Two problems related to brake disc pads have been reported for the 2005 Subaru Outback. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2005 Subaru Outback based on all problems reported for the 2005 Outback.
Brakes are very weak for the first couple of stops after the car has been sitting for a while (about eight hours or more). Brakes work fine after warming up. This is very dangerous when first backing out of driving; would not be able to stop fast enough if a child or person was suddenly in the way and you needed to stop. This is the case with oem brake pads and after-market pads.
Component: service brakes, brake pads, details: the brake pads on my 2005 Subaru have warped (all 4) at 18,000 miles producing an uneven sensation as one is braking. It also increases the distance required to stop. After taking my Subaru in for a brake inspection (at 20,000 miles) I was told that all 4 wheels needed new brake pads, (even though my front brakes have 60% braking efficiency & 70% on the rear brakes). My partner, who is a professional driver, is the sole driver of our Subaru and is very rarely in stop-and-go traffic. On the few occasions when she is in heavy traffic she maintains extra distance between her vehicle and the vehicle in front of her to avoid having to use her brakes more then is absolutely necessary. Neither one of us have ever had to replace the brake pads on a vehicle with mileage as low as 20,000 miles and both of us have lived in large cities all of our lives. I had a similar problem on a 2000 Subaru forester. This is a definite safety issue. Subaru, overall, makes reliable, responsive and safe vehicles but this issue needs to be dealt with before someone is seriously injured or killed.