2001 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Fuel system is the leading concern among 170 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 16 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpNov 29, 2013
Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's and Legacy's. The affected fuel pumps were sold or installed into the aftermarket applications on or after July 26, 2013, and may may leak fuel from the base of a fuel line connection when the gas tank is full.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Airtex will notify owners, and will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Recall is expected to begin on January 2, 2014. Customers may contact Airtex at 1-800-880-3056. The recall is expected to begin during January 2014. This recall is being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru.
Campaign 13E065000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, cablesMar 16, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER SEDANS, WAGONS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE COULD COME OUT OF ITS TRACK ON THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER AND LODGE ON THE CONTROL LEVER TAB WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION AND WILL REMAIN IN AN OPEN POSITION.
IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER TAB ON THE THROTTLE SHAFT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FROM COMING OUT OF ITS TRACK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Campaign 04V128000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearApr 22, 2003
THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.
IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL CLEAN AND RUST-PROOF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Campaign 03V153000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 30, 2002
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.
THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Campaign 02V282000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: hydraulic
25 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 5, 2010, crash
VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE PROPERLY WHEN COLD IN SUB-FREEZING WEATHER CONDITIONS. VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY HAS GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUT AND THE CONDITION RESOLVES ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 20, 2009
WHEN THE WEATHER IS VERY COLD OUT (IT WAS -15 TO -20 CELSIUS WHEN THIS HAPPENED) THERE IS NO VACUUM ASSIST FOR THE BRAKES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM (CHECK AT WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG). THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A CHECK VALVE IN THE VACUUM LINE RUNNING TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. IN COLD WEATHER, THE CHECK VALVE FREEZES AND THERE IS NO VACUUM TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THIS MAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTREMELY HARD TO PUSH AS THE IS NO POWER ASSIST WHEN THERE IS NO VACUUM TO THE BOOSTER. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 10, 2007
WE HAD EXCESSIVE BRAKE PROBLEMS AND AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO THE DEALER, MY HUSBAND FOUND THERE IS A PIN THAT THE CALIPERS SLIDE ON AND IT WAS LOCKED UP. HE TOOK IT APART, LUBED WITH "NEVER SEIZE" AND PROBLEM SOLVED. UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER MUCH $$$$ PAID TO DEALERS WITHOUT ANY HELP. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 5, 2007
2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE TEMP FALLS BELOW 20, AND THE CAR HAS SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS, BRAKES WILL MOMENTARILY NOT WORK. SPECIFICALLY, I APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THEY WILL FEEL HARD TO PUSH AND WILL SLOW THE CAR, I LET UP AND PUSH AGAIN, THEY FEEL EVEN HARDER, AND WILL NOT SLOW THE CAR. USUALLY THE FOURTH TIME I PUMP THEM THEY RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP, WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. PADS WERE FINE, NO WATER IN THE FLUID. FLUID WAS CHANGED AND PROBLEM HAS RECURRED SINCE THEN. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 17, 2006
WITHIN 4 YEARS, MY SUBARU OUTBACK VCD NEEDED 3 SETS OF BRAKES AND 4 SETS OF ROTORS (NOT INCLUDING THE "RESURFACING" TO EXTEND THE ROTORS). EVERYTIME WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ATTRIBUTE THE PROBLEMS TO MY DRIVING PATTERN. BUT I OWNED THREE OTHER CARS BEFORE (ALL WERE LESS EXPENSIVE), AND NEVER NEEDED TO REPLACE BRAKES NOR ROTORS. AS POSTED IN THIS WEBSITE, THERE ARE 13 OTHER COMPLAINS, WITH VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND NHTSA ENGINEERS TO ANALYZE THE 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK BRAKES AND ROTORS. NOT ONLY IT IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS ALSO A COMPANY RESPONSIBILITY ISSUE: SUBARU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIR COST, NOT TO MENTION THE INCONVENIENCE, OUR TIME, EMOTIONAL STRESS CAUSED TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 15, 2005
BRAKES REQUIRE FREQUENT SERVICING. FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WORN AFTER 37,000 MILES, NEEDING FULL REPLACEMENT. REAR ROTORS TURNED AND REAR PADS REPLACED AT 30,000 MILE SERVICE CHECK. SERVICE MECHANIC INDICATED PROBLEM IN THE DESIGN OF THE ROTORS FOR WEIGHT AND WHEEL SIZE OF VEHICLE. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jun 28, 2005
DT: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL IT TAKES RIGHT OFF, CAN TAKE FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND IT STILL SURGES FORWARD. IT IS HARD TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE WHEN HITTING BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM GOT SO BAD THAT IT WOULDN'T LET CONSUMER MAKE A TURN. HAD TO KEEP GOING FORWARD INSIDE. RAILROADS TRACKS WERE THERE AND HIT THE MOUND. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. IT WAS 1000.00 MILES WHEN IT WAS DONE LAST JUNE.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 14, 2005
THE 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK SEEMS TO HAVE AN UNUSUALLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF NEEDING BRAKE REPAIRS. WE ARE ON OUR 2ND BRAKE JOB IN UNDER 40,000 MILES. THE DISC ROTORS HAVE WARPED TWICE, RESULTING IN STRONG VIBRATION (NOT ABS) WHEN STOPPING. THE BRAKES ALSO SQUEAL IN REVERSE, ANNOYING, AND POSSIBLY A SYMPTOM OF AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS PREFORMED A PAD REPLACEMENT ,EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS ADEQUATE MATERIAL REMAINING, AND ROTOR TURNING 2 TIMES. MY ON-LINE RESEARCH, AND THE CONSUMER REPORTS DOCUMENTATION REPORTS A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE , OVER 14% HAVE SUFFERED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IF THIS WERE OCCURING IN A LESS CRITICAL COMPONENT I WOULDN'T BE AS CONCERNED.HOWEVER THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY SHORT LIFESPAN FOR BRAKES IN A NON-HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY THE PADS AREN'T WEARING, BUT THE ROTORS ARE FAILING.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 8, 2005
I OWN A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. I BOUGHT IT NEW AND OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS IT HAS REQUIRED 3 COMPLETE BRAKE JOBS (ROTORS AND PADS), SO CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS IT'S 4TH SET OF BRAKES. I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANY CAR THAT HAS REQUIRED THAT MANY BRAKES JOBS IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE HAD ALL MY REPAIRS DONE AT SUBARU DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS THAT THE DESIGN AND MATERIALS OF THE BRAKES CAUSE THE ROTORS TO WARP AND WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, REQUIRING BOTH THE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED EACH TIME, WHICH IS EXPENSIVE. AS THE WEAR PROGRESSES, THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES AND THE WOBBLE GETS WORSE VERY QUICKLY OVER TIME. THE FIRST 2 BRAKE JOBS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE LAST ONE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS LIKE ME EXPERIENCING THE SAME PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR. FOR JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF OTHER TESTIMONIALS, VISIT THE WEBSITE WW.AUTOBYTEL.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/1959 AND YOU CAN SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE THE BRAKE DESIGN IS A FACTORY DEFECT. I THINK SUBARU SHOULD REDESIGN THEM AND IN THE MEAN TIME BE MADE TO COVER THE COST OF THESE REPEATED REPAIRS. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEIR POSITION IS THAT IT IS "A WEAR ISSUE". I REALIZE, LIKE TIRES, CERTAIN ITEMS ON CARS DO WEAR OUT OVER TIME AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AS PART OF THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE OF A CAR. HOWEVER, I DO NOT AGREE THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY SUBARU IS SIMPLY A WEAR ISSUE AND APPARENTLY, NEITHER DO THEIR OWN MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 7, 2005
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 60,000 MI. ROTORS WARP AND CAUSE FRONT END SHAKING WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Service brakes, Air, Jun 25, 2004
I HAVE A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK VDC. SINCE PURCHASE I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH WARPING OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED TWICE, THEN REPLACED BY SUBARU IN APRIL 2003. THE ROTORS HAVE NOW WARPED AGAIN AND ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTLY. THIS CONDITION LEADS TO UNCONTROLLABLE WHEEL AND FRONT END SHAKING WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 14, 2004
FRONT BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT LESS THAN 36,000. DEALER REPLACED THE PADS UNDER THE WARRANTY. COME TO FIND OUT THE ROTORS ARE WARPED TOO. WE DID NOT REALIZE IT UNTIL A LITTLE OVER 36,000 MILES. DEALER WILL NOT FIX ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE WE BROUGHT FOR SERVICE AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. A LITTLE RESEARCH HAS IDENTIFIED THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. WE ARE NOT AT ALL HARD ON THE BRAKES EITHER. ONLY LOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR THIS FAILURE IS A.) CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A DEFECTIVE PART(S) OR B.) SUBARU HAS NOT DESIGNED / INSTALLED SUFFICIENT ROTORS ETC. FOR THIS VCEHICLE. I'M GUESSING THAT OPTION B IS THE PROBLEM HERE!*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 3, 2003
MY BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN COLD, ABS DOESN'T SEEM TO ENGAGE; MY ROTORS HAVE WARPED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS AND HAVE BEEN "TURNED" 3 TIMES AND REPLACED ONCE. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 37,000 MILES. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY THE FREQUENT WARPING OF THE ROTORS.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 3, 2003
SUBARU 2001 LL BEAN 3.0 OUTBACK. FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 13800 MILES - SQUEAKER WAS TOUCHING, PADS WERE GONE, AND ROTOR WAS SCORED. CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE SO REPLACED PADS AND SURFACED ROTORS AT LOCAL SHOP ON WEEKEND. AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES HAD DEALER INSPECT BRAKES - PADS AND ROTOR WERE WORN AGAIN. ROTORS WERE WARPED. SUBARU REFUSED TO REPLACE PADS UNDER WARRANTY (WE PAID) BUT DID REPLACE ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY. AT 31,600 ROTORS WERE EXPERIENCING SHAKING AT BRAKE INITIATION. TOOK CAR IN, ROTORS WERE "WARPED DUE TO HEAT" AND PADS (FRONT AND BACK) WERE AGAIN WORN OUT. DEALER REPLACED FRONT AND BACK ROTORS AND PADS. SAID THAT OUR "DRIVING" MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM - USING THE BRAKES TOO MUCH AND SHOULD SHIFT DOWN ON HILLS. AT 33000 MILES FRONT PADS AND ROTORS ARE AGAIN SHOWING WEAR. AFTER MANY CALLS AND VISITS ANOTHER DEALER'S SERVICEMAN INTIMATED THAT REALLY THE "ROTORS ARE TOO SMALL" FOR THE NEW 3.0 LITER ENGINE WEIGHT. SUMMARY - BRAKES WEAR OUT EVERY 10-12,000 MILES AND ROTORS ARE SENSITIVE TO ANY HEAVY OR PROLONGED BRAKING (FOR EXAMPLE - GOING DOWN A LONG STEEP HILL). DEALERS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL AND SYMPATHETIC BUT CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 5, 2003
THERE IS A PULSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, DUE TO BRAKE/ROTOR FAILURE. THESE PART ARE CONTINUOUSLY REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE TIRE A THINNER BRAKE PAD WAS USED TO COMPENSATE.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 2, 2003
THE BRAKE ROTORS WORE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 30, 2003
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING CONTINUED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD. THIS CAUSES SHUDDERING AND PULL TO BOTH LEFT & RIGHT UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES. DEALER HAS TURNED ROTORS ETC. ( 1ST @ 18000 MILES) BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS (CURRENT MILAGE 28500) I HAVE BEEN HEARING OF OTHER INDIV. WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THIS MODEL YEAR...RUMOR : ROTORS ARE TOO THIN /UNDERSIZED? FOR CAR HEAT BUILD UP ETC. I FEEL THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL . CAR IS HARD TO STOP IN A STRAIGHT LINE...I AM ALSO CONCERNED AS TO SUBARU BACKING UP THEIR WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM, AS I'VE BEEN HEARING SOME "HORROR STORIES" . CAN YOU EXPLORE THE SAFETY/WARRANTY ISSUES ON THIS PROBLEM?
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 21, 2003
I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES IN MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK AFTER 20,000 MILES. I LIVED THE LAST TWO YEARS IN ALASKA AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN SEATTLE THE SALT FROM THE ROADS CREATED EARLY CORROSION ON THE BRAKE PADS AND DISC. THE OUTBACK IS DESIGNED FOR MORE RUGGED DRIVING AND FOR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS WITH HARSHER WINTERS. SOMETHING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES CAUSES THE SALT AND DIRT FROM WINTER ROADS TO CHANNEL UP THROUGH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. I JUST PAID FOR A COMPLETE BRAKE REPLACEMENT AS THE FRONT PADS WERE NO LONGER ENGAGING CORRECTLY AND THE BRAKES ARE VERY WORN DUE TO THE SALT.*JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 22, 2003
DURING COLD WEATHER (TODAY WAS 15 F), BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON FIRST APPLICATION FROM A COLD START. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICE TWICE (PADS REPLACED, ROTORS TURNED) BUT DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR HAS WARMED UP.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 17, 2002
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jul 19, 2002
CAR ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. ENGINE ROARS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR. PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS GOING 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP CAR.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 6, 2002
I PURCHASED MY 2001 OUTBACK SEDAN IN SEPT OF 2000 AND HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR 7 TIMES NOW FOR FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE, THEY HAVE TURNED THE ROTORS TILL THEY COULDNT BE TURNED ANYMORE, THEN SUBARU OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED A NEW SET OF ROTORS AND THEY TOO HAVE WARPED AND CAUSE SEVERE SIDE TO SIDE SHAKING OF THE STEEERING WHEEL IN ALL BRAKING.AFTER SPEAKING WITH ALL SUBARU OF AMERICA REPS THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL DO NO MORE TO THE CAR, AND AGREED THAT THEY ARE SEEING IT OTHER IDENTICAL OUTBACKS AND IT IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE ROTORS ARE NOT ADEQUET FOR THE STOPPING POWER OF THE CAR. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO NOT DRIVE IN THE CITY WITH IT, AND WHEN I DO TO RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL WHEN AT STOP LIGHTS, TRAFFIC ETC SO AS NOT TO HEAT THE ROTORS UP. NUMEROUSE OUTBACKS HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE SINCE THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED PARITICULARY FOR THE WINTER ELEMENTS, SNOW DRIVING ETC. WHEN YOU GO TO BRAKE IN ANY ELEMENT THE CAR SHAKES EXTREMLY BAD AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR AND SEEN WHAT IT DOES, BUT CONTINUE TO BLAME THE PROBLEM ON THE DRIVERS.THE BRAKE ROTORS I AM TOLD ARE BEING MANUFACTURED SMALLER AND THINNER THEREFORE DO NOT DISAPATE HEAT AND THEN WARP. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN AT 4000 MILES AND IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE AS I DO EXTREME MOUNTAIN PASS DRIVING IN ALL CONDITIONS. I AM ASKING FOR HELP NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR THE OTHER OWNERS OF SUBARUS WITH THE SAME DEFECT.THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY WORK AND SAY THAT THE ROTORS ARE NOT DEFECTIVE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REPLACED THEM UNDER WARRANTY ONCE, AND HAVE TURNED THEM UNDER WARRANTY TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND NOW THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. THERE ARE REPORTS OF OWNERS MODIFYING THE FRONT ENDS TO ALLOW MORE AIR TO COOL THE ROTORS. THIS I FIND UNACCEPTABLE. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE IF SO PLEASE HELP US.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 16, 2002
BRAKES ARE UNEVEN AND UNDEPENDABLE. CAR BUCKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN DOWNHILL BRAKING APPLICATION
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 17, 2001
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, SLOWLY THE VEHICLE CAME TO A FULL STOP, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP AND MECHANIC DISCOVERED THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 3, 2001
WHILE TRAVELING AT 20MPH AND WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, NOTICED PEDAL TRAVELING TO FLOORBOARD, AND LOST BRAKE POWER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK