10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 6,000 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.
In the morning, when I back up the car from my driveway, go forward and then apply the brakes, there is a loud, mechanical banging sound (like metal hitting on metal) coming from each of the 4 wheels - either the pads hitting the rotor or the piston hitting the pads which in turn hit the rotor. This also occurs when the car has not been used for 2-3 hours and the car is put into reverse, then forward, then the brakes are applied. Recently the banging sound is becoming louder - so much so that it attracts pedestrians' attention. The dealer said he could not find a problem. A Subaru regional inspector said there is nothing wrong. Subaru customer service told me to live with the sound/problem. I have spoken with other Subaru owners and they tell me they have similar problems and that Subaru does not acknowledge their problem. The car does stop, but I am afraid that one day the brakes will fail without any notice.... in addition the brakes are very, very spongy/soft. It feels like I am stepping on an air mattress - there is no sensation of stopping until the brake pedal of almost fully depressed. There is absolutely no feel/feedback when the brakes are depressed - I know I am stopping because I see the surrounding environment slowing down, not because I feel the car stopping. Consumer reports (Mar,2000) said "the brake pedal felt soft and not reassuring. We also experienced some moderate brake fade".
- Brooklyn, NY, USA
While traveling and upon depressing the brakes they would make a loud noise, like metal to metal. Dealer has been contacted.
- Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA
While driving down road applied brakes and transmission jumped hard into a lower gear and then brakes would grab. Driving on highway, travelling 35mph with snow on the road and coming off a ramp, tapped the brakes, and all wheels locked up, and vehicle went out of control, hitting a pole. Contacted dealer. Dealer informed consumer that the transmission was causing the problem. Also, this was the second time vehicle went out of control. Was also told that transmission was being redesigned.
- Volant, PA, USA
When driving at highway speed and going up a incline, applied the brakes and brake pedal was soft, and went straight to the floorboard, causing consumer to slow down and rear end another vehicle.
- Belle Harbor, NY, USA
- Stroudsburg, PA, USA