34 of the
230 complaints about the 1995 Subaru Legacy are about the
braking system — 15% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
150,000 miles.
THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUBARU LEGACY MODELS ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT A MAN OF AVERAGE SHOE SIZE, WEARING BOOTS OF ANY KIND, IS LIABLE TO INADVERTENTLY APPLY PRESSURE TO BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. THE "FIX" IS SIMPLE: SUBARU OF AMERICA SHOULD HANG THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION BRAKE PEDAL, WITH ITS SMALLER PAD FOOTPRINT, ON ALL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEGACY MODELS. PROBLEM SOLVED. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, AND IF WEARING BOOTS, I MUST MAINTAIN CONSTANT VIGILANCE TO AVOID THE POTENTIALLY LETHAL CONSEQUENCE OF APPLYING PRESSURE TO BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10486460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 174,278 milesPierce, COCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FROZE AND WAS RESISTANT TO ENGAGEMENT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,278.
NHTSA complaint #10398037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 113,419 milesSorrento, ME
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE IS A 1995 SUBARU LEGACY L WAGON WITH AUTO. TRANS. GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, AND AT THE SAME HEIGHT. ONE'S FOOT CAN INADVERTENTLY APPLY BOTH PEDALS AT ONCE, CAUSING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY. ALSO, CLEARANCE BETWEEN PEDALS AND LOWER DASH PANEL JUST ABOVE, IS MINIMAL. THIS CAN CAUSE FOOT (ESPECIALLY IN A WINTER BOOT) TO JAM IN THE LIMITED SPACE, RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY LIFTING FOOT FROM A PEDAL. IN AN OTHERWISE PRAISEWORTHY CAR, THESE FLAWS ARE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10376756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CAR SHAKES AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. GIVES SENSATION OF INABILITY TO BRAKE. FEELING OF INSECURITY. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN DONE: RESURFACED FRONT AND BACK ROTORS AT 17,002 MILES. REPLACED FRONT AND REAR PADS AND FRONT ROTORS AND RESURFACED REAR ROTORS AT 29,154 REPLACED REAR ROTORS AND RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS AT 42,325. NOW AT ABOUT 53,000, FRONT ROTORS NEED REPLACING AGAIN! A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH FOUND ONE REPORTED FAILURE OF ABS IN 2005 LEGACY THAT POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I AM CONCERNED AND WORRIED THAT THIS CAR COULD PROVE UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY IF OUR BRAKES FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10259793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesSwanzey, NHFire
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED/TAPPED THEY SUDDENLY TIGHTEN AND GET HOT AS TIME PROGRESSES. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A FIRE DUE TO MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILURE. BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10105556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesSwanzey, NHFire
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED/TAPPED THEY SUDDENLY TIGHTEN AND GET HOT AS TIME PROGRESSES. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A FIRE DUE TO MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILURE. BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10105556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesSwanzey, NHFire
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED/TAPPED THEY SUDDENLY TIGHTEN AND GET HOT AS TIME PROGRESSES. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A FIRE DUE TO MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILURE. BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10105556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livingston, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FRONT RIGHT WHEEL ABS MODULE FAILED WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY. DEALER CONTACTED. *AKTHE BRAKE LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE THE ABS MODULE LEAKS. THE ABS MODULE WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8016346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Ellijay, GACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
NEWLY-ACQUIRED ABS/AWD MODEL OF OTHERWISE SIMILAR SUBARU WAGON THAT HAD TAKEN SAME DESCRIBED TURN HUNDREDS OF TIMES: DESCENDING WET GRAVEL ROAD IN 2ND GEAR, WHILE BRAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY AND APPROACHING A TIGHT TURN, THE CAR ACTUALLY BEGAN TO SPEED UP -- SO, INSTEAD OF SLOWING TO POINT WHERE BRAKES ALONE WOULD TAKE ME AROUND TURN AS USUAL, I PUSHED IN CLUTCH TO DOWNSHIFT TO 1ST - WHICH POINT I NEVER REACHED, SINCE THE WAGON SWUNG AROUND TO OUTSIDE OF ROAD, AND SLID DOWN A STEEP 30' EMBANKMENT, ROLLING OVER. ALTHOUGH NEITHER I NOR PASSENGER [DOG!] WERE HURT, THERE WAS EXTENSIVE GLASS AND BODY DAMAGE. PHONE CALL FROM NEARBY NEIGHBORS TO TOW COMPANY HAD THE WAGON BACK UP ON THE ROAD WITHIN CA. 90 MINUTES, ON SECOND TRY [FIRST TRY POPPED BOTH TOW HOOKS ON REAR, CAUSING ANOTHER 10-15' NOSEFIRST DIVE THAT DENTED FRONT FENDER ON SOFT SOIL]. I CALLED TOW TRUCK OPERATOR'S ATTENTION TO APPARENT LACK OF SKID/BRAKING MARKS, BUT THE WHOLE ROAD HAD BEEN GRADED BY THE TIME I RETURNED WITH MY CAMERA THE NEXT DAY. AFTER REINFLATING TIRE, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT 1.5 MI. BACK UP MOUNTAIN ROAD TO HOUSE, BUT ABS LIGHT AND WARNING FLASHERS REMAINED ON UNTIL I DISCONNECTED BATTERY. GLASS REPLACEMENT [WINDSHIELD, HATCH, REAR QUARTER] ALONE OVER $1000, PLUS WHATEVER BODY WORK [REAR QUARTER CLIP, ROOF, HOOD, FENDERS] AND PAINT NEEDED. BUT MAINLY, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS WAGON DOWNHILL AGAIN, AS AWD/ABS WERE THE TOUTED SAFETY REASONS FOR BUYING IT: SUBARU'S RECENT BYLINE IS "BECAUSE SAFETY IS NOT AN OPTION".
NHTSA complaint #743084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHEN BRAKING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURS IN FRONT END DUE TO EXCESSIVE WARPING OF ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #864513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Jefferson Sta., NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT AND BACK ROTORS WARPED. YH
NHTSA complaint #550623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilson, WY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDLESSLY ENGAGES AT MODERATE SPEED AND LIGHT BRAKING, DRASTICALLY INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE, ON WASHBOARD SURFACED ROADS (DIRT OR GRAVEL OR SNOW). LOOSE MATERIAL MAY OR MAY NOT BE PRESENT. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. A DIFFERENT NON-ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLE STOPS IN A MUCH SHORTER DISTANCE IN IDENTICAL CONDITIONS, WITH BRAKING MODERATE ENOUGH TO AVOID LOCK-UPS OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #714826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aiea, HI
PARKING BRAKE
PLASTIC END PIECE OF HAND LEVER BROKE, ALLOWING SPRING TO BE EJECTED. RATCHETING MECHANISM NO LONGER WORKS. IN A CRASH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT FUNCTION AS EXPECTED. ON HAND WOULD HAVE TO BE LEFT ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP IT APPLIED, INSTEAD OF APPLYING THE BRAKE AND RETURNING BOTH HANDS TO THE STEERING WHEEL FOR CRASH AVOIDANCE.
NHTSA complaint #712877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Shasta, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED TWICE, AT 20000 AND 36000 MILES. DEALER RESURFACED ROTORS AT 20855 MILES, ROTORS HAVE WARPED AGAIN WITHIN 17000 MILES, NO UNUSUAL DRIVER BRAKE APPLICATIONS HAVE HEATED ROTORS, VEHICLE SHUDDERS HEAVILY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. SUSPECT DEFECTIVE/INFERIOR ROTOR METALS.
NHTSA complaint #712096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, CO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN ICY CONDITIONS THE PEDAL BECOMES HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #848111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wolcott, CT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DUE TO REAR BRAKE ROTORS CORRODING. DEALER SAID ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #840869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livermore, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION UPON BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #527772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wheat Ridge, CO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 60 MPH DOWN A 10 MILE LONG WINDING NARROW HILL ROAD, WENT TO CHANGE LANES BUT COULD NOT GET IN, HAD TO APPLY BRAKES. PUSHED HARD, ALMOST TO FLOOR, HAD NO RESPONSE. HAD TO RE-APPLY AGAIN. THIS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN 5 MINUTES, RECEIVED NO WARNING LIGHT, MECHANIC'S ANALYSIS WAS THAT MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *AK UPDATED 01/05/10. *LJ UPDATED 01/05/10.
NHTSA complaint #816559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Calrks Summit, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 25 MPH THE COMSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP; DEPENDING ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, THE LONGER THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. THE DEALER DID CHECK THE SYSTEM AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS. COMSUMER HAD NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #815177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Franci, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
REAR BRAKES FAILED AT VERY LOW MILEAGE.
NHTSA complaint #546859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE FAILURE, MADE A NOISE, CORROSION AND WARPED ROTORS IN FOR REPLACEMENT CONTINUES TO MAKE A NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #803552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ABS BRAKE FAILURE, MADE A NOISE, CORROSION AND WARPED ROTORS IN FOR REPLACEMENT CONTINUES TO MAKE A NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #803552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pearl River, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS VIBRATE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *AK VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO SLOW DOWN FROM SPEED OF 65 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #804680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL
THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE DOES NOT RELEASE THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL.
NHTSA complaint #803987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portsmouth, NH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS TO STOP VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE DISTANCE ON SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACES.
NHTSA complaint #502240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #501242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES RESPOND SLOWLY.
NHTSA complaint #501242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #501242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Summit Hill, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IN THE SNOW AND RAIN BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE DRIVNG. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #978307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Navarre, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH SURFACE THERE IS LOSS OF BRAKING. TT
NHTSA complaint #976613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.