I have a 2011 Legacy Sedan with 40K miles. Three weeks ago, I drove
the car 25 miles in 90+degree heat on the highway. I parked at a store,
did not use the electronic parking brake and when I returned to the car
5 minutes later and started it, the dashboard BRAKE light was flashing.
The brake was not engaged. I tried to engage and release it, but it
would not engage, when I pushed the button the car 'chirped'.

 

I drove the car home and garaged it. The next morning (after a cooler evening)
the light no longer flashed. At that time I was able to engage and
release the electronic parking brake and it worked as designed.

A similar sequence has occurred on four different occasions. When I
start a cool car, no light. When I start the car after it's been run
for a while in 90+ degree heat, I'm getting the light flashing.

I've checked the brake fluid and it's fine. I've checked the OBD and it shows no codes.

For what it's worth, I rarely use the Electric Parking Brake.  Any thoughts on what to try next? 

 

 

Owners manual any help at all?

It should mention what a flashing BRAKE light means.  google may tell as well.

 

I would read the owners manual at least and see if there's a default mechanical process for releasing the brake in case something goes wrong while you try to figure this out?

The owners manual was no help.  It indicated that it should be seen by the dealer. 

this guy's 2013 had to have the EPB actuator replaced;

My problem is similar.  Luckily - my EPB is not engaged, so I can still drive the car.   

Is there a way to test to see if it is the actuator?  (Excuse my ignorance, but what is the actuator?)

Finally got the car to the dealer today and they told me that the Electronic Parking Brake system was not working at all and the module needed to be replaced.  Module is $475 + 4.5  hours of labor...  It seems odd that this would fail, when i hardly ever use the EPB.  My guess is that I've used it less than 10 times in 4 years and the car only has 40,000 miles.   I've called Subaru of North America to complain... I'm hoping they will find a way to do something for me.

Hey Dan did you find out what else it was?

6 year old thread. But Dan might get a notification and reply.