2010 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 40about this part
- Share
- 11%of 360 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 121,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 40 complaints about the brakes of the 2010 Subaru Outback, 11% of the 360 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 121,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I went out to start my car and let it warm up. I got in set the electronic parking brake started the car and put the manual transmission in neutral. I went in the house to finish getting ready, when I looked out the window the car was in the ditch at the bottom of the driveway. I had the parking brake recall done in march at the local Subaru dealer”
NHTSA complaint #11377704, filed 2020-12, 265,000 miles“Multiple times over the past 6 years I will be driving and if using my cruise it stops working and I have flashing lights , brake and cruise light flashes on and off, check engine and traction control light stay on. These lights stay on from 1 day to almost 2 weeks before they go out. I have had them checked many times by Subaru dealer and other mechanic shops with no resolution except to clear the codes”
NHTSA complaint #11389164, filed 2021-01, 121,000 miles“I lost the brakes going down our steep driveway into the private road. We discovered that the brake fluid reservoir was empty. When my husband removed the plastic fuel tank cover to check for a leak, he discovered that the hard brake lines were heavily corroded right around the brake line junction box, similar to the 2005-2009 outbacks. The car had one owner before us, in massachusetts. We are in maine. .”
NHTSA complaint #11385423, filed 2020-12, 143,200 miles“As I was pulling into a parking space with a foot to go, going less than 5 MPH, the engine surged and the car suddenly lunged forward, climbed a 6 inch curb and traveled about 4 feet and hit a wooden staircase of a building. The entire time my foot was on the brake. This entire event took less than a second.”
NHTSA complaint #10637349, filed 2014-09, 66,800 miles“I was driving about 30 MPH on a country road, attempted to stop, and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I was able to use my paddle shifters to slow the car down to a safer speed. After the pedal went to the floor, I noticed that the brake warning light had come on. Luckily I was close to home and was able to limp the car back home where the car has sat unable to be driven. There is an outstanding recall (Subaru #214790, NHTSA# 14v311000) for 05-09 Outback models. …”
NHTSA complaint #11124423, filed 2018-09, 215,647 milesRelated recalls
- 18V626000Sep 13, 2018Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking…Covers: Subaru Outback 2010–2014, Legacy 2010–2014
Related service bulletins
- 11002725Jun 25, 2024This bulletin provides diagnosis and procedure information to be applied when diagnosing potential fluid leaks on front and rear brake calipers. This information has been…
- 10171107Jan 31, 2020This Service Information Bulletin provides the most recent part number and interchangeability information for the EPB assembly.
- 10166898Oct 4, 2019In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) assembly used in…
- 10165517Sep 16, 2019As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, SOA is announcing an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) Warranty Extension program, which extends the New Car Basic Limited…
- 10165515Sep 16, 2019Subaru owner letter. As part of Subaru of Americaâs dedication to customer satisfaction, this letter is to inform you of an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for…
- 10165505Sep 16, 2019In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) assembly used in…
- 10164443Aug 26, 2019Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling all 2010-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission (M/T), to replace the electronic parking…
- 10164185Aug 8, 2019This bulletin announces availability of a new front disc brake pad, shim, grease and clip kit designed to reduce customer concerns of excessive brake squeal. This new kit…
- 10162886Jul 17, 2019Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling all 2010-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission (M/T), to replace the electronic parking…
- 10163525Jul 11, 2019This Service Information bulletin announces instruction for application of additional lubrication between the brake caliper support and pad clips. This will prevent the pad from…
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5% |
| 2025 | 7 | 8% |
| 2024 | 4 | 4% |
| 2023 | 7 | 8% |
| 2022 | 11 | 2% |
| 2021 | 8 | 3% |
| 2020 | 15 | 2% |
| 2019 | 22 | 2% |
| 2018 | 18 | 2% |
| 2017 | 25 | 3% |
| 2016 | 19 | 3% |
| 2015 | 28 | 5% |
| 2014 | 22 | 11% |
| 2013 | 31 | 10% |
| 2012 | 40 | 14% |
| 2011 | 78 | 12% |
| 2010 | 40 | 11% |
| 2009 | 8 | 8% |
| 2008 | 31 | 14% |
| 2007 | 8 | 6% |
| 2006 | 19 | 7% |
| 2005 | 31 | 11% |
| 2004 | 3 | 3% |
| 2003 | 7 | 8% |
| 2002 | 31 | 22% |
| 2001 | 30 | 18% |
| 2000 | 12 | 6% |
| 1999 | 9 | 8% |
| 1998 | 15 | 12% |
| 1997 | 9 | 11% |
| 1996 | 7 | 15% |
Other parts of the 2010 Subaru Outback
94 complaintsAir bags
44 complaintsEngine
44 complaintsSteering
41 complaintsExterior lighting
35 complaintsElectrical system
33 complaintsSuspension
26 complaintsEngine cooling
23 complaintsOther or unknown
19 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsTires
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2010 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology