Brakes complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2002 Subaru Outback has 31 NHTSA brakes complaints and 1 brakes-related recall.
31
Complaints
1
Recalls
4
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 10, 2026
02V079000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND L...
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 2013 | SERVICE BRAKES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE AFT... |
| Feb 1, 2012 | SERVICE BRAKES | DATES ARE APPROXIMATE, PROBLEM IS ONGOING. UPON INITIAL START-UP, IN COOL/COLD WEATHER THE BRAKE PE... |
| Nov 25, 2009 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | BRAKES BRIEFLY FAIL IN FREEZING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. 5 OR 10 HARD PUMPS HAVE USUALLY BROUGHT THE... |
| Mar 17, 2009 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | REPETITIVE FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. ROTORS HAVE THICKNESS VARIATION WHICH CAUSES HEAVY BR... |
| Jun 28, 2007 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | MY 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK HAD FRONT ROTOR FAILURE IN 2007-----THE FINS THAT HOLD THE ROTORS TOGETHER RU... |
| Feb 25, 2007 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | IN COLD WEATHER THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST TURNED ON. THIS IS TERRIFYING. T... |
| Nov 7, 2006 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | OUR 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK EDDIE BAUER EDITION HAS EXPERIENCED A CONSISTENT BRAKE FAILURE THE FIRST THI... |
| Sep 6, 2005 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2002 OUTBACK 3.0 WAGON HAVE WARPED CAUSING SEVERE SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING AT H... |
| Jan 18, 2005 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK, LL BEAN EDITION. BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO WORK ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHE... |
| Jul 15, 2004 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED AT THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS AT 9000 MILES. AT 17,000 MILES THE FRONT ROTO... |
| Oct 20, 2003 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | IN COLD SEVERE WEATHER BRAKES SHUTTER. RECALL 02V079000 WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ... |
| Sep 18, 2003 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK H6 AWD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION -- WARPED AND GLAZED FRONT ROTORS AT RELATIVELY LO... |
| Aug 12, 2003 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER RECUT ROTORS FRONT & REAR AT APPROXIMATELY 13,00... |
| Jul 9, 2003 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | NHTSA# ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIEN... |
| Feb 18, 2003 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | THE DEALER TOOK TOO LONG TO PEFORM RECALL #02V079000 REGARDING THE MASTER CYLINDER.*JB |
| Jan 21, 2003 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGS | WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPL... |
| Jan 21, 2003 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGS | WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPL... |
| Jan 21, 2003 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGS | WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPL... |
| Jan 21, 2003 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISH-TAIL, THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES WITH FORCE AND DISCOVERED THE VE... |
| Nov 28, 2002 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | BRAKES, COMPLETE BRAKE JOBS (ROTORS AND PADS REPLACEMENT) AT LOW MILEAGE. *JB |