I bought a 2024 Subaru Forester 2.5 brand-new but now the brakes feel mushy and spongy. When I press hard on the brake pedal, it pulls the vehicle up very slowly. I took it back to the dealership and they tested the brakes and said there's no problem. So I'm taking it to an independent mechanic next week for a brake test.
Any time the brakes (or any other system of a car) start to feel different than they have done since you bought the car, there’s probably something wrong. If it was an older car, I’d suggest a brake fluid change as the first step, but that’s unlikely to be the reason in an almost-new car. The problem sounds like there’s air in the braking system (there should only be brake fluid, and no air) but, again, that’s a wild card in such a new vehicle.
In any case, you’re doing the right thing by having the car independently tested. If the results come back suggesting a problem, you have good ammunition to get the dealership to fix this as a warranty matter. Make sure you get a written report from the mechanic detailing the braking system’s performance, and don’t be afraid to go over the dealer’s head to Subaru Australia’s customer service department.