Was driving south on I-5 near orland, ca on 12/26/18 when my outback began shaking and attempting to "brake" (I was doing between 65 - 70 MPH). I looked down and the parking brake signal was illuminated. (I had not engaged the brake.) I was able to pull to the side of the road. I disengaged the brake and resumed. It happened again. I pulled off the road and called my Subaru dealership, carlsen…
2013 Subaru Outback brakes problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
When does it fail?
Of the 11 brakes complaints filed for the 2013 Subaru Outback, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple serious brake issues plague this model year, from pedal entrapment and unintended parking brake engagement to master cylinder failure and unresponsive brakes. Get a thorough pre-purchase inspection, verify parking brake module/master cylinder condition, and be aware Subaru has been slow to acknowledge or recall these defects.
The 2013 Subaru Outback brake complaints span multiple failure modes with clear safety implications.
Pedal entrapment is a design defect: the flap above the brake pedal traps the driver's foot under it, especially with bulky or mesh-topped shoes. One owner was nearly rear-ended because they couldn't accelerate after braking; it took 10–15 seconds to free their foot. Service adjustments don't hold—the problem recurs after maintenance—though Subaru eventually replaced the flap with a longer design without acknowledging the work.
Parking brake module failures trigger brake warnings and unintended engagement while driving. One owner experienced spontaneous braking at 70 mph on the interstate; Subaru had issued a recall for this defect in 2010–2014 Outbacks but didn't flag this vehicle's VIN, and their customer service never mentioned it.
Electronic parking brake actuator (part 26002aj02c) is discontinued nationwide. A former Subaru technician confirmed this is a known issue covered by Technical Service Bulletin 06-58-17R, but Subaru told owners to source parts from junkyards.
Soft, spongy brakes with excessive pedal travel and poor stopping power persist even after rotor, pad, and caliper replacement and state inspection.
Master cylinder seal failure mirrors defects covered in recalls for 2009–2012 model years. The 2013 shares the exact same problem; some owners got free replacements while others were denied.
Brake pedal unresponsiveness—depressing the pedal yields no immediate stop; some required 30 seconds of sustained pressure—has no clear diagnostic cause at dealerships.
Same Subaru Outback brakes reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal foot entrapment
Flap above brake pedal catches and traps foot under pedal, preventing immediate release and acceleration. Worst with bulky shoes. Flap redesigned during service but issue recurs after maintenance.
When: Months after purchase; recurs intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Foot stuck under brake pedal flap; Mesh fabric catches on flap; Takes 10-15 seconds to free foot; Unable to accelerate after braking
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership adjusted flap multiple times with poor results; eventually replaced flap with longer version during service (though service denied any work was done); issue recurs after each maintenance
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru customer service initially offered to provide repair instructions; later denied any problem existed or repairs were needed, despite evidence flap was replaced
Electronic parking brake actuator failure
Parking brake actuator (EPB) malfunction causing intermittent brake warning light and safety system warnings. Part 26002aj02c discontinued and unavailable; occurs more frequently in hot weather.
When: Several months into ownership; triggered by drive cycles and temperature
Symptoms owners cite: Brake light and iSight warning light illuminate; Lights come on after driving 1 hour, shutting off, then restarting after 20 minutes; Lights remain on until vehicle cools for several hours; More frequent in hot weather; Lights have activated dozens of times
Repairs/costs cited: Independent Subaru master technician identified this as common issue requiring EPB actuator replacement per TSB 06-58-17R; part discontinued and unavailable from Subaru; dealership and Subaru customer support directed owner to junkyard sourcing
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 06-58-17R exists for this repair; Subaru discontinued the part and has no replacement units available
Parking brake module unintended engagement
Parking brake module engages spontaneously while driving at highway speed, causing shaking and braking action without driver input. Brake light flashes intermittently. Issue persists when brake is manually disengaged.
When: At 65-70 mph on interstate highway on 12/26/18
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shakes and attempts to brake; Parking brake signal illuminated without driver action; Brake re-engages repeatedly after disengagement; Brake light flashes on and off periodically; Requires constant monitoring to prevent re-engagement
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed parking brake module failure with $185 diagnosis fee and $1,250 estimated repair; vehicle covered under recall for 2010-2014 Outbacks/Legacys (began October 2018) but VIN not flagged in dealer system and owner received no recall notice
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists for 2010-2014 Outbacks/Legacys with failing parking brakes; recall began October 2018; provides replacement or extended warranty depending on transmission type; Subaru customer service made no mention of applicable recall
Brake pedal unresponsiveness
Brake pedal depressed but vehicle fails to stop immediately. Requires multiple applications or extended pressure (30+ seconds) to achieve braking response. No clear diagnostic cause identified.
When: At undisclosed speed; separately at approximately 35 mph at 72,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed with no initial response; Requires several pedal applications to stop; Requires approximately 30 seconds of sustained pressure; Vehicle eventually stops after repeated attempts; Intermittent cruise control light illumination
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed but found no cause; vehicle not repaired; at least one case involved dealership appointment scheduled but not completed at time of complaint
Soft/mushy brake feel with extended pedal travel
Brake pedal exhibits excessive travel and soft, mushy sensation. Unable to lock brakes or achieve firm pedal feel. Vehicle cannot stop quickly in emergency situations despite parts replacement and passing inspection.
When: Develops over time; persists after repairs at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Increased brake pedal travel; Soft or mushy pedal feel; Unable to lock up brakes; Frequently hits end of brake travel; Cannot stop quickly; Cannot stop quickly in emergency situations
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors, pads, and calipers replaced; vehicle passed state inspection; issue persists despite repairs
Brake master cylinder seal failure
Master cylinder seal broken, causing brake system failure. 2009-2012 model year Outbacks recalled for same defect; 2013 model shares identical problem but recall does not cover it.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brake master cylinder failure; Broken seal in master cylinder
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru service identified master cylinder failure requiring replacement; some 2013 owners received free replacement despite being outside official recall scope
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2009-2012 model years recalled for master cylinder defect and replacement provided; 2013 model year technically same problem but not officially recalled; some 2013 owners received free replacements at Subaru discretion
Spongy brake feel with inadequate stopping power
Brakes feel spongy and vehicle does not stop properly. Issue persists after repairs and dealership inspection, with dealership unable to identify cause.
When: Unspecified timing and mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Spongy brake feel; Vehicle doesn't stop properly; Inadequate stopping power
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs performed; vehicle taken to dealership but no cause identified and no repairs made
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated nothing is wrong despite customer-reported symptoms and completed repairs
Brake shimmy and jolt after pad replacement
Brakes shimmy and jolt after replacement. Occurs alongside heavy oil consumption (more than 1 quart per week).
When: After recent brake pad replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes shimmy and jolt after replacement; Excessive oil consumption (>1 quart/week)
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads recently replaced; shimmy persists
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes failed to engage. The contact stated that eventually, the brakes would return to normal operation. No warning light was illuminated. The contact researched and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V562000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however,…
The brakes are spongy and the car doesn't stop properly. We've had repairs done and took it to the dealership and they tell us nothing is wrong.
Had brakes trouble with your 2013 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2013 Subaru Outback?
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?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 85,214 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Subaru/Outback.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.