2002 Subaru Outback service brakes, hydraulic problems
27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the service brakes, hydraulic on the 2002 Subaru Outback — 19% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Brakes briefly fail in freezing cold weather conditions. 5 or 10 hard pumps have usually brought them back. Very dangerous if you are not expecting it. I never leave my driveway or parking space without repeated pumping to get them working again. We are ski instructors (and this car is marketed for…”
filed Apr 22, 2010
“Repetitive failure of both front brake rotors. Rotors have thickness variation which causes heavy brake pulsation and steering wheel judder from side to side when braking from greater than 45 mph. First complaint 6/18/03 9971 miles front rotors were resurfaced. Second complaint 5/3/04 16180 miles…”
filed May 24, 2009
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN…Campaign 02V079000 · Mar 12, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems in other Outback years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Outback | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 Outback | 1 | 0% |
| 2015 Outback | 1 | 0% |
| 2013 Outback | 2 | 1% |
| 2012 Outback | 3 | 1% |
| 2011 Outback | 9 | 1% |
| 2010 Outback | 3 | 1% |
| 2009 Outback | 3 | 3% |
| 2008 Outback | 1 | 0% |
| 2007 Outback | 2 | 2% |
| 2006 Outback | 4 | 1% |
| 2005 Outback | 10 | 4% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2002 Subaru Outback
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.