2011 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 78about this part
- Share
- 12%of 653 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 78 complaints about the brakes of the 2011 Subaru Outback, 12% of the 653 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,500 miles. 11 of these say a crash was involved, 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.
“On 06/12/2016, I attempted to actuate the electronic brake, to no avail once again. Parking on a hill is rather risky with this vehicle as the parking brake does not function most of the time, something I have never experienced in 50 yrs of driving using a manual parking brake. So I have made my own parking brake (see attached).”
NHTSA complaint #10874033, filed 2016-06, 46,745 miles“Car stalls out when I come to a complete stop, especially if I have to stop short due to being cut off. Car is an automatic, so this is not supposed to happen and is very dangerous when cars are coming behind me. I took it back to the dealer 3 times over the years and each time they said they could not replicate the problem and thus no diagnosis. After reading online, it seems to be a known problem to Subaru with a faulty torque converter.”
NHTSA complaint #11308723, filed 2020-02, 78,291 miles“I was driving home tonight and the car stalled everything quit working, the car jumped a few times and turned back on. I lost brakes and no steering coming down a 8 % grade. I turned the car back on and it kept doing it. I was out of cell service range so I could not call for help. It was scary. I got home and I see there was a recall but my car is out of that recall range at 100000 miles. I just paid 11,000 for this car. I believe I should not have to pay for this known issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11203278, filed 2019-04, 150,930 miles“I pulled up into my driveway coming home from shopping as usual, it was approximately 5:45pm on jan 7, 2014. The road to my house and my driveway have an incline. I pulled in my driveway which was dry (the street was icy) stopped, turned off car, put my foot on the brake to use the emergency brake. …”
NHTSA complaint #10559000, filed 2014-01, 31,000 miles“Takata recall I was driving on the interstate hwy. The car in front of me slammed on brakes, so I stepped on my brakes, car turked to a stop while engine stalled. Dead stop on interstate. Not a good thing. I started it back up, kept driving, when , I came to a safer stop sign. I tried to step on brakes like I had done on interstate and it turked to a stop again stalling. It doesn't seem safe to me. I am glad no one was behind me on interstate or I am afraid it would not have ended well.”
NHTSA complaint #11141646, filed 2018-10, 100,000 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 2011 Subaru Outback
216 complaintsExterior lighting
117 complaintsEngine
85 complaintsAir bags
73 complaintsElectrical system
67 complaintsOther or unknown
39 complaintsSteering
36 complaintsVehicle speed control
26 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
23 complaintsSuspension
21 complaintsFuel system
16 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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