5 Reasons For Subaru Outback Flashing Brake Light & Solution

5 Reasons for Subaru Outback Flashing Brake Light & How to Fix It

Last updated on July 11th, 2023 at 08:34 pm

Is your Subaru outback flashing brake light or maybe your Subaru outback electronic parking brake light flashing then in this article I show you how to solve Subaru outback warning light indication on dashboard.

The Subaru Outback is part of the Subaru brand and has been in existence for up to 25 years. Just like all other Subaru, the Outback is a four-wheel drive and has high ground clearance. It is an average car as it is not quite reliable.

Although the Outback has been known to develop certain issues, it is quite easy to repair. One of the most important components of this car is its brake light indicator.

The Subaru Outback usually has a common problem with its flashing brake light, and that is what this post here is going to discuss.

The brake light of the Outback is an indicator that lets car owners know if there is a problem with their brake system.

 In the Subaru Outback, the brake light indicates that there is something wrong with the braking system and that it needs to be fixed.

The brake light is the most important warning light and so, should not be neglected.

Related Articles:

 It is not advisable to drive your Outback if the brake light is flashing. However, there are situations where your 2011, or 2012, or 2013 Subaru Outback brake light is flashing on the dash, you need to find an immediate solution to it.

5 Reasons For Subaru Outback Flashing Brake Light & Solution

There are different reasons why your Subaru Outback brake light is flashing. Once you find the reasons, you can then decide what to do if you want to fix it.

Emergency Brake

If you want to drive your 2011 or 2012 Subaru Outback and you notice that the brake light is flashing on the dash, then you need to stop the vehicle immediately.

The first thing to do is to check the emergency brake. If you notice that the emergency brake is engaged, then the brake light will continue to flash.

You will have to pull down the handle for the brake light to go off.

Leaking brake fluid

If after checking the emergency brake handle, you realize nothing is wrong, then a leaking oil could be another reason why your Subaru Outback brake light is flashing.

What you need to do is to check whether the level of your brake fluid is at the normal level or not. If you notice that it is low, then you will have to add more fluid.

 However, if the fluid is drained out, then there might be a more serious issue. It is possible that the brake is leaking and you will have to fix the problem entirely.

Leaking brake fluid could cause your 2013 Subaru Outback brake light to flash repeatedly. It could affect any of the Subaru models eventually, and may become worse if it is neglected.

If you keep adding the fluid without fixing the root cause, the Subaru Outback flashing brake light will not go off anytime soon.

Pressure differential switch

The brake system of the Subaru Outback is divided into two circuits. If any of the brake systems fails due to damage, half of the Outback wheels will still have brakes.

If this happens, the differential switch will measure the pressure difference and send a report to the brake light that there is a significant difference.

Faulty brake lights

Another reason why your 2011, 2012, or 2013 Subaru Outback brake light start flashing on the dashboard may be whenever there is an issue with the brake light.

If you check and see that both lights are not lighting up, you should consider a replacement.

Parking Brake

It is healthy for your transmission if you use the parking brake when you park your car. However, if it remains in the ON position, it may trigger the brake light.

Putting the parking brake of your Subaru Outback in the on position could trigger the brake light to flash.

It sends an auditory warning which will in turn let the brake light remain in the ON position. If you continue driving with the parking brake on, it could damage the brake. It could cause the brake to overheat, damage the lining of the brake pad, or affect the brake fluids.

How to solve Subaru outback warning light indication on the dashboard

If you are driving your Subaru Outback and you notice the brake light is flashing, then you need to quickly shut off your engine and pull over.

Wait for a few minutes and check the level of your brake fluid. If you realize that it is low, you need to top it up.

You should not neglect flashing of the brake light of your Subaru Outback.  After topping the fluid, the flashing of the brake light on your dashboard should be off.

However, if it is not, you may continue driving the vehicle to your destination.  To be on a safer side, you can avoid driving the vehicle and just tow it to a mechanic.

The next thing you have to do whether you are using 2011, or 2012, or 2013 Subaru Outback whenever the brake light is flashing is to seek the help of a professional.

Take the Outback to a mechanic who is skilled in fixing Subaru. Let them carry out an inspection to find out what is triggering the flashlight.

What do multiple warning lights on dash Subaru mean?

It can be scary noticing that your Subaru Outback is flashing multiple warning lights on the dashboard.

If this happens, it is very likely that your vehicle will shut down. The main cause of this could be that there is a problem with the charging system.

If there is low voltage, it could cause problem that might trigger all the warning lights. You will have to act very fast and take the car in to a mechanic for a complete inspection.

Why is Subaru outback brake light cruise control flashing?

If the cruise control light of your Subaru Outback is flashing, it is an indicator that the cruise control is no longer working.

This means that it has been disabled. This occurs when the check engine light is on.  The cruise control light will flash, signaling that it has been disabled.

How to stop Subaru outback flashing brake light

Subaru Outback brake light flashing is an indicator that there is an issue which needs attention. If you are driving, and you notice this, then you need to stop the engine immediately.

It does not matter if it is 2011, or 2012 or 2013 Subaru Outback brake light that is flashing on the dash, you need to stop the engine. Once the engine has been stopped, wait a few minutes and try to check the brake fluid level.

If it is low top it, and then check if the light is off. However, if the fluid is at its normal level and the brake light of your Subaru Outback is still flashing, it is advisable to drive the car to a mechanic.

Conclusion

This post has explained some of the reasons why your Subaru Outback brake light might be flashing. It is a warning signal you cannot neglect if want to avoid damage.

 I hope this has helped you see why your Subaru outback electronic parking brake light flashing and how to solve Subaru outback warning light indication on dashboard.

If this post helped you please share it. You also want to read this post on how to fix Subaru Seat Belt Stuck in Holder issue

Related Articles:

Sharing is caring!

Scroll to Top