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2008 Subaru Legacy brakes problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA
· avg repair $450
Complaints
11
Recalls
1
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$450
Related recalls
severeNHTSA 13V11000027/03/2013
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia
Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected area will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQG-43.
What owners are reporting
5 most recent
brakes
· filed 12/17/2019
THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO SUBARU RECALL WQK-47: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, BRAKE INDICATOR ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING, I COULD FEEL SOMETHING WAS A BIT DIFFERENT WITH THE BRAKE PRESSURE. WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS OF THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, I NOTICED THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND ON SUBSEQUENT PUMPS OF THE BRAKES I GOT SOME PRESSURE. ATTEMPTING T…
brakes
· filed 11/03/2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE BECAME AWARE OF CORROSION AROUND THE BRAKE LINE. THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT WHEN DEPRESSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, INFORM…
brakes
· filed 10/28/2020
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO BRAKE IT LOST THE ABILITY TO APPLY THE BRAKES ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THIS WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID IT WAS PERFORMED AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FURTHER. THE EXACT AREA PERTAINING TO THE BRAKE LINES FAILING AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL IS WHERE IT HAS FAILED. THEIR IS NO EVIDEN…
brakes
· filed 08/24/2020
I SAW THE BRAKE LIGHT COME ON WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET, I TAPPED THE BRAKES LIGHTLY AND CHECKED IF MY EBRAKE WAS UP A FEW TIMES AND THE LIGHT WENT AWAY FOR A BIT BEFORE IT FINALLY STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING AFTER DOING THAT. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS A SENSOR SINCE LIGHT TAPS AND BRAKING SEEMED FINE. I GUESS WHEN I WAS TAPPING AND TESTING THE BRAKES OVER AND OVER, I WAS JUST PUMPING ALL THE BRAKE FL…
brakes
· filed 08/16/2015
UPON COLD START, VEHICLE ENGINE RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH, PLACED TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE WHILE APPLYING BRAKE, VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHILE APPLYING BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET INITIALLY HAD LITTLE EFFECT.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2008 Subaru Legacy?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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