This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The brakes on my car have been worked on three times since I got my car a year ago and about to go again. They keep trying to fix them but I keep having to take it back. The date below is the first time I took it to the shop.
This failure has happened on several occasions. When stopping using a moderate braking force from average road speeds (25-45mph) I have experienced total inability to stop due to premature and prolonged engagement of my ABS (anti-lock brake) system. This has happened on somewhat bumpy roads, during rain, over small amounts of loose gravel on roadways, and even on smooth dry roads during harder braking. I have not been in an accident due to this, but I have found myself in the middle of intersections multiple times. I have since disabled my ABS system in order to feel safe while driving. I have the number of failures listed at 5, dating from the time I purchased my vehicle. There have easily been more incidents than 5 though, but I can clearly remember at least 5 of them when I feared an accident.
When I apply the brakes on rough dry roads or when the road is wet or snowy ABS kicks in and my Subaru WRX take a very long time to come to a complete stop. It's almost like the brakes aren't even working. I have almost rear edned people because of this. Also, when the ABS goes off once in the snow, it continues to go off every time I stop.
ABS activates when driving over a semi-bumpy surface. Does not seem normal. Almost rear ended a car due to this incident. This happens regularly as the exit of the parking lot seems to cause this to happen.
- Wood Dale, IL, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
The anti-lock brakes on my 2003 Subaru WRX sedan, seem to be malfunctioning. While braking over bumps / broken pavement the antilock brake system activates and seems to malfunction as there is a very acute loss of pedal pressure and a severe loss in backing power. This is not an isolated incident and happens on a semi regular basis whenever braking over a surface that has irregularities.
On my 2003 Subaru Impreza outback sport, the antilock brakes are dangerous. If you hit a bump while braking it will trigger the ABS - and result in an almost complete loss of braking ability. I notice a bulletin is listed for the WRX only, but this is a major problem in my car as well.
When traveling over rough or wet roadway and brakes are applied ABS kicks in and vehicle will not stop, or slow down at all. You then have to release the brakes and then press the pedal again to get any braking action. This problem has happened numerous (aprox 10 or so) times since I have purchased the vehicle in Feb 2003. I have driven numerous other vehicles with ABS and none of them have responded in the same manner.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Waynesburg, PA, USA