Home · 2015 Subaru Outback Wilderness · Complaints

What 505 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Outback Wilderness

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (505)Crash / fire / injury (29)Visibility & wipers (143)Electrical system (125)Engine (47)Transmission & drivetrain (37)Body & structure (33)Brakes (28)Speed control (26)Fuel system (18)Airbags (14)Steering (13)

29 of 505 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Sep 22, 2025Speed controlBrakesEngineCrash

I was within the town limits so I was driving slowly. When I approached the first stop light in town I saw that it was red. There were of three or four vehicles stopped at that light. At that point I was probably only going 5mph. I took my foot off of the gas pedal and put my foot on the brake to make a slow stop. Instead, the car accelerated rather quickly. I continued to brake but the car seemed to speed up. I was able to avoid hitting the truck in front of me by going around it. No vehicles were coming towards me but there were some stopped at the other side of the light. I drove up on the sidewalk to avoid hitting anyone. At that point the front passenger side of the car hit & snapped a pole. The car did not stop immediately upon impact. It stopped acclerating and came to a stop about 10 feet past the pole. I am not sure how fast the car was moving when it hit the pole but I was only going about 5 mph when I put my foot on the break. I would estimate the distance my car traveled from the moment I put my foot on the break until the car stopped was approximately 100-120 feet. It felt like the car went into the cruise resume mode and was trying to accelerate to a predetermined speed. I had not been using the cruise control that day but that is exactly what it felt like. There was one other time this year that the car lunged forward without using the gas pedal. It stopped quickly for me and I just assumed that I had hit the cruise resume button, although I also hadn't been using the cruise that day. The insurance company took the car to an impound lot two hours away. I am sure there has been no inspection and my insurance has not informed me of the status of having my car totaled or repaired. Because of the age of the car, and damage, they think it will be totaled. Yes, my safety and the safety of anyone near me was at risk. The car malfunctioned and the fact no one was hurt was miraculous. There were no warning messages before this accident.

NHTSA ODI 11689049

Sep 10, 2022AirbagsEngineFuel systemCrash

Entering a residential garage to park; experienced sudden acceleration while braking. Vehicle went through drywall/wall about 2 feet. Placed vehicle in park to stop vehicle. No airbags went off. Driving vehicle to repair shop later; experienced same rapid unexpected acceleration with different driver. No issue with floor mats. OEM mats. Service center cannot provide any insight or reproduction of event.

NHTSA ODI 11483793

Jun 1, 2022EngineFire1 injury

The contact owned a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, he was alerted by another driver that the vehicle was smoking and flames were coming from under the vehicle. The contact stated that warning lights flashed off and on. The contact stated that he pulled over, exited the vehicle, and saw flames coming from underneath the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames and exploded. The contact stated that he sustained minor burns on his hands from the steering wheel however, medical attention was not required. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard as it was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a field technician was sent to retrieve information from the EDR. The contact was not aware of the diagnosis. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11467050

Jun 4, 2021AirbagsBrakesCrash3 injuries

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at 20 mph, the brakes would not engage as the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, the vehicle rear-ended a parked vehicle on the side of the road. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. Three of the passengers in the vehicle sustained head and neck injuries that required medical treatment. The vehicle was drivable and was taken to a local dealer where it has been for 5 months. The vehicle was diagnosed with nothing needing to be replaced. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer to have the engineers look at the vehicle. The failure mileage was 56,000.

NHTSA ODI 11419687

Apr 20, 2021SteeringAirbagsDriver assistanceCrash

WE BUILT AND BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCED: - A CONSTANT SUDDEN LOSS OF EYESIGHT SYSTEM WHILE CRUISING OR SOMETIMES JUST DRIVING WITH NO CRUISE CONTROL ON. -GAS RELEASE LEVER FREEZES UP AND WE HAVE TO FORCEFULLY USE A FLAT SCREWDRIVER TO UNLOCK THE GAS LID DOOR. -PRE COLLISION WARNING BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND PROPERLY: WE GOT SO MANY CLOSE CALLS. - ON MARCH, 2020 ; THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY ON SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS : THE CAR SLED OFF AND ALMOST HIT A GUARD RAIL, SOON AFTER THAT ; THE STEERING WHEEL GOT TOO LOOSE /WOBBLY AND HAD A BIG GAP WHILE STEERING( ALMOST NO CONTROL OVER OUR CAR. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY AND THE RECALIBRATED, BALANCED AND ALIGNED THE CAR FOR CORRECTIONS. -LAST WEDNESDAY, ON APRIL,14,2021: MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM HOME, AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT INTERSECTION, WHILE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS GREEN AND SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN TO GO HOME; HER STEERING WHEEL GOT FROZEN ON HER WHEN SHE WAS TURNING AND BY THE TIME SHE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REACT AND CONTROL THE CAR, HER CAR ALREADY CRASHED INTO THE PICK UP TRUCK THAT WAS WAITING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE INTO GREEN. THE WHOLE FRONT OF OUR SUBARU WAS CRASHED BUT NO PRE COLLISION BRAKES, AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AT ALL.LUCKILY, NOBODY GOT HURT ON BOTH SIDES. THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE SHERIFF , THE TROOPER AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO USED TO BE A COP WERE ALL FLABBERGASTED OF WHAT THEY SAW. WE CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND OPENED A CASE, MY CAR IS SCHEDULED FOR INSPECTION AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP ON MAY 6TH, 2021.WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.THEY SEEM WILLING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGES. WE FOUND OUT THAT MOST OF THOSE ISSUES WERE ON RECALL BUT WE NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTIFICATION ABOUT THEM FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA AT ALL.THANK YOU Consumer stated dealer found nothing wrong with the car so consumer filed a complaint with federal trade commission and was given a case number [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”*JB

NHTSA ODI 11413124

Jan 25, 2021SteeringCrash1 injury

DRIVING DOWN STRAIGHT STRETCH OF FREEWAY ON THE INSIDE LANE AT 65-70MPH IN WET BUT SATISFACTORY CONDITION, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH CENTRAL ISLAND. NO PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE IS VERY GOOD CONDITION AND MECHANICALLY SOUND. ALTHOUGH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS DAMAGED AND DEFLATED, IT DIDN'T DISINTEGRATE AS I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED IF IT HAD BURST AT HIGH SPEED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT TIRE PUNCTURES IN THE PAST AND IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT. THERE WAS A STEERING COLUMN RECALL FOR 2016/17 OUTBACKS WHICH MY VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF. COULD THIS BE AN UNDERLYING STEERING ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI 11389828

Jan 13, 2021LightsBody & structureLane DepartureCrash

TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED BACKWARD. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND HIT THE BRAKES. NOTHING HAPPENED.I DIDNT WANT TO HIT THERE GARAGE OR MY SON IN LAWS CAR SO I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. I HIT THE BRAKES AND AGAIN NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR HIT THE NEIGHBOR BUSH AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO REST WHEN IT HIT THE NEIGHBORS HONDA RIGHT DOOR. I THEN PUT IT DRIVE AND PULLED BACK ONTO MY DAUGHTERS DRIVEWAYS AND HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STOPPING THE VEHICLE. IT DID APPROX. $2200 DAMAGE TO MY SUBARU OUTBACK SENDING IT TO THE COLLISION SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI 11387902

Oct 27, 2020Crash2 injuries

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED, ROLLED TO A STOP, AND WOULDN'T START UP AGAIN. THIS RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I PUSHED THE HAZARD BUTTON BUT THE OTHER DRIVERS ACCOUNT OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. THE CAR HAD ITS EPB REPROGRAMMED AND SUB RELAY REPLACEMENT DONE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STOPPING UNEXPECTEDLY. I WAS KNOCKED OUT BY THE ACCIDENT, SO I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO SURMISE WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN. IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE 30 SECONDS FROM THE TIME IT STOPPED UNTIL WE WERE HIT BY 3 CARS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI 11366591

Mar 10, 2020Crash

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND AS I WAS GRADUALLY HITTING THE BRAKES, THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AT HIGH SPEED HITTING THE FENCE IN FRONT. I AM SURE THAT I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS. I HIT THE BRAKES AND IT WAS OF NO USE. AFTER HITTING THE FENCE THE CAR STOPPED AS I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11317168

Jan 10, 2020Seats1 injury

AUTOMATIC FRONT SEATS. WHEN WIFE OPENS THE PASSENGER DOOR FIRST (BEFORE THE DRIVER) THE DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTS TO HER SET POSITION. AN D IF I DON'T PAY ATTENTION THE DRIVER SEAT WILL PUSH/CRUSH ME INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE A BAD BACK AND DROP FOOT, SO I DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH OF A YOUNGER PERSON. MY ONLY SALVATION IS TO SQUEEZE OUT OR HIT THE POSITION BUTTON ON THE DOOR PANEL. ALSO, THE PRESETS GO OUT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE ASKED IF THEY COULD DISABLE THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SENSOR. NOTHING. REAR GATE OPENING: IT HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES. I HAVE COMPLAINED DIRECTLY TO SUBARU ABOUT THE SEAT AND GATE PROBLEM. NO RESULTS. THE REAR GATE HAS OPENED WHILE RAINING OUTSIDE DURING THE NIGHT. IT HAS OPENED WHILE IN THE GARAGE JAMMING THE OVERHEAD GARAGE DOOR. I AM AFRAID ON TRIPS TO HAVE STUFF STOLEN OUT OF MY CAR IS SUCH AN INCIDENT. HAPPENED ONCE. ALSO... THEY HAVE A CUTE PRESET SO YOU CAN SET THE MAX HEIGHT OF THE GATE OPENING. TWICE MY WIFE HAS WALKED INTO THE REAR GATE AND LITERALLY FLIPPED BACKWARDS TO THE PAVEMENT! SUBARU DENIES ANY PROBLEMS ABOUT THE GATE. FUNNY, ONE DAY I WAS HELPING A FRIEND AND HER MOM WAS THERE. AS THEY HELPED ME UNLOAD MY SUBARU WE DISCOVERED THAT MOM HAD ALSO A SIMILAR MODEL. THE FIRST QUESTION SHE ASKED ME "HAVE YOU ANY PROBLEM WITH YOUR REAR GATE"!!! IT'S NOT JUST ME. SUBARU NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT OR HAVE LOSS OF ITEMS FROM THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11298330

Dec 13, 2019Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT LOW SPEEDS WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB, AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED STOHLMAN SUBARU OF STERLING (21736 AUTO WORLD CIR, STERLING, VA 20166, (888) 811-7714) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ODI 11288897

Nov 16, 2018Engine1 injury

EXHAUST SYSTEM ISSUE. EXHAUST MAINFOLD LEAK AT CATALYST CONVERTER. FOR OUR OUTBACK WE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF EXHAUST FUMES IN PASSENGER CABIN. THEY WERE NO INDICATION OF FAILURE OF EXHAUST SYSTEM OR CATALYST CONVERTER ON THE CAR. BUT WE ARE GETTING SOME MUCH FUMES SMELL WHEN WE STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL OR PARKING LOT. IT ALL MOST MADE US SICK. LUCKILY I GOT IT CHECKED AT THE SERVICE CENTER AND THEY FIND THE LEAK. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY RISKY THING FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T NOTICE THE SMELL MIGHT GET SLOW POISONED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE OR OTHER ELEMENTS IN EXHAUST FUMES. THERE MAY BE DIRECT INJURY FROM THIS ISSUE BUT AS I SAID I WAS ALMOST GOT SICK BECAUSE OF FUMES. FOR PEOPLE WITH PZEV VEHICLE, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE BRING THIS ISSUE WITH MANUFACTURING. FOR PEOPLE OUT THERE IF YOU NOTICE A LOUD EXHAUST NOTE AT START OF YOUR VEHICLE OR SMALL RATTLING NOISE WHEN WE YOU ACCELERATE AFTER A COMPLETE STOP, IT MIGHT BE YOUR EXHAUST SYSTEM, PLEASE GET IT CHECKED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PS ATTACHED IS THE DIAGNOSIS REPORT FROM DEALER SERVICE CENTER BE SAFE OUT THERE !! THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11152117

Mar 6, 2018Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsCrash2 injuries

UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AFTER PARKING, JUMP CURB INTO TREE, CAUSING $7,000 IN DAMAGE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BOTH MYSELF AND PASSENGER HIT KNEES ON DASH, EVEN WITH OUR SEAT BELTS STILL ON. HAD OTHER COMPUTER ISSUES EARLIER THAT DAY, BACK UP SENSORS DIDN'T WORK WHILE BACKING CAR RIGHT BEHIND MINE. CAR HAS NOW BEEN AT SUBARU FOR A MONTH, WAITING FOR ENGINEERS RESULTS AFTER THEIR INSPECTION 2/14/2018

NHTSA ODI 11076432

Feb 27, 20181 injury

THE SUNROOF ON THE VEHICLE EXPLODED RANDOMLY. CAUSING GLASS TO GO EVERYWHERE ALL OVER THE CAR WHILE ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11075352

Jan 5, 2018BrakesCrash

ATTEMPTED TO COME TO A STOP AT A PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF A SHOP BUT CAR SPED UP AND COLLIDED WITH A WALL 6 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK OR ENGAGE AT SLOW SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11060724

Dec 16, 2017Crash

PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, STOPPING WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED JUMPED CURB AN HIT A TREE, HAPPENED IN A COUPLE SECONDS. ## VIN PASSED ## SUBARU OUTBACK 2015 ##

NHTSA ODI 11055040

Dec 13, 2017AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 28 MPH, THE CONTACT FELL SLEEP AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL HEAD ON. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THEIR LOT AND DECLARED IT DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1-286-495891121. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 11054540

Nov 29, 2017AirbagsSpeed controlCrash1 injury

THIS CONCERNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED 6 CYLINDER. AT APPROX 21,000 MI I WAS SLOWING TO SPEED TO PARK IN A PUBLIC PARKING SPACE ON A CITY STREET AND THE OUTBACK SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE OUTBACK HIT A CITY METAL POST/SIGN, JUMPED THE CURB AND COLLIDED WITH A BUILDING AND DAMAGING A STORE FRONT WITH GREAT FORCE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE AUTOMATIC COLLISION PREVENTION FAILED TO WORK. ONCE BEFORE THE CAR HAD AN ACCELERATION SURGE WHILE DRIVING A PUBLIC CITY STREET AT LOW SPEED BUT DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED SLIGHT HESITATION IN ACCELERATION WHEN I FIRST ACCELERATE FROM A STATIONARY POSITION AND PROBABLY UNRELATED, THE GEAR SHIFT OFTEN GETS STUCK IN PARK AND I HAVE TO USE FORCE THE GEAR SHIFT TO REVERSE. HAVING TROUBLE WITH TURNING NECK FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND NEED TO SEE DOCTOR FOR EVALUATION SO, NOT SURE IF THIS IS CONSIDERED INJURY?

NHTSA ODI 11051133

Feb 8, 2017Speed controlCrash

WHILE PULLING MY FATHER-IN-LAWS SUBARU OUTBACK INTO MY GARAGE I PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR PROCEEDED INTO GARAGE FIRST HITTING THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR FRAME AND THEN INTO THE BACK OF MY OTHER CAR WHICH WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE. I INSTINCTIVELY APPLIED GREATER PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE BUT THIS DID NOT STOP THE CAR. WHEN THE CAR WEDGED AGAINST THE RIGHT SIDE COLUMN OF THE GARAGE I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED IMMEDIATELY. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE CAR TO DECELERATE TO AN IDLE MODE. I'VE BEEN DRIVING A LONG TIME AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE LIKE THIS BEFORE. I NOTICED OTHERS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AS REPORTED ON THIS SITE. THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT OBSTRUCTION SO I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THERE IS A POSSIBLE SOFTWARE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10950390

Jun 30, 2016Electrical systemFire

TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT A 80 PIN CONNECTOR THAT CONTROLS THE HEAD SYSTEM HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND FUSED TWO CONNECTORS TOGETHER. I USED THE HVAC SYSTEM ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE.IF THIS HAPPENED IN THE GARAGE IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC HOUSE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 10881907

Nov 6, 2015Electrical systemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CHEMICAL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE ORIGIN OF THE ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 10788825

Oct 11, 2015AirbagsBrakesCrash

PLATE GFN9291, SUBARU RE:(#:1-11519581273)

NHTSA ODI 10781306

Oct 9, 2015Body & structureEngineFire

THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2015 WAS PARKED IN A LOT AFTER A 12 MINUTE DRIVE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. IT WAS PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY 2015 AND WAS NOT YET DUE FOR SERVICING WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENED. THE SUBARU OUTBACK MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 3RD-27TH 2015 HAS BEEN RECALLED DUE TO "POSSIBILITY OF FIRE DUE TO A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK". I BELIEVE THE SAME THING OCCURRED WITH MY CAR AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE MODEL IS NOT RECALLED SOMEONE WILL GET BADLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 10780961

Oct 6, 2015BrakesCrash

SLOWING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A CITY STREET, MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, CLUTCH IN. SPEED ROUGHLY 2 KM/HR. WENT TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKE ACTIVATION. TRIED BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN, SAME RESULT. ACTIVATED PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH ALSO DID NOT STOP THE CAR. CAR HIT THE BACK OF A GRAVEL TRUCK AHEAD, AND SEEMED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH INTO THE TRUCK 7-10 CM, WHICH IS FURTHER THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED GIVEN THE LOW SPEED OF THE COLLISION. COLLISION DAMAGED THE HOOD OF MY CAR AND BROKE THE HEADLIGHT LENS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, NO DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, NO INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS OF EITHER VEHICLE. TRUCK TURNED THROUGH TURNING LIGHT, I CAREFULLY MOVED THE CAR UP AND TRIED STOPPING AT THE LIGHT. BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY, SO I TRIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND IT ALSO SEEMED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND NOTICED MUCH MORE TRAVEL THAN USUAL AND A SPONGY FEEL, BUT THERE WAS RESISTANCE WHERE THERE WAS NONE PREVIOUSLY. I DECIDED THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND DROVE SLOWLY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I LEFT IT TO BE INSPECTED.

NHTSA ODI 10780107

Sep 4, 2015Visibility & wipers1 injury

INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR BROKE OFF THE MOUNTING WITH GLASS ATTACHED TO THE MOUNTING. THEIR WAS NO FORCEFUL MOVEMENT OR ADJUSTMENT BEING APPLIED TO THE MIRROR AT THE TIME, IT JUST CAME DOWN. DISTRACTING MY DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 10761638

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Working with the data? Download all 505 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Subaru Outback Wilderness verdict →