2023 Subaru Outback Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 8%of 89 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 268,000miles
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the brakes of the 2023 Subaru Outback, 8% of the 89 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 268,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car's battery died when I was on vacation. A friend of mine tried to jump start with his car and he couldn't. Then a roadside service jump started the car. After the jump start I was told to drive the car around so that it can charge the battery. The car did two unexpected things: 1- The steering was jittery and sometimes moving to the opposite direction that I was turning. This issue has been confirmed by the dealership. …”
NHTSA complaint #11533520, filed 2023-07“My car had an unintended acceleration that caused me to go in a ditch and hit a tree. I could not get car to stop when I realized it was increasing speed. It all happened very fast. My car was totaled. All airbags deployed. front right side of car was completely destroyed. There were no warnings. My insurance company has the car on their tow lot. I have sprains and bruises on my right side and a slight concussion. so thankful that I was not in a parking lot or in heavy traffic or near any walkers”
NHTSA complaint #11639451, filed 2025-01“Driving at speeds around 40 and when braking to turn, the brakes jerk and feel like they are not engaging properly. It has happened to a different driver, twice both times on a 90 degree day, a few minutes after the vehicle had been started and the air conditioner was running on high. After this happened we Googled the issue to see what the problem could be. The Google search shows a Subaru Service Bulletin #16-150-24R, 09/13/24, revised 12/03/24, showing our year and model of vehicle and a VIN # for all those models as TBD. …”
NHTSA complaint #11758281, filed 2026-08“I purchased the vehicle about a month ago and almost on a daily basis the precollision breaking system would cause the car to break when there was nothing there. It has picked up parked cars on the side of the road as well as breaked for no apparent reason. I have been almost rear ended a number of times. The precollision breaking system takes several steps to turn off and needs to be turned off every time the car is started. I spoke to the dealership and brought the car in to be looked at. I thought maybe the cameras were too sensitive. …”
NHTSA complaint #11517305, filed 2023-04“The vehicle has received all scheduled and regular maintenance. I was driving right around the speed limit of 50 mph. Traffic was stopped ahead, and I had plenty of time and space to stop. I pressed the brake pedal, but continued to coast. I pressed it harder, all the way to the floor for at least four seconds, and there was no resistance, no feel of the antilock brakes kicking in, no emergency braking to avoid a collision, and no braking or slowing whatsoever. I could not safely swerve out of my lane, as there was no shoulder on my left and traffic on my right, and so there was an accident. …”
NHTSA complaint #11628020, filed 2024-11Related service bulletins
- 11034251Jun 20, 2026This bulletin announces availability of new Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) & Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) module reprogramming files developed to address cases of a…
- 11022303Aug 11, 2025This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files for the HYDRAULIC UNIT ASSEMBLY(VDC). This logic was developed to address the following Diagnostic Trouble Code…
- 11021255Jul 10, 2025This bulletin announces the availability of new reprogramming files developed to address cases of DTC C1C40 being detected by the Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) in addition to…
- 11018913May 29, 2025This bulletin announces the availability of new reprogramming files developed to address cases of DTC C1C40 being detected by the Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) in addition to…
- 11014871Feb 18, 2025This bulletin announces a design change made to the front brake pads developed to reduce any brake pulsation and/or vibration felt during brake operation.
- 11010916Nov 7, 2024This bulletin announces a design change made to the front brake pads developed to reduce any brake pulsation and/or vibration felt during brake operation.
- 11006933Aug 5, 2024This bulletin announces a design change made to the front brake pads developed to reduce any brake pulsation and/or vibration felt during brake operation.
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 2023 Subaru Outback
22 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
19 complaintsElectrical system
17 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsLane departure
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2023 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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