY HAZARD, BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT DID NOT EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN FATALITIES. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A MANDATORY RECALL BE PERSUED SINCE SUBARU DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS DESIGN. I CLEARLY SEE THIS AS BOTH A DESIGN FLAW AND A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114050

Incident

Feb 28, 2005

I OWN A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A ROUTINE STOP IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, SO I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES SEEMED TO ENGAGE (I COULD FEEL THE STUTTERING) BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW QUICKLY ENOUGH AT ALL. NOTABLY THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 8DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITHOUT WINDCHILL. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT SUBARU HAS RECALLED OLDER (1999) AND LATER (2002) MODELS FOR THIS EXACT SITUATION (HYDROLIC MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW TEMPERATURES). I PLAN TO CONTACT SUBARU TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR POSITION IS ON THIS. I DO NOT FEEL THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW.*AK

NHTSA ID

10054527

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

63,600 mi

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS PULLING TO RIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID

8005724

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

BRAKE PEDAL GOES 1/2 WAY DOWN BEFORE BRAKES ENGAGE AT ALL. PEDAL CAN BE PUSHED TO FLOOR WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT BY MY 120LB WIFE. ABS DID NOT ENGAGE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED - IMPACT SPEED WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. DEALER INSISTS BRAKES ARE OK. 2001 MODEL HAS 13 INCH DISCS AND IT STOPS GREAT! (OUR RENTAL IS A 2001 OUTBACK WAGON). WE LOVE THE CAR, IT JUST WORRIES US THAT IT DOESN'T STOPPROPERLY AND THE AIRBAGS DON'T GO OFF - APPARENTLY THE 'COMPUTER' DEEMED IT "UNECESSARY" ALTHOUGH IT WAS A HEAD-ON, SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT, COLLISION!*AK

NHTSA ID

751423

Incident

Jun 13, 2001

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND FORCE TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES IN NORMAL USE COMPARED TO OTHER VEHICLES, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATIONAL AND WITHIN THE MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATION. *MJS

NHTSA ID

559212

BRAKES ARE VERY SOFT OR MUSHY AND ARE SLOW TO RESPOND. THEY DO NOT EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE UNTIL THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED VERY CLOSE TO THE FLOOR, THUS REQUIRING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME AND DISTANCE TO STOP. THE INADEQUACY OF PERFORMACE CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY, IN MY JUDGMENT, TO THE ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS INVOLVED BECAUSE THE BRAKES SIMPLY FAILED TO START SLOWING THE CAR DOWN UNTIL THE PEDAL WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. I HAVE JUST REPORTED IT IN WRITING TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I ADVISED MY INSURANCE AGENT AND THE CARRIER OF MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE BRAKES' PERFORMANCE IMMEDIATELY UPON MY REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT ON THE DAY IN WHICH IT OCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

738191

Incident

Dec 4, 2000

WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL IS SOFT, AND THERE IS EXCESSIVE FREE PLAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

861519

Incident

Feb 2, 2000

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ON THIS VEHICLE, THE PEDAL TRAVEL IS SO LONG AND SPONGY THAT WHEN THE PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED IT IS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE GAS PEDAL. THE INCIDENT I AM REPORTING OCCURRED WHEN I HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGANCY STOP. MY FOOT (BEING A WIDE SHOE SIZE) ENDED UP NOT ONLY IN CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT ALSO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CONSEQUENTLY, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A ROAD SIGN. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND MY DEALER AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT ALL OF THE CARS THEY MANUFACTURE HAVE THE SAME BRAKE FEEL AND PEDAL TRAVEL. JUST BECAUSE ALL OF THE VEHICLES ARE LIKE THIS DOSEN'T MAKE IT RIGHT. THE CAR IS FINE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHERE YOUR FEET ARE, BUT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IT CAN BE DEADLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

717047

Incident

Dec 5, 1999

EXPERENICING BRAKE PROBLEM WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.TOO MUCH FORCE IS NEEDED TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP PROPERLY. DEALER /MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

853388

Incident

Oct 29, 1999

BRAKE PEDAL NEEDS ADJUSTMENT. YH

NHTSA ID

549363

UNDER NORMAL BRAKING WHEN APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE IS TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE PEDAL, STOPPING ABLILTY NOT ACCURATE. BRAKE PEDAL MOVES EXCESSIVLEY, MORE THAN THE OWNER MANUEL STATES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. CONSUMER HAS ADJUSTED THE BRAKE PEDAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

846559

Incident

Aug 15, 1999