10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 5 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 54,486 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
My brakes failed while I was driving because Subaru did not properly address recall wqk47 on my car in 2018 even though they claimed it was completed. My brake lines are completely corroded and they are refusing to honor the recall that they improperly addressed 2 years ago. They knew in 2018 when they applied the anti-rust solution that the brake lines were rusted but they did not do any repairs. Thus, my car is currently non-functioning.
- Austin, TX, USA
March of 2019 a recall was performed for rusted brake lines...this year the brakes lines suddenly failed...apparently if the brake lines aren't leaking the Subaru fix is to spray sealer over the rust. Only by the grace of god was no one injured as the car was being parked when the brakes let loose. And of course Subaru said they would repair the brakes properly for $1400. I removed the car from the dealership for a proper repair!
- Argyle, NY, USA
NHTSA campaign 14V830000 and 14V311000: Subaru of America recall(s) were completed in 2014. However, on January 5 2020, while coming to a stop on a rural road, the brake pedal went to the floor and the car rolled through the intersection. No other cars were present and no accident occurred. Inspection revealed that a brake pipe had rusted and ruptured near the "4 way junction" at the rear of the vehicle. The very junction that is the subject of the aforementioned recalls.
- Camden, NY, USA
The contact owned a 2010 Subaru Forester. After reversing from the driveway, the contact placed the vehicle in drive to travel down a hill at 5-10 mph. When the contact attempted to turn left, the steering wheel felt stiff and veered to the right. As a result, the vehicle crash into a curb and turned counter-clockwise. The vehicle then rolled backwards at a steep incline. The brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The contact depressed the brake pedal numerous times, but the vehicle continued to roll away. The vehicle came to a stop after the rear end crashed into a tree. Police report number: 31-19-031911 was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and back, a bruised arm, and a fractured nose. The contact was transported to the hospital via ambulance. The vehicle was towed away by the insurance company and deemed totaled. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened; however, they would not move forward until a police report was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.
- Newark, DE, USA
NHTSA recall no 14V-830 (brake lines) and recall tkc19 (passenger air bags) dave wright Subaru will not return calls for me to schedule repairs for the brake line recall
- Coralville, IA, USA
While backing slowly into a parking space (2-3 mph) in my apartment parking lot. Car accelerated rapidly out of control. Brakes failed. Car accelerated ftom 3mp to 20-35 mph jumped a curb and hit car parked in street (impact so high that the car ended up in the middle of the street). Impact was the only thing that stopped the car.
- Long Beach, NY, USA
In freezing weather, the brakes ice up and do not work properly. When I apply the brakes in a normal fashion, they do not work. If I pump them very gently over a long period of slowing down, I can get the car to stop.
- Denver, CO, USA
I was driving on a mixture of light snow and ice and noticed ABS engaging when it shouldn't, causing me to almost slide into an intersection. I hadn't lost traction and would feel the system engage through the brake pedal. It would come on very hard and actually cause me to start sliding instead of assisting with braking. In icy conditions, it feels like Subaru's ABS is very "heavy handed" in it's application and overly sensitive in it's deployment. I was in complete control of the car until the system engaged suddenly on a downhill leading to a stop sign. This occurred the following day at a stop light. Releasing the brakes completely was the only way to regain control of the vehicle. In both instances, I was traveling between 5 and 30 miles per hour, leaving myself plenty of room to stop. I want to reiterate that both times, I had grip and was slowing just fine until ABS engaged and started a slide. The only thing keeping me from getting into a wreck was a lucky light change. (the 2nd time) and the distance I gave myself to stop. (the 1st time) this issue is bad enough that I'm considering pulling the ABS fuse the next time I have to drive in snow or ice.
- Duluth, GA, USA
I had pulled into my company parking lot and was backing into my parking space. I pulled forward, applied the brake to shift into reverse. As soon as I took my foot off the brake pedal, the car zoomed backward. I jumped a curb, went through very thick bushes and landed on top of a small Audi parked in the lot behind ours. I had to turn off the car to stop the engine. I was too in shock to take photos but others did and I can add later, with the police report when it's completed, if that's possible. I have no idea how fast the car was going. Much too fast to be backing into a parking space. Auto body shop across the street helped to disengage the cars. No towing nec.
- West Hempstead, NY, USA
Tamara recall: I recently called a nearby dealership in atlanta ga about receiving a notice about the airbag recall. I gave them my VIN but they said that my particular car does not have an active recall for the airbag. However, when I check online at airbagrecall.com, I have the recall listed. The dealership said instead, I have a brake line corrosion up for recall. I wanted to make sure this is true.
- Atlanta, GA, USA
My 2010 Subaru Forester has only 71656 miles and I need to replace the brake pads and rotors for the third time. What is wrong with your set up? I am not a kid with a heavy foot, I am 71. I know brake systems, because I was an auto repairman be fore I retired.
- West Monroe, NY, USA
Rear brakes wore out at 55K miles. Front brakes still had 7mm wear on them. Technician said it was probably due to corrosion of the calipers. The calipers rusted, causing the brake pads to be in constant contact with the rotors, wearing them out prematurely. This could have caused a fire in the vehicle due to overheating of the rotors. Same thing happened on my 2009 Subaru Forester. Rear brakes wore out at 85K miles, with 6mm left on the front brakes. This sounds like a design problem to me.
- Saco, ME, USA
The auto under warranty and has calipers that stick, this is a danger from every mechanic I spoke to, Subaru refuses to honor the warranty, from everything I have read and heard, Subaru has had a constant caliper problem and will not make good on it - they say it is ok to drive like this, I have two little children and I was told by several mechanics that this could be a fire hazard, Subaru should be held responsible for this problem and make good on
- Milford, PA, USA
My mother and I were out and about on a Friday 5/1/15 as we got ready to leave our location. I place my foot on the brakes and put it into reverse, then ever so slightly put my foot on the gas paddle, then the truck suddenly accelerated back at a high rate of speed and hit another truck in back of me, before it came to a complete stop. No one was injured -no police were called as it was on private property. Both vehicle were damaged. I then took the vehicle to a local mechanic the next day and was told that the rear and front break pads needed to be replace and if I had not brought it in when I did I would have needed rotors as well. There was no sound that the breaks were going bad, and there was no warning signals of any kind. This is a very high safety issues as people lives are at risk. Thank god my mother and I are okay.
- Tampa, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V830000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the recall remedy was performed but failed to repair the vehicle. The specifics of the failure were not available. The contact received a second notice for the recall informing that the initial recall remedy was not a permanent repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000. Updated 03/24/15 updated 10/20/2015
- Brookside, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V311000 (service brakes) and stated that the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The dealer was unable to provide an expected date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure.
- Albion , NY, USA
The rear brakes are completely worn out at 29,700 miles. This was discovered during the mandatory annual Virginia safety inspection. I have owned and driven cars for 37 years and I have never seen rear brakes wear so fast. The front brakes look normal for a vehicle of this age. What is it with the rear brakes on Foresters? I have read other owner's complaints about the rear brakes.
- Arlington, VA, USA
Brake warming light came on will driving at 35 mph. After the brake light cam on I drove 2.5 miles to my home address. After I parked the car I noticed brake fluid on the garage floor under the left (driver side) rear tire. I checked the government website on recalls and found NHTSA campaign number: 14V311000 indicating salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. The consequence: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. I had received a recall letter in July that indicated an issue and I would be contracted when parts became available. Recall campaign wqk-47 NHTSA recall no. 14V-311.
- Lac Du Flambeau, WI, USA
Besides corrosion of brakes in recent recall, body paint behind each wheel is corroding since 2013. Furthermore, Subaru issued the brake corrosion recall letter #1 to a company that is not the registered owner!!!
- Sauk City, WI, USA
- Corry, PA, USA