2000 Subaru Outback brake problems

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

NHTSA complaint #10151058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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.

NHTSA complaint #10054527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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!

NHTSA complaint #751423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

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.

NHTSA complaint #738191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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.

NHTSA complaint #717047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.