2005 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems

See attached document for complaint.

Vehicle brakes failed while driving, the brake pedal went to the floor and almost caused a serious car accident. Yes, vehicle and brake lines are available for inspection upon request. My safety, the safety of others and more importantly my life and the lives of others were severely threatened because of the major break failure that occurred. It is terrifying to think that I was unknowingly driving around this vehicle with an imminent accident that could happen anytime, without any warning, which could have killed me. After taking pictures of my brake lines, recording videos and doing some quick research, I called a local to inspect my brake lines. I told them the scenario that I experienced and reported to them that my brake lines were covered in rust. I told them that I found out my vehicle had a recall remedy done on the brake lines in 2017, which is before I owned the vehicle. I told them that the rust and corrosion was in the same spots that were supposed to be fixed in the recall repair and that I am positive that the repair was done incorrectly or the repair was not done at all. I requested they take pictures of the brake lines and show them to the manufacturer or use the photos I took but they ensured they would take care of all of that. Called for update a week later and was unable to get in contact with anyone. I waited over a month before one of my calls was finally answered. I was told they still hadn’t looked at my vehicle yet. Having no vehicle had a very negative impact towards my job because I had no transportation for so long. I called back a few days later and was told that they would not repair my vehicle. My vehicle was not inspected by the police or insurance because I wasn’t in an accident. I was less then a minute from home when this life threatening incident occurred and thankfully was able to pull the car into my driveway. No warning lamps, no messages and no symptoms of the problem were present prior to this life threatening occurrence.

The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The brake warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive home where he inspected the vehicle and discovered severe corrosion at a connection point on the brake line. The contact stated that the brake line was leaking brake fluid. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V311000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had already been serviced previously under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Vehicle experienced sudden complete brake failure while driving due to a rupture in brake system in the exact area of a known defect / recalls NHTSA SUBARU RECALL WQG-43 and WQK-47 (both completed) which had been issued to inspect and repair the defect. Safety of driver / occupants were immediately put at grave risk due to inability to slow or stop vehicle. Car was traveling on a two way high traffic road at a speed of approximately 30+MPH. I was able to stop slowly using the emergency hand brake though only after attempting to pump the brakes which became absolutely unresponsive (this took approximately 7-10 seconds while pumping the Brake pedal). It was pure luck that there was no one directly in front of me at the time. If anything had been in front of me my choices would have been: A) swerve to the right into parked cars B) swerve left into oncoming traffic or C) run into or hit whatever was in front of me. None of those would have been acceptable options and all could have potentially injured or killed occupants within the vehicle not to mention the potential to have injured or killed any other parties involved in a collision. I am frankly amazed that a brake system defect of this nature was not fully repaired and or replaced using a non-defective design and parts. I view any application of a aerosol surface treatment as temporary & superficial at best. It's only a matter of time for the brakes to fail on every 2005-2009 Subaru that has this defect. The risks to vehicle occupants and any other individuals involved in potential accidents are simply too high.Vehicle is currently at IRA Subaru in Danvers Massachusetts and has been inspected by them confirming the problem with photo documentation. There was no other prior warning before the sudden complete brake system failure. It is unclear if the Vehicle or component has been inspected by the manufacturer. No other party has inspected the vehicle. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Mileage: 77,884K

puddle of brake fluid under car no brakes after looking at it 4way joint connector at rear of car is leaking . online says recall was done but specifications for the repair are ludacris to spray wax over corrosion ! the lines are already damaged and that would just seal the corrosion in and continue to deteriorate! that recall in itself is a safety hazard and needs to be reevaluated!

The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the brake warning light remained illuminated and the brake pedal extended to the floor while depressed. Upon inspection, the contact discovered brake fluid had leaked from the rear passenger’s side wheel area. Further inspection revealed rusting and corrosion of the brake lines. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 13V110000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was 150,000.

THE REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE BECOME RUSTED AND HAVE HOLES IN THEM DUE TO CORROSION.

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS NORMAL TO SLOW DOWN AND THE PEDAL WENT SOFT AND I HAD NO BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. UPON INSPECTION THE LINES WERE LEAKING FROM THE SAME PLACE REPAIRED IN RECALL WQK47, NHTSA CAMPAIGN 14V311000. VISUAL INSPECTION COULD CONFIRM THAT THE INITIAL RECALL WQK47 REPAIR COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING SERIOUS DANGER TO MY LIFE. I RESEARCHED COMPLAINTS ABOUT WQK47 RECALL AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY SUBARU OWNER WITH THIS SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND EVEN SPOKE WITH CORPORATE SUBARU AND BOTH SAID SINCE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ONCE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT WILL COST ME. I CANNOT FATHOM WHY, IF THE FIRST RECALL REPAIR FAILED RESULTING IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION, SUBARU WOULDN'T WANT TO IMMEDIATELY FIX THE PROBLEM AND ENSURE ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO HAD THIS RECALL PERFORMED ARE STILL SAFE AND FUNCTIONING TO PROPER STANDARDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHT FRACTURED AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BYERS DUBLIN SUBARU (2455 BILLINGSLEY RD, COLUMBUS, OH 43235, (614) 792-2455), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN CALLING THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT GETTING A RESPONSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. ALL BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 255,081.*CW*JB

I HAVE A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK THAT HAD A RECALL FOR BREAK LINE RUSTING. RECALL #WQK-47. THE BREAKS NO LONGER WORK DO TO BEING COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE REPAIR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPLETE AND THEREFORE THE CAR IS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND CORPORATE SUBARU CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR, REPLACE OR REIMBURSE FOR THIS CAR. I BELIEVE THE RUSTED BREAKS ARE COVERED BY THE RECALL AND THE CAR IS INOPERABLE SOLELY BECAUSE OF THE BREAKS. IS SUBARU LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE OR NOT?

MY OUTBACK DEVELOPED A BRAKE LINE LEAK. THE LEAK WAS LOCATED IS THE SAME LOCATION THAT WAS INSPECTED AND RUST PROOFED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 14V-311000, SERVICE CAMPAIGN WQK47. THE LEAK WAS DISCOVER AFTER MY 16 SON LOST MOST OF BRAKES WHILE IN MOTION. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT A SERIOUS CRASH AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED FOR $336. THIS RECALL WAS INEFFECTIVE AND THE BRAKE LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER PROTECTED AGAINST CORROSION.

THE VEHICLE HAS SOFT BRAKES, IT IS COMMON AMONG THIS GENERATION. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF EVERYTHING IS REPLACED. THERE IS STILL A LONG/SOFT PEDAL TRAVEL. THIS MAY BE DUE TO AN INADEQUATE MASTER CYLINDER SIZE OR BRAKE BOOSTER SIZE. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE, DOES NOT MATTER WHEN YOU USE THE BRAKES, IT ALWAYS IS SLOW TO STOP AND CAN BE A BIT SCARY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN REVERSE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE BRAKE LINES AND WAS PRESENT ON THE FLOOR NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUBARU OF NEWPORT NEWS (783 J CLYDE MORRIS BLVD, NEWPORT NEWS, VA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE DAMAGED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. DUE TO THE RUST, BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE BRAKES, WHICH MADE IT HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED JOHN KENNEDY SUBARU (1201 E RIDGE PIKE, PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA 19462, (610) 278-5000) AND WAS INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN RECALL HAD EXPIRED; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.

PURCHASED USED OCTOBER 2018 . RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN MAIL AND TOOK TO DEALERSHIP NOVEMBER 2018 . RECALL WAS FOR DRIVER AIRBAG AND REAR BRAKE LINE CORROSION. AIRBAG WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME AND BRAKE LINE WAS ALLEDGED TO BE INSPECTED AND COATED . APR 2019 CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF VEHICLE AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED HARD AND REAR BRAKE LINE BLEW . NO ACCIDENT . CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND DUE TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIRS WAS ADVISED TO CAR SUBARU DIRECTLY . SUBARU WAS CALLED AND THEY ADVISED TO TAKE BACK TO DEALERSHIP . THE CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED . SUBARU REFERENCE NUMBER 1-43591235818. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED REPAIRS WERE ALLEGEDLY DONE AND THAT SUBARU WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO CURRENT SITUATION . I CONTEST THAT REPAIRS WERE NOT PROPERLY DONE . IT WAS EASIER TO ALLEGEDLY SPRAY COATING THAN TO DO REPAIRS THAT WERE NEEDED . COATING A BRAKE LINE THAT IS ALREADY CORRODED IS NOT A PROPER REPAIR . PHOTOGRAPH CLEARLY SHOWS THIS FACT .

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE CORROSION ; DRIVING VEHICLE AND BRAKES FAILED, LEAVING ME WITHOUT ABILITY TO STOP. LUCKILY I WAS ON A HARDLY-TRAVELED ROAD AND GETTING HOME WAS UPHILL.

RECALL WAS ISSUED A FEW YEARS AGO FOR DEFECT IN THE BRAKE LINE ALLOWING SALT WATER TO GET IN AND CAUSE CORROSION TO BRAKE LINES. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND BRAKE LINES WERE SPRAYED WITH AN ANTI CORROSIVE. ON 7/29/18, BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING AND LOST ALL BRAKE PRSSSURE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A CORRODED BRAKE LINE.

4WAY CONNECTOR BRAKE LINE LEAKING CAUSING NO BRAKES. COULD OF GOT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAZZARD TO DRIVE CALLED ABOUT RECALL ON THIS BUT THE SAID MY CAR VIN NUMBER WAS NOT LISTED AND WE'RE VERY RUDE AND SHE HUNG UP ON ME. HAD TO PUT CAR IN NUTRAL TO SLOW DIWN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE PARKING BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR BRAKE LINES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE LOCAL DEALER (CASCADE AUTO GROUP, 4149 STATE RD, CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH, 44223) DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1-25871335589. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COST AND THAT THE DEALER CITED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING HIGH MILEAGE AND A TIME SENSITIVE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED $500 TOWARDS THE REPAIR BILL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 215,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP. THE DRIVER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD FAILED DO TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER NORTH TOWN SUBARU OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IN THE JANUARY OF 2015 UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTPROOFED WITH ANTI-CORROSION WAX BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.