2012 SUBARU OUTBACK Service Brakes Problems

The brake pedal suddenly went almost to the floor while attempting to stop. Researching I found there was a recall. NHTSA Recall No. 11V-562. My car was not apparently among the ones being recalled, yet this problem is exactly as described in the bulletin. The component in question is the master brake cylinder. It is available for inspection. It happened on Sat Sept 20 2025 returning from a trip approximately. 300 miles away. the symptom persists. There were no warning indicators.

I took my Outback to my local highly respectable mechanic on August 20, 2025 as I needed the oil changed and the concern I had about having to add brake fluid twice in the past 4 months. He inspected my car immediately and he refused to let me drive it out of his shop as there is a dangerous brake line leaking issue that could result in brake failure. He told me that my Outback is not the first that he had to repair this “Subaru manufacturing defect”. I had to get it repaired. I checked to see if there was a NHTSA recall on my Outback year and there was none, only prior years. Yet when I went online searching more, I found an article that stated that Subaru was going to recall the 2012 Subaru as well? The repair shop owner said to us that my wife is a "gentle driver" and that was good, because, if she had to apply the brakes very hard to avoid a collision, they probably would have failed. Please understand that I read the recall for previous years of Outbacks and other Subaru models, and my Subaru Outback had the exact same defect. I did contact Subaru of America and they responded that my Outback does not have a recall, only prior years. Unbelievable!!! The exact same make and model with the exact same defect and they just blow me off! I was lucky that we did not reach the point of a serious accident. I hope that NHTSA will evaluate my, and I am sure other safety issues with Subaru brakes, and take some action to give other owners the opportunity to make this very serious safety matter right, and avoid an accident. In a related question, can NHTSA somehow require auto manufacturers to inspect their vehicles that are still on the road after say 12 years to helpfully provide some safety assurance to the drivers of their vehicles?

Rear four way brake junction is completely corroded and leaking fluid causing a complete loss of braking. This appears to be the exact same issue as referenced in this recall [XXX] ) that affects previous model years. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The rear brake lines sprung a leak in a well-known trouble spot with Subarus. The junction area underneath the passengers rear seat is where brake fluid is leaking from. I was driving under normal conditions, went and depressed the break and the pedal went to the floor. The cars brakes were not performing and upon inspection I found the leak. I researched this issue and found that Subaru did acknowledge this issue and other outback model years through recall and technical service bulletins. This is a significant safety issue and should be upgraded to a recall.

My Subaru Outback, at roughly 110,000 miles, displayed a dash indicator suggesting low brake fluid. After investigating, I found a brake line junction under the car, below the rear passenger seat. This 4-line junction is hidden behind a plastic cover that does have a removable inspection window. The junction's 4-lines are all corroded and at least one is leaking. After finding the issue and researching fixes online, I have discovered that this is a previously-reported problem although Subaru has not taken action to address it. I have not taken action to fix the issue as I am working out the best fix, but will not be driving the car until the leaking corroded junction is repaired.

The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Outback. The contact stated she starting the vehicle and there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The contact stated while reserving, she was depressing on the brake pedal but failed to stop the vehicle, causing her to rear into 2 vehicles. The contact was not aware if there were any warning lights illuminated. The contact stated she continued to depress the brake pedal for almost 10-20 feet from where she started until it stop the vehicle completely. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries or seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Our low mileage car which we bought new and is under 10 years old experienced a complete brake failure in our driveway. The brake warning light did then come on. The brake pedal went to the floor when pressed. This event immediately followed a trip with a considerable passenger and luggage load on steep hills where complete brake loss would have been catastrophic and endangered us and the public. The dealer is familiar with the problem (rust-through of brake lines in a specific, well-known location). I am astonished to now learn that earlier years of Outback and other models are the subject of NHSTA 14V-311 and a Subaru product safety campaign WQK-47R to inspect and replace or protect the brake lines that just failed in our car, specifically in the vicinity of the 2-2way connector, however our car is not covered by this campaign. I've attached a picture of the corroded lines on our car which is essentially identical to the picture of the 2-2way connector on https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2014/RCMN-14V311-4153.pdf . This failure is compounded by the lack of a conventional emergency/parking brake, as the steps to engage the vehicle's electronic parking brake while the vehicle is in motion and picking up speed are not obvious.

Brakes failed on the highway and it appears to be the brake lines as outlined in a Subaru Brake Line Recall. Of course I own a 2012 Outback which was not covered and now have a very expensive repair bill. Subaru and the NHTSA annouced that the recalled models include the model year 2008 to 2011 Impreza, 2008 to 2014 WRX and STI and 2009 to 2013 Forester crossover SUV. All affected cars are currently or were formerly registered in the snowy states, where salt is applied to the roads. It was duly noted that these vehicles were previously subjected to another safety campaign, which was given the 14V-311 recall number.

I was driving to work and applied the brakes to slow the vehicle while descending a hill and the pedal went almost down to the floor before the brakes took hold. I got the vehicle under control and proceeded toward the stop sign. I attempted to applied the brakes again and the vehicle went nearly through the intersection before I could get the car stopped. This happened at two more stop signs before I was able to pull into a parking spot at work. After the first stop sign incident, I drove very slowly to work, so as to not use the brakes but for stopping. A mechanic has looked at the car and determined the master cylinder is bad. The part number has been recalled for some vehicles, but not for my car, as determined by the VIN. No warning lights are on. I had two other incidences, on different days, and weeks apart, where I was applying the brakes and went over bumps or holes in the road and brakes momentarily gave out, but after letting off the brake and reapplying pressure the brakes were normal again, and remained so for weeks until this latest episode. I had notified the mechanic at the earlier instances and they noted it might be a problem with my car-make.

Brake line failure. Burst under plastic gas tank cover.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THEIR SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DRIVER HAD TO DROP THE VEHICLE INTO FIRST GEAR THEN CRASHED INTO THE CURB WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER RECEIVED A CHEST INJURY HOWEVER THERE WAS NO MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED. THE REAR PASSENGERS ALL OF WHICH WERE CHILDREN WERE NOT INJURED BUT ALL CAR SEATS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (WALKER MOTORS INC 265 RIVER ST, MONTPELIER, VT 05602; (802) 229-0391) WHO DIAGNOSED THE BRAKE LINE HAD CORRODED. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LINE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THEIR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

Mileage: 112,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATE THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SPONGY WHILE BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. GANLEY WESTSIDE SUBARU (25730 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070) (888) 798-5035) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V562000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

Mileage: 82,000

FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT AND EBRAKE IS NOT ENGAGING. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A STUCK DRUM BRAKE BY JACKING UP AND ROTATING BOTH REAR ROTORS. BOTH ROTORS MOVE FREELY. I CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE WAS RECALL ON 2012 MODELS BUT NOT ON MINE (2012 OUTBACK, 3.6 LIMITED. IT IS DRIVING OKAY BUT I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT ON HIGHWAYS. LAST YEAR BRAKE LINING THICKNESS ON ALL FOUR TIRES WERE 7MM (SUBARU DEALERSHIP) AND I ONLY DROVE A MAXIMUM OF 10000 MILES. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT OTHER USERS FACE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH EBRAKE SYSTEM TOO.

VEHICLE REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT BECAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE/POTENTIAL ACCELERATION AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. THIS HAPPENED IN RAINY CONDITIONS, WHICH MY WIFE HAD NOTICED MANY WEEKS BEFORE. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE FOUND THESE RECALLS: AND LAWSUIT HTTPS://CARS.USNEWS.COM/CARS-TRUCKS/SUBARU/OUTBACK/2012/RELIABILITY HTTPS://WWW.CLASSACTION.ORG/NEWS/CLASS-ACTION-CLAIMS-SUBARU-CONCEALED-SUDDEN-ACCELERATION-DEFECT-IN-FORESTER-LEGACY-OUTBACK-MODELS#:~:TEXT=NEW%20JERSEY-,SUBARU%20OF%20AMERICA%2C%20INC.,FROM%20A%20SUDDEN%20ACCELERATION%20DEFECT.

Mileage: 111,000

LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE ON ALL THE TIME BRAKES TRACTION ABS (ANTI BRAKE SYSTEM)ABOUT THE SAME TIME MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING

Mileage: 160,000

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE SUDDENLY CHANGED ON ME, WHICH REQUIRED ME TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE CAR. VERY ALARMING AT THE TIME AND IF I WERE NOT AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ISSUE. THE ISSUE RESOLVED ITSELF BRIEFLY BUT HAS NOW REMAINED IN IT CURRENT STATE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO JUDGE WHAT BRAKE PRESSURE TO APPLY -- A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. UNTIL I CAN GET THIS ISSUE FIXED, I HAD TO KEEP THE CAR PARKED. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN IMMEDIATE DIAGNOSIS. SHOP SAID THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER APPEARS TO BE FAILING. THEY ALSO ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS UNDER A SUBARU RECALL, HOWEVER, WHEN ASKING A NEARBY SUBARU DEALER, THEY SAID THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY. I FOUND THAT TROUBLING SINCE THE RECALL AFFECTS 2012 SUBARU MODELS AND IS A VERY CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT RESOLVED. (NOTE: I UPLOADED THE RECALL PRINTOUT THAT OUTLINES THE ISSUE). *TR

Mileage: 114,000

BRAKE LINE NEAR REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE THE LINE IS LEAKING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON OLDER MODELS BUT THIS YEAR DOES NOT HAVE THE RECALL ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 164,000

REAR BRAKE LINE ON PASSENGER SIDE IS CORRODED AND LEAKING BADLY. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

MY CAR OFTEN GETS STUCK WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND I CANNOT MOVE THE CAR FORWARD OR BACKWARD. MOST TIMES I HAVE A CARLOAD OF GROCERIES AND NEED TO GET THEM TO THE FREEZER OR REFRIGERATOR. COMPUTER ENGINE ANALYSIS...... ABS C0054 BRAKE SWITCH ON MALFUNCTION C0057 ECM CONTROL...... EPB C0252 MOTOR MALFUNCTION DETAIL CODE 50A0 ..... C0234 VDC FAILURE DETAIL CODE C111..... C0242 POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE FAILURE DETAIL CODE. I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES, REPLACED TIRES, CHECKED FLUID, CHECKED FUSES, ETC.

Mileage: 115,405

BRAKE LINE CORRODED. THIS IS A KNOWN SUBARU ISSUE, BUT RECALLS HAVE NOT AFFECTED THE 2012 OUTBACK AS OF YET; WANTED TO REPORT THIS AS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. CAR IS IN A SNOWY REGION BUT ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE REGULARLY TAKEN CARE OF.

Mileage: 115,000

WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON I70 , 10 MILES EAST OF COLBY, KS AT 75 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND SWERVE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SWERVE LIGHT. I STOPPED THE CAR AND CONSULTED THE MANUAL WHICH INDICATED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC IN COLBY. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DENVER SUBARU DEALER, WHERE IT IS NOW.

Mileage: 63,000

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FLASHES ABOUT EVERY SECOND OR THIRD TIME YOU START CAR. ST AUSTIN FLASHING

Mileage: 48,500

TL* THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK COMPANY VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FITZGERALD SUBARU (11407 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MD 20852, (301) 230-9000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE KNOCK SENSORS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BODY AND HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,763.

Mileage: 73,763

THE REAR 3RD HIGH BRAKE LIGHT LEAKS EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS EVERY TIME THAT IT RAINS FOR ABOUT THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.

Mileage: 50,000

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THE CAR COMES TO A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF ('STALLS WHEN IDLING OR SLOWING DOWN'). THE VEHICLE THEN MUST BE PUT INTO 'PARK' MODE IN ORDER TO RE-START. THIS OCCURS NEARLY EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK, AND HAS CREATED MANY, MANY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR US AND THE DRIVERS AROUND US. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MAY CONCERNING THIS ISSUE, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN THIS WEEK, AND THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE TSB WAS APPARENTLY ISSUED IN JAN 2014, BUT CUSTOMERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE DEFECT POSES DIRE SAFTEY RISKS. WE ARE BEWILDERED GIVEN THAT THIS ITEM IS CLEARLY A RECALL-WORTHY DEFECT THAT PLACES THE VEHICLE OWNER, AND THE CARS AROUND THEM, IN FORESEEABLE AND CONSIDERABLE DANGER. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE ALSO BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER THAT THERE IS 'NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR VEHICLE' IN SPITE OF THE TSB ISSUED IN JAN '14. A CYNICAL PERSON MIGHT CONCLUDE THAT AN EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO OBFUSCATE THIS SAFETY DEFECT UNTIL CUSTOMER'S WARRANTIES RUN OUT. SIMILARLY, THE MANUFACTURERS TSB LANGUAGE APPEARS TO OBFUSCATE THE DEFECT WITH EUPHEMISTIC LANGUAGE. TO BE CLEAR --- THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT AN EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO AVOID A RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE TSB, SUBARU MODIFIED PRODUCTION IN OCTOBER 2013 TO ACCOUNT FOR AND CURE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. AGAIN, CUSTOMERS HO WERE SOLD VEHICLES WITH THE SAFETY DEFECT HAV NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

Mileage: 60,000

I PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW, OVER THE COURSE OF 4 YEARS HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL BRAKE MASTER WENT BAD AFTER 2 AND A HALF YEARS, OIL NOT LASTING UNTIL THE NEXT OIL CHANGE AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE'S A/C DIED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC, HE FOUND THE COMPRESSOR HAD GONE. WE ORDERED A NEW ONE. TOOK THE VEHICLE OUT THE NEXT DAY TO RETURN IT TO MECHANIC AND IN ROUTE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING PROFUSELY AND DIED ON THE ROAD 2 MINUTES AFTER IT BEGAN SMOKING. THE VEHICLE IS THEN TOWED TO MECHANIC TO FIND THAT THE OIL AND COOLANT WERE MIXING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND DAMAGED HEAD GASKET. THIS MAKE & MODEL HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND TO HAVE ISSUES WITH "FAULTY BRAKE MASTERS & LEAKING OIL LEADING TO COOLANT AND HEAD GASKET" ISSUES. NO RECALL, SAFETY OR ADVISEMENT INFORMATION HAS EVER BEEN SENT OR CORRESPONDED TO US REGARDING THIS MATTER. THERE IS HOWEVER AN OPEN CLASS ACTION SUIT IN NEW JERSEY FOR THE ISSUE OF LEAKING OIL AND COOLING ISSUES.

Mileage: 87,000

ON MAY 15TH, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING "BRAKE" AND "CHECK ENGINE". TOOK IT TO A SUBARU DEALER IN BERLIN CT WHO FOUND THE FOLLOWING: "TROUBLE CODE P0171/SYSTEM TO LEAN BANK 1, FAULT TRACED AND FOUND VACUUM LEAK AROUND BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE. VACUUM VALVE CRACKED. RECOMMEND REPLACING BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY". THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 39,120 MILES. THIS PART IS WELL PROTECTED WITHIN THE ENGINE AREA. SERVICE REPAIR DESCRIBED THE PART AS A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE AND STATED HE'S NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. TO MY WAY OF THINKING, THE PART HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS BUILT. CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED BY SUBARU DEALERS. COST IS A LITTLE OVER $700.00. I HAVE THE WORK ORDER IF YOU NEED IT; BUT THE WORDING ABOVE IS DIRECTLY FROM THE ORDER. IS THERE A WAY TO START AN INVESTIGATION SHOWING THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS FAULT? IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN FORCE SUBARU TO PAY FOR THIS?

Mileage: 39,120

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND HESITATED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MASTER CYLINDER WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 100,000

WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, SUDDENLY THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE REQUIRED REPAIR WAS ONLY THE FORWARD OXYGEN SENSOR, A NON-EMERGENCY REPAIR. YET CRUISE CONTROL AND ABS WERE DISABLED, ABS BEING AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE. I WAS TOLD SUBARU HAS PURPOSELY PROGRAMED THE CAR THIS WAY. NOT ONLY WAS I UNABLE TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THE ACTUAL REPAIR BUT HAD AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE DISABLED UNNECESSARILY.

Mileage: 91,982

RECALL WVY-35 APPLIES TO SOME 2012 SUBARU OUTBACKS. MY 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS THIS DIFFICULTY YET IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEEN SOFT AND MUSHY. I NEED TO PRESS THE PEDAL VERY HARD FOR A LONG DISTANCE ALMOST TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE STOPPING DISTANCE AS A RESULT IS OFTEN MUCH LONGER THAN EXPECTED. THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL BELOW. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS INTO MY SUBARU DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND I AM TOLD THE BRAKES ARE OPERATING NORMALLY, BUT THEY ARE NOT. SUBARU CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TELLS ME THAT MY 2012 OUTBACK IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. RECALL WVY-35 SEEMS NOT TO APPLY TO VERY MAY CARS AND FOR OUTBACKS IS NARROWLY FOCUSED ON DATES OF MANUFACTURE SPANNING ONLY 36 DAYS, WHEN IT CLEARLY RELATES TO A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER USED IN THOSE CARS AND MY CAR IS AFFECTED BUT IS NOT RECALLED. WHY ISN'T THIS RECALL MORE BROAD AND RELATE TO ALL CARS WITH THESE MASTER CYLINDERS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BRAKES HERE. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE BAD BRAKE SYSTEMS ARE REPAIRED? RECALL WVY-35 IS CUT AND PASTED BELOW: SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 IMPREZA SEDANS AND WAGONS (EXCEPT WRX/STI MODELS), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 21, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2011, AND LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 17, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 23, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER THAT COULD MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE REQUIRED TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENCE: THE DRIVER MIGHT MISJUDGE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS COULD OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 12

REAR BRAKE PADS NEEDED REPLACED AT 21000 MILES( HIGHLY UNUSUAL WEAR). FRONT PADS AT 50%--REAR PADS LESS THAN 10%. REQUESTED DEALER TO REPLACE PADS AND ROTORS. THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ROTORS AND INFORMED ME THAT ALL THEY WOULD DO WOULD BE RESURFACE ROTORS AND REPLACE PADS. WORK ORDER STATES THAT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. INSPECTION OF ROTORS AFTER, DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS HAD NOT BEEN RESURFACED. I SUGGESTED TO DEALER TO CHECK ABS AND EBD SYSTEM TO DETERMINE IF THEY BIAS OF THE BRAKES WAS CORRECT DUE TO THE UNUSUALLY LOW MILEAGE ON REAR PADS AND NORMAL WEAR ON FRONT PADS .THEY REFUSED TO CHECK THIS AND NOW THE REAR BRAKES ARE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. *TR

Mileage: 21,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR BRAKES WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE OTHER MECHANICS WHO DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT SOMEONE UNPLUGGED AND MISPLACED THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CLIP WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE WIRES RE-ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 9/18/14*CN UPDATED 02/12/2015 *JS

Mileage: 44,000

I HAVE HAD THE CAR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES SINCE THE BEGINNING. SEVERAL TIMES UPON COLD STARTUP THE BRAKES BARELY WORK. NOT ALWAYS BUT FREQUENTLY. I HAVE TO USE BOTH FEET TO PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND IT TRAVELS SEVERAL FEET BEFORE STOPPING. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION SEVERAL TIMES, THIS LAST TIME, PUSHING THEM TO KEEP THE CAR TO DUPLICATE THE RESULTS. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AND SUGGEST THAT I WARM THE CAR UP BEFORE MOVING IT. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT ANSWER, T IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SUGGEST THEY TAKE IT HIGHER UP THE CHAIN. THEY KEPT IT FOR A FEW MORE DAYS AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND SEVERAL ON THEIR LOT. THEY TELL ME IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS JUST THE WAY THE CAR HANDLES. THE SUBARU NATIONAL TECH WAS OUT OF THE STATE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT KEEP MY CAR ANY LONGER TO WAIT ON THE TECH.THEY ARE CLOSING THE ORDER AND TOLD ME TO COME PICK UP MY CAR AT MY CONVENIENCE. I TOLD THEM I WAS NOT SATISFIED AND THAT I CONSIDERED IT A SAFETY CONCERN. THEY SAID I COULD PAY EXTRA AND HAVE SOME OTHER BRAKE OPTIONS BUT ON, BUT THAT THE WAY IT PERFORMS NOW IS THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED. JUST IN MY DRIVEWAY I COULD EASILY GO OVER THE HILLSIDE OR HURT SOMEONE IF THE CAR WOULD BEHAVE THAT WAY AT AN INOPPORTUNE MOMENT. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

DROVE DOWN A SHORT HILL UNDER ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. APPLIED BRAKES BUT THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM DID NOT WORK TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY, DID NOT CRASH INTO THE APPROACHING BARRIER. HAD TWO (2) CHILDREN WITH ME. NO ONE WAS INJURED. TOLD DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN. WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT RECEIVE ONE FROM NHTSA. *TR

Mileage: 13,000