SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Miles at failure
6,000
Speed
30 mph
Severity
Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No
Narrative
ON 6/8/06 I DROVE MY BRAND-NEW SUBARU IMPREZA 2005 (UNDER 6000 MILES AND NOT A WRX) STATION WAGON DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL; THE SURFACE WAS SMOOTH AND DRY. TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED BEFORE A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN A NORMAL FASHION. I FELT THE MOST UNUSUAL SENSATION: THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN EVER SO SLIGHTLY - I GUESS ABOUT ONE HALF INCH AT THE MOST, AND THEN IT FELT AS THOUGH I HAD HIT A BRICK, AS IF SOMEONE PLACED A SOLID OBJECT UNDER THE PEDAL. I PUSHED HARDER ON THE BRAKES AND ENDED ALMOST LYING IN AN EXTENDED POSITION, PUSHING THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD. THE CAR DID NOT EVEN SLOW DOWN. THERE WAS NO ABS ACTIVITY, NO PULSATING BRAKE ACTION OR ANYTHING LIKE IT. I WAS IN SHOCK AS I REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, STILL WAITING FOR THE LIGHT. THE IMPACT WAS SMALL, AND NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. NO ONE WAS INJURED, THANK GOD. MY SUBARU IS BEING FIXED AT THE TUNE OF $ 3500.00. THE OTHER CAR'S DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL AND ALL DAMAGE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A SUV WITH BIG SPARE ON THE BACK, EXTENDING ITS BUMPER. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IN THE CAR FOR INSPECTION, ONCE IT IS FIXED. I MOST CERTAINLY PLAN TO DO THIS BUT SOMEHOW I DO NOT EXPECT MUCH HELP, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING OTHER SUBARU OWNER'S EXPERIENCE WITH PROBLEMS OF BRAKE FAILURE. I AM HOPING TO GET THE ABS SYSTEM DISABLED, UNLESS THEY CAN REPLACE IT. I FEEL V