2001 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems

OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 25 DEGREES F. I WAS LEAVING FROM THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION THE BRAKES BECAME SO HARD THAT I COULDN'T PRESS THEM ANY FARTHER. I SIS SOME RESEARCH AND APPARENTLY LOTS OF OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT THE CHECK VALVE ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER LINE FREEZES UP. IF I HAD BEEN MOVING ANY FASTER I WOULD HAVE WENT INTO THE INTERSECTION POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680429

Incident

Jan 31, 2015

Mileage

230,000 mi

VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE PROPERLY WHEN COLD IN SUB-FREEZING WEATHER CONDITIONS. VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY HAS GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUT AND THE CONDITION RESOLVES ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298344

Incident

Jan 5, 2010

Mileage

112,000 mi

WHEN THE WEATHER IS VERY COLD OUT (IT WAS -15 TO -20 CELSIUS WHEN THIS HAPPENED) THERE IS NO VACUUM ASSIST FOR THE BRAKES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM (CHECK AT WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG). THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A CHECK VALVE IN THE VACUUM LINE RUNNING TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. IN COLD WEATHER, THE CHECK VALVE FREEZES AND THERE IS NO VACUUM TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THIS MAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTREMELY HARD TO PUSH AS THE IS NO POWER ASSIST WHEN THERE IS NO VACUUM TO THE BOOSTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255780

Incident

Jan 17, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

WE HAD EXCESSIVE BRAKE PROBLEMS AND AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO THE DEALER, MY HUSBAND FOUND THERE IS A PIN THAT THE CALIPERS SLIDE ON AND IT WAS LOCKED UP. HE TOOK IT APART, LUBED WITH "NEVER SEIZE" AND PROBLEM SOLVED. UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER MUCH $$$$ PAID TO DEALERS WITHOUT ANY HELP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10182184

Incident

Mar 31, 2006

2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE TEMP FALLS BELOW 20, AND THE CAR HAS SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS, BRAKES WILL MOMENTARILY NOT WORK. SPECIFICALLY, I APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THEY WILL FEEL HARD TO PUSH AND WILL SLOW THE CAR, I LET UP AND PUSH AGAIN, THEY FEEL EVEN HARDER, AND WILL NOT SLOW THE CAR. USUALLY THE FOURTH TIME I PUMP THEM THEY RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP, WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. PADS WERE FINE, NO WATER IN THE FLUID. FLUID WAS CHANGED AND PROBLEM HAS RECURRED SINCE THEN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10181736

Incident

Feb 2, 2007

Mileage

61,000 mi

WITHIN 4 YEARS, MY SUBARU OUTBACK VCD NEEDED 3 SETS OF BRAKES AND 4 SETS OF ROTORS (NOT INCLUDING THE "RESURFACING" TO EXTEND THE ROTORS). EVERYTIME WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ATTRIBUTE THE PROBLEMS TO MY DRIVING PATTERN. BUT I OWNED THREE OTHER CARS BEFORE (ALL WERE LESS EXPENSIVE), AND NEVER NEEDED TO REPLACE BRAKES NOR ROTORS. AS POSTED IN THIS WEBSITE, THERE ARE 13 OTHER COMPLAINS, WITH VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND NHTSA ENGINEERS TO ANALYZE THE 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK BRAKES AND ROTORS. NOT ONLY IT IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS ALSO A COMPANY RESPONSIBILITY ISSUE: SUBARU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIR COST, NOT TO MENTION THE INCONVENIENCE, OUR TIME, EMOTIONAL STRESS CAUSED TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10176318

Incident

Dec 16, 2006

Mileage

30,000 mi

BRAKES REQUIRE FREQUENT SERVICING. FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WORN AFTER 37,000 MILES, NEEDING FULL REPLACEMENT. REAR ROTORS TURNED AND REAR PADS REPLACED AT 30,000 MILE SERVICE CHECK. SERVICE MECHANIC INDICATED PROBLEM IN THE DESIGN OF THE ROTORS FOR WEIGHT AND WHEEL SIZE OF VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142781

Incident

Nov 15, 2005

Mileage

37,666 mi

DT: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL IT TAKES RIGHT OFF, CAN TAKE FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND IT STILL SURGES FORWARD. IT IS HARD TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE WHEN HITTING BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM GOT SO BAD THAT IT WOULDN'T LET CONSUMER MAKE A TURN. HAD TO KEEP GOING FORWARD INSIDE. RAILROADS TRACKS WERE THERE AND HIT THE MOUND. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. IT WAS 1000.00 MILES WHEN IT WAS DONE LAST JUNE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10126796

Incident

Oct 28, 2004

Mileage

4,000 mi

SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASES A NEW 201 SUBARU OUTBACK (FIRST 500 MILES THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERE THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN SERTTING A LONG TIOME AND THE ROTORS WERE RUSTED BUT IT WOULD CLEAR UP. IT DIDN'T AND THEY TURNED THE ROTORS AND THEN REPLACED THEM STATING THAT IT WAS MY DRIVING THAT CUASED THE PROBLEM. I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR AND THE FRONT BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE AND HAVE BEEN EVER SINCE IT WAS NEW. SOMW OF MY FRIENDS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THE BRAKES ARE UNSAFE AND ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THEY SHOULD BE WHEN STOPPING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE BRAKES ARE NOE OUT OF WARRANTY HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT THE BRAKE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10124215

Incident

Nov 30, 2001

Mileage

500 mi

WHILE PARKED IN NEUTRAL, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, AND NO OCCUPANTS, OUR STANDARD TRANSMISSION VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET & INTO THE YARD ACROSS THE STREET. OUR DRIVEWAY HAS ONLY A VERY SLIGHT GRADE (LESS THAN 5%), SO I'M ALRARMED WITH THE EASE WITH WHICH THIS HAPPENED. THERE WERE ABOUT 8 CHILDREN PLAYING AROUND THE STREET & YARDS. MY NEIGHBOR & I BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, WHICH I ALWAYS ENGAGE BEFORE EXITING THE CAR. WE DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ITSELF, OR IF I SIMPLY DID NOT PULL UP ENOUGH ON THE BRAKE; HOWEVER, IF THIS CAN HAPPEN TO A SAFETY HOUND LIKE ME, I'M ASSUMING I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE & THAT IT'S A COMMON ENOUGH OCCURENCE TO WARRANT SOME KIND OF INDICATOR TO ALERT THE DRIVER AS TO WHETHER THE PARKING BRAKE IS ACTUALLY ENGAGED.

NHTSA ID

10121092

Incident

May 14, 2005

Mileage

40,970 mi

THE 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK SEEMS TO HAVE AN UNUSUALLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF NEEDING BRAKE REPAIRS. WE ARE ON OUR 2ND BRAKE JOB IN UNDER 40,000 MILES. THE DISC ROTORS HAVE WARPED TWICE, RESULTING IN STRONG VIBRATION (NOT ABS) WHEN STOPPING. THE BRAKES ALSO SQUEAL IN REVERSE, ANNOYING, AND POSSIBLY A SYMPTOM OF AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS PREFORMED A PAD REPLACEMENT ,EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS ADEQUATE MATERIAL REMAINING, AND ROTOR TURNING 2 TIMES. MY ON-LINE RESEARCH, AND THE CONSUMER REPORTS DOCUMENTATION REPORTS A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE , OVER 14% HAVE SUFFERED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IF THIS WERE OCCURING IN A LESS CRITICAL COMPONENT I WOULDN'T BE AS CONCERNED.HOWEVER THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY SHORT LIFESPAN FOR BRAKES IN A NON-HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY THE PADS AREN'T WEARING, BUT THE ROTORS ARE FAILING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114093

Incident

Dec 18, 2004

Mileage

18,500 mi

I OWN A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. I BOUGHT IT NEW AND OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS IT HAS REQUIRED 3 COMPLETE BRAKE JOBS (ROTORS AND PADS), SO CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS IT'S 4TH SET OF BRAKES. I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANY CAR THAT HAS REQUIRED THAT MANY BRAKES JOBS IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE HAD ALL MY REPAIRS DONE AT SUBARU DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS THAT THE DESIGN AND MATERIALS OF THE BRAKES CAUSE THE ROTORS TO WARP AND WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, REQUIRING BOTH THE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED EACH TIME, WHICH IS EXPENSIVE. AS THE WEAR PROGRESSES, THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES AND THE WOBBLE GETS WORSE VERY QUICKLY OVER TIME. THE FIRST 2 BRAKE JOBS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE LAST ONE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS LIKE ME EXPERIENCING THE SAME PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR. FOR JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF OTHER TESTIMONIALS, VISIT THE WEBSITE WW.AUTOBYTEL.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/1959 AND YOU CAN SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE THE BRAKE DESIGN IS A FACTORY DEFECT. I THINK SUBARU SHOULD REDESIGN THEM AND IN THE MEAN TIME BE MADE TO COVER THE COST OF THESE REPEATED REPAIRS. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEIR POSITION IS THAT IT IS "A WEAR ISSUE". I REALIZE, LIKE TIRES, CERTAIN ITEMS ON CARS DO WEAR OUT OVER TIME AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AS PART OF THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE OF A CAR. HOWEVER, I DO NOT AGREE THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY SUBARU IS SIMPLY A WEAR ISSUE AND APPARENTLY, NEITHER DO THEIR OWN MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10112696

Incident

Mar 8, 2005

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 60,000 MI. ROTORS WARP AND CAUSE FRONT END SHAKING WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10112626

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

Mileage

20,000 mi

MY 4 YR OLD SON WENT INTO THIS CAR WHICH WAS IN PARK IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE CAR. HE BUMPED INTO THE SHIFT MECHANISM WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY ALLOWED THE CAR TO DRIFT BACKWARDS FROM THE SLIGHT GRADE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO INJURY, BUT THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE AND UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO SUBURU WHO VERIFIED THAT THE SAFETY INTERLOCK WAS NOT OPERATING AS DESIGNED. SUBURU INSISTS THAT THIS SAFETY INTERLOCK IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AS THE CAR IS BEYOND THE GENERAL 3 YR, 36,000 MILE WARRANTY (THE CAR HAS APPROX 46,000 MILES). THEY HAVE NO EXPLANATION OTHER THAN A PIN CAME DISCONNECTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091032

Incident

Sep 12, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK VDC. SINCE PURCHASE I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH WARPING OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED TWICE, THEN REPLACED BY SUBARU IN APRIL 2003. THE ROTORS HAVE NOW WARPED AGAIN AND ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTLY. THIS CONDITION LEADS TO UNCONTROLLABLE WHEEL AND FRONT END SHAKING WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10078784

Incident

Jun 25, 2004

Mileage

47,000 mi

FRONT BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT LESS THAN 36,000. DEALER REPLACED THE PADS UNDER THE WARRANTY. COME TO FIND OUT THE ROTORS ARE WARPED TOO. WE DID NOT REALIZE IT UNTIL A LITTLE OVER 36,000 MILES. DEALER WILL NOT FIX ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE WE BROUGHT FOR SERVICE AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. A LITTLE RESEARCH HAS IDENTIFIED THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. WE ARE NOT AT ALL HARD ON THE BRAKES EITHER. ONLY LOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR THIS FAILURE IS A.) CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A DEFECTIVE PART(S) OR B.) SUBARU HAS NOT DESIGNED / INSTALLED SUFFICIENT ROTORS ETC. FOR THIS VCEHICLE. I'M GUESSING THAT OPTION B IS THE PROBLEM HERE!*AK

NHTSA ID

10072644

Incident

Mar 7, 2004

Mileage

36,000 mi

MY BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN COLD, ABS DOESN'T SEEM TO ENGAGE; MY ROTORS HAVE WARPED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS AND HAVE BEEN "TURNED" 3 TIMES AND REPLACED ONCE. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 37,000 MILES. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY THE FREQUENT WARPING OF THE ROTORS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037147

Incident

Aug 17, 2003

SUBARU 2001 LL BEAN 3.0 OUTBACK. FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 13800 MILES - SQUEAKER WAS TOUCHING, PADS WERE GONE, AND ROTOR WAS SCORED. CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE SO REPLACED PADS AND SURFACED ROTORS AT LOCAL SHOP ON WEEKEND. AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES HAD DEALER INSPECT BRAKES - PADS AND ROTOR WERE WORN AGAIN. ROTORS WERE WARPED. SUBARU REFUSED TO REPLACE PADS UNDER WARRANTY (WE PAID) BUT DID REPLACE ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY. AT 31,600 ROTORS WERE EXPERIENCING SHAKING AT BRAKE INITIATION. TOOK CAR IN, ROTORS WERE "WARPED DUE TO HEAT" AND PADS (FRONT AND BACK) WERE AGAIN WORN OUT. DEALER REPLACED FRONT AND BACK ROTORS AND PADS. SAID THAT OUR "DRIVING" MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM - USING THE BRAKES TOO MUCH AND SHOULD SHIFT DOWN ON HILLS. AT 33000 MILES FRONT PADS AND ROTORS ARE AGAIN SHOWING WEAR. AFTER MANY CALLS AND VISITS ANOTHER DEALER'S SERVICEMAN INTIMATED THAT REALLY THE "ROTORS ARE TOO SMALL" FOR THE NEW 3.0 LITER ENGINE WEIGHT. SUMMARY - BRAKES WEAR OUT EVERY 10-12,000 MILES AND ROTORS ARE SENSITIVE TO ANY HEAVY OR PROLONGED BRAKING (FOR EXAMPLE - GOING DOWN A LONG STEEP HILL). DEALERS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL AND SYMPATHETIC BUT CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030676

Incident

May 16, 2002

Mileage

13,800 mi

THERE IS A PULSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, DUE TO BRAKE/ROTOR FAILURE. THESE PART ARE CONTINUOUSLY REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE TIRE A THINNER BRAKE PAD WAS USED TO COMPENSATE.

NHTSA ID

10018125

Incident

May 5, 2001

Mileage

22,000 mi

THE BRAKE ROTORS WORE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018028

Incident

Mar 15, 2002

HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING CONTINUED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD. THIS CAUSES SHUDDERING AND PULL TO BOTH LEFT & RIGHT UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES. DEALER HAS TURNED ROTORS ETC. ( 1ST @ 18000 MILES) BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS (CURRENT MILAGE 28500) I HAVE BEEN HEARING OF OTHER INDIV. WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THIS MODEL YEAR...RUMOR : ROTORS ARE TOO THIN /UNDERSIZED? FOR CAR HEAT BUILD UP ETC. I FEEL THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL . CAR IS HARD TO STOP IN A STRAIGHT LINE...I AM ALSO CONCERNED AS TO SUBARU BACKING UP THEIR WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM, AS I'VE BEEN HEARING SOME "HORROR STORIES" . CAN YOU EXPLORE THE SAFETY/WARRANTY ISSUES ON THIS PROBLEM?

NHTSA ID

10016743

Incident

Sep 20, 2002

I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES IN MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK AFTER 20,000 MILES. I LIVED THE LAST TWO YEARS IN ALASKA AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN SEATTLE THE SALT FROM THE ROADS CREATED EARLY CORROSION ON THE BRAKE PADS AND DISC. THE OUTBACK IS DESIGNED FOR MORE RUGGED DRIVING AND FOR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS WITH HARSHER WINTERS. SOMETHING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES CAUSES THE SALT AND DIRT FROM WINTER ROADS TO CHANNEL UP THROUGH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. I JUST PAID FOR A COMPLETE BRAKE REPLACEMENT AS THE FRONT PADS WERE NO LONGER ENGAGING CORRECTLY AND THE BRAKES ARE VERY WORN DUE TO THE SALT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10016268

Incident

Mar 20, 2003

Mileage

20,350 mi

DURING COLD WEATHER (TODAY WAS 15 F), BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON FIRST APPLICATION FROM A COLD START. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICE TWICE (PADS REPLACED, ROTORS TURNED) BUT DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR HAS WARMED UP.

NHTSA ID

10003147

Incident

Jan 21, 2003

Mileage

31,111 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10001077

Incident

Dec 12, 2002

CAR ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. ENGINE ROARS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR. PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS GOING 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

764455