There are 6 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2003 Subaru Outbackin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, WHICH RESULTED IN HER REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED A RECALL. HOWEVER, HER YEAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED.*JB
BRAKE FAILURE AT SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. OCCURS EVERY TIME TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. FAILURE APPEARS TO BE IN THE MASTER CYLINDER AS IN PREVIOUS YEAR MODEL OF THIS AUTO. *CN
2003 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 ENGINE. BRAKES FAIL AFTER INITIAL START IN COLD WEATHER. SEEMS LIKE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM LINE CHECK VALVE FREEZES. *TR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ANY SPEED THERE WAS A VIBRATION WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE PAD WHICH SEPARATED FROM ITS CORRESPONDING PLATE. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON ICE. THE PARKING BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE.*AK
CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE WARNING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED WHICH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *AK.......SUBARU REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE MET WITH OWNER'S HUSBAND AND HAD DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER SEN TTO SUBARU FOR EVALUATION. REPRESENTATIVE CALLED AFTER A FEW WEEKS AND REFUSED TO DISCUSS REASONS FOR FAILURE. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026