Brake Master Cylinder Problems of Subaru Outback

Brakes mushy, excessive pedal travel, have to pump them up to stop. This has been going on for a long time. Have had new rotors, new pads, dealer flush and refill including abs with computer. No change. Brake master cylinder suspected, especially as there was apparently a recall regarding certain 2012 model Outbacks, I believe that issue may apply here too. Dangerous.

See all problems of the 2011 Subaru Outback 🔎.

Brake master cylinder is failing, according to Subaru service mechanic. Prior 4 years of same model were under recall for master cylinder defect, replacement. This is technically the same problem. Subaru has provided free replacements for some 2013 owners who had this problem with master cylinder. Seal in mc is broken.

See all problems of the 2013 Subaru Outback 🔎.

A brake master cylinder malfunction. It causes an increase in the amount of brake pedal travel distance required to slow or stop the vehicle. 2012 Subarus were recalled. Is my 2011 recalled? it's very dangerous.

On more than one occasion while braking over potholes, immediately after the abs was activated (and once just driving down a hill toward a stop sign), the brake pedal becomes very soft and is almost to the floor before brakes were engaged, resulting in an increase of travel distance before the vehicle was able to come to a complete stop. The first several times the issue seemed to resolve itself and I figured it was just a result of the road conditions. When it continued to occur I decided to take it to the dealer. The issue again resolved itself before the technician was able to look at it and therefore nothing was done and the vehicle was returned to me. Several months later it occurred again, and again the issue resolved itself before the technician was able to look at it. However, they performed a brake system flush as a precaution. Three months later it happened again while entering the on-ramp to a major highway and persisted for several days. I once again brought it to the dealer where the technician was finally able to verify the concern. They re-flushed the system and also replaced the master cylinder (which was a recall issue in other models) as a form of good will. We all assumed the issue was resolved and I once again took possession of the vehicle. Exactly two weeks later it happened again. I immediately drove it back to the dealership and it once again resolved itself before a technician could look at it, therefore nothing more was to be done. I am not driving this vehicle roughly. There are some roads in our area that are just poorly maintained and there was one occasion where simply pulling off the road and into the grass triggered the issue. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle and I'm told there isn't much else that can be done at this time.

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).

See all problems of the 2012 Subaru Outback 🔎.

The vehicle has soft brakes, it is common among this generation. It does not matter if everything is replaced. There is still a long/soft pedal travel. This may be due to an inadequate master cylinder size or brake booster size. This is a constant issue, does not matter when you use the brakes, it always is slow to stop and can be a bit scary.

See all problems of the 2005 Subaru Outback 🔎.

I have 103. 5k miles and my master cylinder is going out. I was told the 2012 Outback had issues also. While driving the brake pedal went almost to the floor.

Tl-the contact owns a 2012 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph the break pedal went all the way down to the floor. The contact managed to brake by pumping on the pedal. The vehicle was driven home. The next day it was towed to the independent mechanic and the diagnosis was that the abs master cylinder was damaged and needed replacement. The vehicle is been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Bp.

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.

Alot of brake pedal travel low brake took alot of distance to slow down wasn't able to stop the car at 35 mph hit other car. Had car look at many times still thomas Subaru didn't think anything was wrong with car from day one I told them my brakes weren't right it takes alot of distance ( pedal ) which increase amount of time needed to slow and stop the car. . I feel the brake master cylinder is not working right still thomas Subaru will not fix the car until an recall. I also think recall no. 11v562000 which is only for 2012 cars might also needs added for 2011 cars. I now have 31,000 and still have bad brakes. I need help Subaru will not help.

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the brakes failed at a very low speed in a parking space. When the brakes failed, the vehicle continued forward about 20 feet, pushing down a metal fence before stopping. The contact felt that the master cylinder was the cause of the failure. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized dealer and the dealer stated that there was nothing wrong. The contact felt that the failure was related to the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 11v562000( service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages). The failure and current mileages were 6,815. Updated 02/28/12 updated 05/03/12.

Brake failure at sub-freezing temperatures. Occurs every time temperature is below freezing. Failure appears to be in the master cylinder as in previous year model of this auto.

See all problems of the 2003 Subaru Outback 🔎.

While applying the brakes pedal went to the floor. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer. Mechanic determined that the master cylinder needed to be replaced.

See all problems of the 1999 Subaru Outback 🔎.

Consumer was backing out of a parking space pressed on the brake pedal and it went completely down to the floor. There was no advance warning. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer, who informed the consumer that the master cylinder was defective, and had to be replaced. Consumer had the master cylinder replaced which was still under warranty. . . . . . . . Subaru regional representative met with owner's husband and had defective master cylinder sen tto Subaru for evaluation. Representative called after a few weeks and refused to discuss reasons for failure.

I own a 2000 Subaru Outback wagon. While driving approximately 20mph I attempted to make a routine stop in traffic. The car would not slow down, so I depressed the brake to the floor. The antilock brakes seemed to engage (I could feel the stuttering) but the car did not slow quickly enough at all. Notably the temperature was about 8degrees fahrenheit without windchill. I have since discovered that Subaru has recalled older (1999) and later (2002) models for this exact situation (hydrolic master cylinder brake failure at low temperatures). I plan to contact Subaru to find out what their position is on this. I do not feel the consumer should be held responsible for a known design flaw.

See all problems of the 2000 Subaru Outback 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 1998 Subaru Outback 🔎.

Nhtsa# on certain passenger vehicles, the brake master cylinders may not function properly in ambient temperatures below freezing 32 degrees fahrenheit and lower. Consumer has the same problem. However this vehicle was not recalled due to the VIN.

See all problems of the 2002 Subaru Outback 🔎.

The dealer took too long to peform recall #02v079000 regarding the master cylinder.

I have reported the problem to dealer, been to Subaru dealer 3 times who can't duplicate the problem, however the problem keeps recurring to me. Feel it is either master cylinder or abs, given low mileagea and age of car. Poor brake design if computer cannot pick up this fault.

While driving on highway, consumer experienced total brake failure, consumer was able to stop vehicle by depressing brake pedal all the way to the floor, slowly the vehicle came to a full stop, vehicle was taken into dealership and mechanic discovered there was a defective master cylinder.

See all problems of the 2001 Subaru Outback 🔎.

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.