158 of the 1,232 complaints filed about the Subaru WRX are about the braking system — 13% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.
158
Complaints
13%
Share of all complaints
28
Crashes
0
Fires
SERVICE BRAKES
Factory brake system is weak to slow down. The tree on the road stopped my car faster than the brakes did. Many videos and internet posts document this. Quick google search will provide a lot of information. Many owners with money upgrade calipers from tr model Amazon reviews purchasing brake pads provides stopping power. Subaru knows this and did it with 2007 wrx
NHTSA complaint #11732084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
My vehicle has a hand brake built into the vehicle and at 25,000 miles my hand brake started to fail and wouldn’t hold the car in place. I had it repaired under warranty and the whole emergency/handbrake assembly was replaced, I looked at it and tested it before I left the dealership and noticed the same issue, I brought it up to the dealership and they noticed the same issue also after testing it again themselves, and they also stated there were other vehicles of the same model with less miles having the same issue and also said it could possibly be a recall. I drive a car with a manual transmission so the hand/emergency brake is what parks and holds the vehicle in place. I originally took it there because my handbrake was no longer holding my car in place to avoid hitting other vehicles especially being parked on an incline or decline.
NHTSA complaint #11704382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2024 Subaru WRX. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the ABS did not function as intended. The contact stated that while merging into another lane, the ABS independently activated, and the vehicle independently stopped. Additionally, the contact stated that due to the failure, the vehicle was almost rear-ended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150.
NHTSA complaint #11633973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
Fuel pump failing Reverse switch failing
NHTSA complaint #11612016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
My son moved my car onto the driveway, stopped it with the foot brake with the manual transmission in neutral. The hill assist was activated, so when he got out of the car the brake held long enough for him to get out of the car and walk away before the brake released, about 2 seconds. The car then rolled down the driveway into a tree. This could have been a disaster if the tree wasn’t there to stop the driverless vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11587849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS, cruise control, and other driving assistance features are disabled while driving at night. I checked for recalls on Subaru WRXs and noticed a recall was issued for the same problems on 2011-2015 models. My vehicle is a 2016 model and demonstrates all the same failures observed from the recall of the 2011-2015 models.
NHTSA complaint #11451282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
UPON APPLYING PARKING BRAKE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE, WHICH IS BEYOND 11 CLICKS AS STATED AS REQUIRED BY SUBARU, AND THE VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE GREATER THAN 8 DEGREES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT REMAIN IN PLACE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF THE BRAKE IS REQUIRED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, IT WILL NOT EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE AS THE WHEELS ARE STILL ALLOWED TO TURN MORE FREELY THAN EXPECTED GIVEN ITS INABILITY TO HOLD THE VEHICLE ON A HILL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU TWICE EXPRESSING THE COMPLAINT AND WAS SUMMARILY DENIED SERVICE. THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO EVEN INSPECT VEHICLE EVEN AFTER REQUESTING AN INSPECTION. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT YOU MUST APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE TO 11 CLICKS AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR. THE FORCE REQUIRED TO PULL THE PARKING BRAKE TO 11 CLICKS IS MORE THAN MANY PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO APPLY IN A SINGLE MOTION AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW. IN ADDITION, AIR COMPRESSION IS EXPLICATED STATED IN FEDERAL LAW AS NOT ALLOWED AS A MECHANISM OF FORCE FOR USE IN A PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. AIR COMPRESSION IS WHAT IS USED IN THE ENGINE AS A MEANS TO PREVENT THE WHEELS FROM MOVING WHEN IN GEAR. FURTHER, THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM SHALL ACCORDING TO FEDERAL LAW, USE AN ACCUMULATION OF FORCE INDEPENDENT OF OTHER SYSTEMS FOR THE PARKING BRAKE, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE PER THE INSTRUCTION FROM SUBARU. LASTLY, SUBARU ALSO INSTRUCTED ME TO PUT A WHEEL STOP BEHIND THE WHEEL AS A STANDARD PRACTICE IN THIS COMMON PARKING SCENARIO, WHICH ISN'T POSSIBLE TO DO IF I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR TO PLACE THE WHEEL STOP. AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE MOVES SO I AM UNABLE TO SAFELY EXIT VEHICLE IN ORDER TO PLACE THE WHEEL STOP. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BOTH FOR KEEPING A PARKED VEHICLE IN PLACE AND ALSO IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKE SCENARIO.
NHTSA complaint #11396473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE SON WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, RUNNING A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A LIGHT POST, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONTACT STATED FIVE DAYS PRIOR HER SON WAS DRIVING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO ENGAGED WHILE COMING TO A STOP LIGHT. THE DRIVER HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED DURING EITHER FAILURE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED WRIST. THE POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PARAMEDIC CAME HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO CALL THE DOCTOR FOR X-RAYS. THE DRIVER WAS SEEN BY HIS DOCTOR FOR HIS FRACTURED WRIST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE CONTACT CALLED HERITAGE SUBARU OWNINGS MILLS (9808 REISTERSTOWN ROAD OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117) AND WAS TOLD TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,100. *DT
NHTSA complaint #11322830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU WRX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED AND ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, "EYESIGHT" NOT AVAILABLE WAS DISPLAYED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HAND INJURIES, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.
NHTSA complaint #11205234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDDLE TO THE VEHICLE BRAKE AND ALLOW THE WHOLE PEDDLE ASSEMBLY TO MOVE. BECAUSE OF THIS, BRAKING EFFICIENCY AND DRIVE GEAR ENGAGEMENT BECOME COMPROMISED. IN THE EVENT THAT A HARD STOP IS NEEDED, THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY COULD BRAKE AND KEEP THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO STOP. THIS ISSUE IS A HUGE HAZARD! THIS IS NOT A CONVENIENCE ISSUE, THIS IS A LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE TO NOT ONLY THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SUBARU BUT EVERYONE ON THE ROAD! I HAVE CONTACTED SOA, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIR MYSELF. THIS REPAIR IS NOT JUST SOME NUTS AND BOLTS COMING LOOSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS A HUGE REPAIR THAT IS STRUCTURAL TO THE VEHICLE. AT COSTS OF WELL INTO THE THOUSANDS! SOA KNOWS OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY SITS AT 92K MILES BECAUSE OF THE POOR CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT I HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH AT 78K. I HAVE VIDEO AND PHOTO EVIDENCE TO GO ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS STATED ABOVE, BUT A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU THAT THOUSANDS OF SUBARU WRX AND STI OWNERS FROM 2008 TO 2014 ARE OR WILL EXPERIENCE THIS EXACT ISSUE!
NHTSA complaint #11171257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED EMERGENCY BRAKE BROKE AND VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO STREET CAUSING ACCIDENT. HAVE VIDEO OF INCIDENT AND CAN HEAR BRAKE CABLE BREAKING.
NHTSA complaint #11079919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
FAILED WELDS CONNECTING PEDAL PANEL TO THE FIREWALL. RESULTS IN LOUD SQUEAKING WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED/RELEASED AND CAR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET IN OR OUT OF GEAR. CAUSES MOVEMENT OF BRAKE PEDAL AS WELL WHICH COULD CAUSE MAJOR ISSUES. THIS HAPPENS MOVING AND PARKED
NHTSA complaint #11062717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL BRACKETS AFFIXED TO FIREWALL BREAK LOOSE AND CAUSE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT TOWARDS THE CLUTCH, WHICH COULD LEAD TO ISSUES STOPPING IN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #11044528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE WELDS WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ATTACHES TO THE FIREWALL ARE BREAKING. THE SAME BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENTIRE BRAKE & CLUTCH ASSEMBLY COULD BREAK OFF OF THE FIREWALL. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10966672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MY CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOUD SQUEAKING AND CLICKING WHEN SHIFTING AND BRAKE PEDAL MOVES WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT IN THE FIREWALL IN WHICH THE FIREWALL IS VERY THIN AND FLEXES WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED CAUSING THE SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD THE CLUTCH/BRAKE BRACKET TO SEPARATE FROME THE FIREWALL. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MOVE. IT ALSO CAN POTENTIALLY PREVENT THE CLUTCH FROM DISENGAGING WHILE DRIVING. SUBARU IS NOT RECALLING THIS KNOWN DEFECT BUT THEY DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AS IT WAS THE MECHANIC THAT INFORMED ME OF THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10955555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED WHILE DEPRESSING MY BRAKES OR CLUTCH, I WOULD HEAR A "POPPING SOUND." ALSO I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD MOVE TOWARDS THE LEFT TOGETHER (OPPOSE TO JUST UP AND DOWN) WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE FIREWALL WHERE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE ATTACHED TOO IS MOVING WHEN DEPRESSED. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME NOW WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10925474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I RECENTLY DISCOVERED A KNOWN ISSUE IMPACTING MY PARTICULAR CAR AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AFTER INSPECTING MY VEHICLE MYSELF. THE FIRST 130K MILES WERE SPENT COMMUTING TO MY JOB 84 MILES A DAY AT OVER 90% HIGHWAY DRIVING (VERY LITTLE CLUTCH/BREAK ACTION REQUIRED), AND THE LAST 9K WERE PUT ON OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS - CAR MOSTLY SAT SINCE I STARTED WORKING FROM HOME. OVER TIME SPOT WELDS WHICH HOLD THE CLUTCH/BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL HAVE BROKEN AND ASSEMBLY IS AT RISK OF DETACHING WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. NUMEROUS CARS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED OVER MULTIPLE MODEL YEARS AND HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED SEE NASIOC OWNERS - HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=2700583. SUBARU HAS HISTORY OF DENYING CLAIMS DESPITE ISSUING EXTENDED WARRANTIES. THEIR INCONSISTENT TREATMENT OF THIS ISSUE AN UNWILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THIS CLEAR DESIGN/ENGINEERING FLAW NEEDS TO BE HANDLES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I HAVE NOT REQUESTED A DEALERSHIP INSPECTION OR REPAIR DUE TO MY CARS AGE AND SUBARU'S PAST HISTORY OF DENYING CLAIMS.
NHTSA complaint #10908832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAD AN ISSUE PREVIOUSLY WITH THE WELDS FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY CRACKING ON THE FIREWALL. IT GOT SO BAD THAT THE WHOLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL SHIFTED LEFT EVERY TIME I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. IT EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO NOT DISENGAGE ENTIRELY AND BURN OUT. SUBARU OF AMERICA FIXED THE PROBLEM BY SENDING IT TO A BODY SHOP TO RE-WELD THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL BUT NOW, JUST A FEW YEARS LATER, THE PEDAL IS SQUEAKING AGAIN JUST LIKE IT DID LAST TIME THE WELDS BROKE. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT IN YET BUT IT IS AN UNMISTAKABLE SOUND.
NHTSA complaint #10871148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2008 WRX MAKES A SQUEAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S ENGAGED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS ENGAGED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE SPOT WELDS ARE SEPARATING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS ENGAGED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE,MAKING THAT SQUEAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH WILL NOT WORK. THIS IS SUPER SUPER DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10863136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 SUBARU WRX DOWN A MAIN ROAD AT ABOUT 11PM. I WAS IN 3RD GEAR GOING 30MPH DRIVING STRAIGHT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A GRINDING HALT. I DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AND SINCE I WAS ALREADY MOVING FORWARD IN 3RD, THE CLUTCH WAS NOT PRESSED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON ONCE THE CAR STOPPED AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL, AND THE CAR STOPPED STILL CENTERED IN THE LANE AND FACING THE CORRECT DIRECTION 1/4-1/2 A BLOCK FROM WHEN IT STOPPED ITSELF WHILE I WAS STILL DRIVING IT. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS EVEN CAME TO POTENTIALLY WARN OTHER CARS THAT IT WAS SUDDENLY STOPPING. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND DROVE STRAIGHT HOME. LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON A DIFFERENT ROAD AROUND 5:30PM. I WAS DRIVING IN 2ND HEAR GOING ABOUT 12 OR 13MPH IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WITHOUT ANY SPEED CHANGES OR PEDAL MOVEMENTS. AGAIN, THE CAR STOPPED CENTERED IN THE LANE WITH THE ENGINE STILL ON AND NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10852591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.