2010 Subaru Forester Brakes Problems

Your rear brakes wear out much faster than normal — they needed replacement twice within 6 months. Your mechanic said the automatic braking system isn't releasing the brakes properly after you stop, which is causing them to wear prematurely. Even after the dealer replaced the rear brakes again, the problem continued. The fix will likely involve diagnosing and repairing the automatic braking system that controls brake release.

MY BRAKES FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING BECAUSE SUBARU DID NOT PROPERLY ADDRESS RECALL WQK47 ON MY CAR IN 2018 EVEN THOUGH THEY CLAIMED IT WAS COMPLETED. MY BRAKE LINES ARE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL THAT THEY IMPROPERLY ADDRESSED 2 YEARS AGO. THEY KNEW IN 2018 WHEN THEY APPLIED THE ANTI-RUST SOLUTION THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED BUT THEY DID NOT DO ANY REPAIRS. THUS, MY CAR IS CURRENTLY NON-FUNCTIONING.

MARCH OF 2019 A RECALL WAS PERFORMED FOR RUSTED BRAKE LINES...THIS YEAR THE BRAKES LINES SUDDENLY FAILED...APPARENTLY IF THE BRAKE LINES AREN'T LEAKING THE SUBARU FIX IS TO SPRAY SEALER OVER THE RUST. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD WAS NO ONE INJURED AS THE CAR WAS BEING PARKED WHEN THE BRAKES LET LOOSE. AND OF COURSE SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE BRAKES PROPERLY FOR $1400.00. I REMOVED THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR A PROPER REPAIR! *TR

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 14V830000 AND 14V311000: SUBARU OF AMERICA RECALL(S) WERE COMPLETED IN 2014. HOWEVER, ON JANUARY 5 2020, WHILE COMING TO A STOP ON A RURAL ROAD, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR ROLLED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. NO OTHER CARS WERE PRESENT AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT A BRAKE PIPE HAD RUSTED AND RUPTURED NEAR THE "4 WAY JUNCTION" AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VERY JUNCTION THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED RECALLS.

IN FREEZING WEATHER, THE BRAKES ICE UP AND DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES IN A NORMAL FASHION, THEY DO NOT WORK. IF I PUMP THEM VERY GENTLY OVER A LONG PERIOD OF SLOWING DOWN, I CAN GET THE CAR TO STOP.

I WAS DRIVING ON A MIXTURE OF LIGHT SNOW AND ICE AND NOTICED ABS ENGAGING WHEN IT SHOULDN'T, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST SLIDE INTO AN INTERSECTION. I HADN'T LOST TRACTION AND WOULD FEEL THE SYSTEM ENGAGE THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WOULD COME ON VERY HARD AND ACTUALLY CAUSE ME TO START SLIDING INSTEAD OF ASSISTING WITH BRAKING. IN ICY CONDITIONS, IT FEELS LIKE SUBARU'S ABS IS VERY "HEAVY HANDED" IN IT'S APPLICATION AND OVERLY SENSITIVE IN IT'S DEPLOYMENT. I WAS IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR UNTIL THE SYSTEM ENGAGED SUDDENLY ON A DOWNHILL LEADING TO A STOP SIGN. THIS OCCURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY AT A STOP LIGHT. RELEASING THE BRAKES COMPLETELY WAS THE ONLY WAY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN BOTH INSTANCES, I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 5 AND 30 MILES PER HOUR, LEAVING MYSELF PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP. I WANT TO REITERATE THAT BOTH TIMES, I HAD GRIP AND WAS SLOWING JUST FINE UNTIL ABS ENGAGED AND STARTED A SLIDE. THE ONLY THING KEEPING ME FROM GETTING INTO A WRECK WAS A LUCKY LIGHT CHANGE. (THE 2ND TIME) AND THE DISTANCE I GAVE MYSELF TO STOP. (THE 1ST TIME) THIS ISSUE IS BAD ENOUGH THAT I'M CONSIDERING PULLING THE ABS FUSE THE NEXT TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE IN SNOW OR ICE.

I HAD PULLED INTO MY COMPANY PARKING LOT AND WAS BACKING INTO MY PARKING SPACE. I PULLED FORWARD, APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. AS SOON AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR ZOOMED BACKWARD. I JUMPED A CURB, WENT THROUGH VERY THICK BUSHES AND LANDED ON TOP OF A SMALL AUDI PARKED IN THE LOT BEHIND OURS. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR TO STOP THE ENGINE. I WAS TOO IN SHOCK TO TAKE PHOTOS BUT OTHERS DID AND I CAN ADD LATER, WITH THE POLICE REPORT WHEN IT'S COMPLETED, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST THE CAR WAS GOING. MUCH TOO FAST TO BE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE. AUTO BODY SHOP ACROSS THE STREET HELPED TO DISENGAGE THE CARS. NO TOWING NEC.

MY 2010 SUBARU FORESTER HAS ONLY 71656 MILES AND I NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FOR THE THIRD TIME. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR SET UP? I AM NOT A KID WITH A HEAVY FOOT ,I AM 71. I KNOW BRAKE SYSTEMS, BECAUSE I WAS AN AUTO REPAIRMAN BE FORE I RETIRED.

REAR BRAKES WORE OUT AT 55K MILES. FRONT BRAKES STILL HAD 7MM WEAR ON THEM. TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO CORROSION OF THE CALIPERS. THE CALIPERS RUSTED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO BE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE ROTORS, WEARING THEM OUT PREMATURELY. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO OVERHEATING OF THE ROTORS. SAME THING HAPPENED ON MY 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. REAR BRAKES WORE OUT AT 85K MILES, WITH 6MM LEFT ON THE FRONT BRAKES. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN PROBLEM TO ME.

THE AUTO UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS CALIPERS THAT STICK, THIS IS A DANGER FROM EVERY MECHANIC I SPOKE TO, SUBARU REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, FROM EVERYTHING I HAVE READ AND HEARD, SUBARU HAS HAD A CONSTANT CALIPER PROBLEM AND WILL NOT MAKE GOOD ON IT - THEY SAY IT IS OK TO DRIVE LIKE THIS, I HAVE TWO LITTLE CHILDREN AND I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD, SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE GOOD ON IT

MY MOTHER AND I WERE OUT AND ABOUT ON A FRIDAY 5/1/15 AS WE GOT READY TO LEAVE OUR LOCATION. I PLACE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE, THEN EVER SO SLIGHTLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PADDLE, THEN THE TRUCK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACK AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND HIT ANOTHER TRUCK IN BACK OF ME, BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. NO ONE WAS INJURED -NO POLICE WERE CALLED AS IT WAS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. BOTH VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR AND FRONT BREAK PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AND IF I HAD NOT BROUGHT IT IN WHEN I DID I WOULD HAVE NEEDED ROTORS AS WELL. THERE WAS NO SOUND THAT THE BREAKS WERE GOING BAD, AND THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNALS OF ANY KIND. THIS IS A VERY HIGH SAFETY ISSUES AS PEOPLE LIVES ARE AT RISK. THANK GOD MY MOTHER AND I ARE OKAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V830000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED BUT FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE SPECIFICS OF THE FAILURE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SECOND NOTICE FOR THE RECALL INFORMING THAT THE INITIAL RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 10/20/2015*JS

2010 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE LINE CORROSION. *SMD THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES TWICE, IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY ONLY SPRAYED ANTI-RUST MATERIALS ON THE BRAKE LINES. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

THE REAR BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AT 29,700 MILES. THIS WAS DISCOVERED DURING THE MANDATORY ANNUAL VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION. I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN CARS FOR 37 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN REAR BRAKES WEAR SO FAST. THE FRONT BRAKES LOOK NORMAL FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE. WHAT IS IT WITH THE REAR BRAKES ON FORESTERS? I HAVE READ OTHER OWNER'S COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE REAR BRAKES. *TR

BRAKE WARMING LIGHT CAME ON WILL DRIVING AT 35 MPH. AFTER THE BRAKE LIGHT CAM ON I DROVE 2.5 MILES TO MY HOME ADDRESS. AFTER I PARKED THE CAR I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR UNDER THE LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) REAR TIRE. I CHECKED THE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE ON RECALLS AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 INDICATING SALT WATER COULD SPLASH ON THE BRAKE LINES THROUGH A GAP IN THE FUEL TANK PROTECTOR, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES. THE CONSEQUENCE: 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. I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN JULY THAT INDICATED AN ISSUE AND I WOULD BE CONTRACTED WHEN PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. RECALL CAMPAIGN WQK-47 NHTSA RECALL NO. 14V-311. *TR

2010 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE LINE CORROSION RECALL AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD

I OWN A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER WITH ONLY 31, 000 MILES. I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR RIGHT ROTORS AND CALIPERS AND ALL 4 BRAKE PADS. I AM VERY CONCERNED, THESE ARE NOT NORMAL WEAR AND MAINTENANCE. *TR

AT 23,486 MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL AND VERY REPUTABLE GARAGE THAT SPECIALIZES IN SUBARUS. ONCE THEY GOT MY CAR IN THE SHOP, THEY TOLD ME I WAS NOT GOING ANYWHERE AS THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS. IT WAS TOWED TO ST. J. SUBARU WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE LEFT REAR PAD WAS MISSING AND THE CALIPER HAD BEEN HITTING ON THE ROTOR AND RUIN THE CALIPER. AT THAT INITIAL REPAIR, THE SUBARU SERVICE PERSON SAID: "WE'VE HAD SOME PREMATURE WEAR WITH THE BACK BRAKES FOR SOME REASON." 20,000 MILES LATER, THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE DEALER GAVE THE PARTY LINE...TO BAD, WARRANTY UP. IT APPEARS THERE IS SOME MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE BRAKES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS RIGHT AWAY AS I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE BRAKES EVERY 20,000 MILES. THANK YOU. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ON A LEVEL INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. A NOISE BEGAN. IT WAS LIKE WE WERE ON COARSE PAVEMENT. I PULLED OVER THINKING THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. INSTEAD THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WAS OVERHEATED AND SEIZING. WE COMPLETED OUR TRIP AT GREATLY REDUCED SPEED BECAUSE THIS OCCURRED AT NIGHT WHEN WE WERE UNABLE TO GET SERVICE, AND FINDING A MOTEL WHICH WOULD ALLOW OUR 100 LB GERMAN SHEPHERD SEEMED UNLIKELY. WE DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN UNTIL WE COULD GET A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE BRAKES WERE SERVICED ON 3/1/13 BY THE DEALER, WHO HAD JUST REPLACED REAR PADS AND TURNED ROTORS 2 WEEKS EARLIER. THE DEALER SAID OUR PROBLEM WAS DUE TO RUST ATTRIBUTABLE TO USE OF ROAD SALT, AND THAT THIS WORK WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY OUR WARRANTY AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED EVERY YEAR TO REMOVE RUST. WE HAD NEVER BEEN TOLD THIS BEFORE, EVEN WHEN THE SAME DEALER SERVICED THE REAR BRAKES ON 2/14/13. THE NEXT DAY, AFTER A 10 MILE DRIVE, ALERTED BY THE "HOT BRAKE SMELL", I CHECKED TEMPERATURES. RIGHT FRONT STILL OVERHEATING. NOW AFTER BEING SERVICED, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR RUNS HOT STILL. I TOOK THE CAR BACK, AND AT THE DEALERSHIP, A LASER-AIMED INFRARED THERMOMETER SHOWS RIGHT FRONT ROTOR IS 147 DEGREES, LEFT FRONT 128, RIGHT REAR 82, LEFT REAR 97 AFTER 15 TO 20 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING (AMBIENT TEMPERATURE 20 DEGREES). DEALER AGAIN CHECKED, SAYS ALL WHEELS SPIN FREELY, AND DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE RIGHT FRONT RUNS HOT. ANOTHER BRAKE SEIZURE SEEMS INEVITABLE. BRAKES SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS ON A CAR WHICH HAS LESS THAN 19,000 MILES AND LESS THAN 3 YEARS OF USE. THE CAR DOES NOT PULL TO THE RIGHT. MAYBE THE LEFT REAR IS COMPENSATING. *TR

AT 32,715 MILES REAR BRAKES FAILED. BOTH THE BRAKES PADS AND ROTOR HAD COMPLETELY ROTTED OR FALLEN APART. THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACES. AT 25,000 MILES I HAD A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORN DOWN TO ABOUT 50%. SO IN LESS THAN 8000 MILES THE THE REAR BRAKES HAD COMPLETELY FAILED, AND THE FRONT BRAKES WHERE ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE.

MY BRAKES WERE CHECKED BY MY REGULAR MECHANIC/REPAIR SHOP @ 21,788 MILES. THEY INDICATED THAT I HAD 70% LEFT ON BOTH FRONT AND REAR UNITS. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND CHECK UP @ 24,870 MILES THE SAME SHOP INDICATED THAT WHILE MY FRONT BRAKES STILL HAD 65% LEFT ON THEM THE REAR UNITS HAD ONLY 15% LEFT. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE REAR DISC BRAKE PADS, WHICH I DID. I AM NOT HARD ON MY BRAKES AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE REAR BRAKES SHOULD WEAR OUT SO QUICKLY OVER SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I ALSO DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE SHOULD BE SUCH A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN THE WEAR BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. I NOTICE THAT TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT NEEDING EARLY REAR BRAKE REPLACEMENTS ON 2010 FORESTERS. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES ON ANY OTHER CAR I OWNED AFTER SO FEW MILES. MY SHOP IS AAA APPROVED AND HIGHLY RATED IN MY COMMUNITY AND ARE VERY TRUSTWORTHY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

STARTED TO HEAR A GRINDING SOUND FROM THE REAR WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES ON 6/24/2012. TOOK CAR TO DEALER ON 6/25/2012. DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS AND DISKS. CAR ONLY HAS 27,000 MILES AND MOST MILEAGE IS HIGHWAY. I DO NOT OVERUSE MY BRAKES AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAN AFFECT SAFETY. *TR

REAR BRAKES STARTED SCRAPING SLIGHTLY ON A SATURDAY (SO SLIGHTLY THAT THEY COULDN'T BE HEARD WITH THE WINDOWS UP). THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO TOLD US THAT THE REAR BRAKES PADS WERE COMPLETELY SHOT (METAL ON METAL WERE HIS EXACT WORDS). FRONT BRAKES NEEDED NEW PADS. IT'S REALISTIC TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS AT 32000 AS WE DO MOSTLY CITY DRIVING, HOWEVER REAR BRAKES SHOULD LAST TWICE AS LONG AS THE FRONT PADS. WE HAD NO WARNING THAT SUCH A SEVERE REAR BRAKE ISSUE EXISTED AND HAD WE NOT GONE TO THE MECHANIC AT THE FIRST SIGN OF ANY ISSUE, WE COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON SUBARU'S PART AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO MORE CLOSELY. *TR

DURING A ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKES WERE STILL FUNCTIONAL AT THIS POINT BUT ONLY BARELY. THERE WAS NO WEAR INDICATOR SOUND THAT EVER EMANATED FROM THE BRAKES. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD INDICATING A BRAKE PROBLEM. THERE WAS LONGER BRAKING DETECTED BUT ONLY THAT ASSOCIATED WITH NORMAL WEAR OF A VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANY ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. A ROUTINE RECENT INSPECTION OF THE FRONT BRAKES BY THE OWNER TO ASSESS THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO INSPECTION REVEALED NO ISSUES WITH NORMAL WEAR OF THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. THE REAR DISC BRAKES WERE NOT EXAMINED AT THE TIME AS THE ASSUMPTION WAS THAT BRAKE WEAR WOULD BE NOMINALLY THE SAME AS THE FRONT. THE YEARLY STATE INSPECTION REVEALED THE EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE REAR BRAKES RELATIVE TO THE FRONT BRAKES. THIS INDICATES A VEHICLE FLAW, POSSIBLE DESIGN OR COMPONENT, AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 25,000 MILES ON IT AND THE FRONT DISK PADS AND ROTORS INDICATE ONLY NORMAL WEAR. THE ROTORS WERE WORN TOO THIN TO BE USED. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. THE PADS WERE PAST ACCEPTABLE WEAR. THE REAR BRAKES/PADS/ROTORS WERE EITHER DEFECTIVE, IMPROPERLY WORKING, OR IMPROPERLY DESIGNED. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS BRAKE FAILURE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THE EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE REAR DISC BRAKES. THIS SHOULD BE RED FLAGGED AS A SERIOUS ISSUE OF CONCERN. *TR

AT LOW SPEEDS NEAR INTERSECTIONS WITH LIGHT SNOW OR SLUSH ON THE ROAD VEHICLE'S ABS SYSTEM CAUSES LOSS OF STOPPING ABILITY AND LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING AND/OR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AT STOP SIGNS AND ON SLICK ROADS. PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF ABS SYSTEM IN SNOWY AND SLUSHY CONDITIONS. POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE STRIKING PEDESTRIANS, LEAVING THE ROAD UNEXPECTEDLY AND STOPPING IN NOT BEFORE AN INTERSECTION. DEALER INSPECTED BRAKING SYSTEM AND STATED THAT IT IS PERFORMING AS INTENDED. DEALER FURTHER DOCUMENTED THAT OEM TIRES HAD LOW TRACTION RATING CAUSING ABS SYSTEM TO OPERATE INCORRECTLY IN CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN PARTICULAR ABS CAUSES DRASTICALLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WITH LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WITH OEM BRIDGESTONE DUELLER H/T 687 TIRES WITH 7/32 TREAD DEPTH AND CORRECT INFLATION PRESSURE. DEALER STATES THAT TIRES SHOULD BE CHANGED TO IMPROVE DRIVABILITY AND ABS FUNCTION IN SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS. BRIDGESTONE DUELLER H/T 687 TIRES WILL BE REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND. THESE TIRES WILL BE PUT IN STORAGE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE. *TR

ON ICY DOWNHILL GRADES WHEN BRAKING OR SLOWING ABS SYSTEM WILL CAUSE A "ROCK HARD" PEDAL AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. ALL FOUR WHEELS WILL LOCKUP. THIS CAUSES LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND LOSS OF BRAKING. THIS FAILURE OCCURS WHEN ABS FAILS TO PREVENT WHEELS FROM LOCKING UP ON SLICK SURFACES. CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE REAR END COLLISION, LOSS OF CONTROL, UNEXPECTED EXIT FROM THE ROADWAY AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE ATTITUDE. VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO DEALER AND BRAKES WERE INSPECTED. NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. BRAKES WERE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IN THAT THE SYSTEM CAUSES UNEXPECTED DRASTIC CHANGES IN THE FEEL OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, ALLOWS THE WHEELS TO LOCK AND DOES NOT GIVE THE DRIVER CLEAR EXPECTATION OF HOW TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ON LOW COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION SURFACES THE ABS SYSTEM CANNOT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE VEHICLE MOVING WITH WHEELS LOCKED AND VEHICLE STATIONARY WITH BRAKES ENGAGED. VEHICLE MUST BE ACCELERATED TO START WHEELS TURNING IN ORDER FOR THE ABS TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. *TR

WE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE TWICE ON A TRIP 11/4/10 - 11/6/10. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 11/4 WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL. TO SLOW FOR A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US, I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONSIVE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL REMAINED ACTIVE. PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL IN A FEW SECONDS DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE BRAKES RETURNED. THIS OCCURRED WITH A NOTICEABLE JERK. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED 11/6 WHILE ON HEADING EAST ON RT 30 COMING DOWN SIDLING HILL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT IN USE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE TO REDUCE SPEED GOING DOWN THE HILL, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY BRAKING. I USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW US DOWN; HOWEVER, THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT SEEM VERY EFFECTIVE. IT TOOK A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE TO COME TO A STOP. I PROCEEDED DOWN THE HILL IN A LOWER GEAR AND AT SOME POINT THE BRAKES RETURNED TO USE. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY REASON AS TO WHY THEY FAILED OR HOW OR WHY THEY RETURNED. THE CAR HAS OVER 20,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF BRAKE FAILURE; ALTHOUGH THE SITUATION WITH THE CRUISE NOT DEACTIVATING HAD OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 11/7. THE DEALER CHECKED BOTH THE CRUISE AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THE DEALER REPORTED CONSULTING WITH SUBARU ON THE PROBLEM AS WELL. ON 11/12 AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE DEALER, I CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE (REF#1-1157948155). SUBARU'S FOLLOW UP WAS THAT THE CAR WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE OK AND WE SHOULD DRIVE IT AND SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WE OPTED FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE AT CONSIDERABLE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE SOLD TO SOMEONE ELSE. IT SHOULD BE RETURNED TO SUBARU TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURES DESCRIBED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER AROUND A CORNER UP A STEEP DRIVEWAY I ENCOUNTERED A VEHICLE COMING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FORESTER IS MANUAL AND THERE WAS A SHOULDER IN THE DRIVEWAY BEHIND THE CORNER I HAD ROUNDED; I APPLIED THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE WHEN I SAW THE VEHICLE AND RELEASED THE BRAKE WHILE CONTINUING TO HOLD THE CLUTCH WHEN I SAW THAT I COULD ROLL BACK ONTO THE SHOULDER DIRECTLY BEHIND ME TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE SUBARU DID NOT MOVE AND I BEGAN TO PANIC AS THE ONCOMING VEHICLE APPROACHED AND MY SERVICE BRAKE HAD APPARENTLY CEASED (THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE BY GRAVITY YET THE SERVICE AND HAND BRAKES WERE BOTH OFF). I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND REVVED THE ENGINE UNUSUALLY HARD WHILE AGGRESSIVELY RELEASING THE CLUTCH TO OVERCOME THE APPARENTLY FROZEN BRAKE AND AVOID THE HEAD ON COLLISION, AT WHICH POINT THE BRAKE RELEASED AND THE CAR FLEW BACKWARDS TOWARD A STONE EMBANKMENT BEHIND THE TURN-OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED IN TIME AND AVOIDED THE VEHICLE EXITING THE DRIVEWAY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS SOME SORT OF SAFETY FEATURE ON SUBARUS WHEREBY THE SERVICE BRAKE WILL NOT RELEASE WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED ON A HILL. THE FORESTER I WAS DRIVING GIVES NO INDICATION TO THE OPERATOR THAT THE SERVICE BRAKE WILL BEHAVE IN AN UNEXPECTED WAY AND THERE IS APPARENTLY NO WAY TO DISABLE THIS BEHAVIOR IN THIS MODEL. AS A SEASONED DRIVER WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES OF EXPERIENCE IN MANY MAKES AND MODELS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS I FIND THIS HIGHLY UNSAFE AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR