1998 SUBARU OUTBACK Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

ON MARCH 19, 2013, I WAS RETURNING TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AFTER PICKING UP MY OUTBACK FROM BLOOMINGTON ACURA SUBARU, BLOOMINGTON, MN AFTER A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT WHEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM HAD A TOTAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A NEAR CATASTROPHIC COLLISION WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. DEALER INSPECTION CONFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE BY THE FUEL TANK PROTECTOR HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION RESULTING IN SEVERE FLUID RELEASE THUS NOT ALLOWING THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO PROPERLY PRESSURIZE RESULTING IN A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED WERE PART NUMBER 26522AA010 AND 26522AA020 (RIGHT AND LEFT). ON MARCH 27, 2013, THE NHTSA ISSUED CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V110000 FOR SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACKS REGARDING "BRAKE LINES MAY FAIL DUE TO CORROSION". THIS RECALL PERTAINS TO MODEL YEAR 2005 TO 2009. THIS CITIZEN REQUESTS, NAY, INSISTS THAT THIS RECALL NOTICE BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE LATER MODEL YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 168,000

WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED. *NM

Mileage: 63,000

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.

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. THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH OUR 2001 SUBURU OUTBACK (SEE ODI#764455).*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE IN FRONT SLOWED DOWN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF ON ITS ON. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, BUT AVOIDED OTHER CARS. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, FLIPPED THREE TIMES, AND ENDED ON DRIVER'S SIDE . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER WAS BRAKING, IN WHICH CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE, HOWEVER VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*JB

ABS RECALL WAS COMPLETE, HOWEVER 2 WEEKS LATER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WAS OUT. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOOSE STEERING OVER ROUGH SURFACE WHEN TRAVELING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK *ML

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE TAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME TO STOP. OWNER HAS VEERED INTO INTERSECTIONS SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOLUTION BECAUSE PROBLEM CAN'T BE DUPLICATED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THEN, WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL FOR SOME SECONDS. DEALER IS ALSO REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THEN, WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL FOR SOME SECONDS. DEALER IS ALSO REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT DIMS THE HEADLIGHTS FOR A SECOND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN IN SECOND GEAR AND PREPARING TO STOP WHEN THE ABS APPARENTLY TOOK CONTROL OF MY CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE THE INTERSECTION AND NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR. I DID NOT FEEL THAT THE ROAD CONDITIONS WARRENTED THE ABS RESPONSE (THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY WET) AND I DID FEEL THAT I WAS IN CONTROL OF MY CAR BEFORE THE ABS TOOK OVER. I WAS TRAVELING UNDER 10 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR IN CONSIDERABLY WORSE WEATHER AND WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO ANTICIPATE MY STOPPING DISTANCE. THE ABS LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. INFO THAT MAY BE RELEVENT...I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A MINOR CAR ACCIDENT BUT I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD'VE AFFECTED THE BRAKES. I ALSO HAD MY CAR REALIGNED TODAY AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS COULD HAVE ANY AFFECT ON THE ABS.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK