2015 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 28owner reports
- 42,000median miles
- 5involved a crash
Newest report Jan 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
28 of the 504 complaints on this car describe brake wear.
Tick what matches of 28 reports
Brake wear on other Outback years
No other Outback model year has enough reports of brake wear for a sheet of its own. See every Outback year.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2015 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 9,500 and 80,700 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 Subaru Outback that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This bulletin provides diagnosis and procedure information to be applied when diagnosing potential fluid leaks on front and rear brake calipers. This information has been developed to reduce unnecessary brake caliper replacement.
This Service Information bulletin announces availability of a new front brake pad shim kit to specifically address customer concerns of a squeaking or squealing sound on the models listed above.
This Service Information bulletin announces instruction for application of additional lubrication between the brake caliper support and pad clips.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the rear ABS wheel speed sensor on the models listed above. The change involves the addition of an additional shielding cover to protect the harness from damage caused by road debris.
2 more on the 2015 Subaru Outback page.
What owners wrote
“Intermittant engine acceleration or engine surge while braking at very low speeds.”
Filed Sep 30, 2022
“The electronic parking brake disengages on it's own after being set. After putting the vehicle in park and pulling on the EPB switch, the light comes on for a short time, then turns off. Attempting to re-engage it results in the same thing, it comes on briefly then disengages without being touched.”
Filed Aug 18, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 5 of 28 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Windshield cracks or distorts 137 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 87 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 37 reports