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.
On 12/6/2023, as I slowly turned right into a parking space, my car suddenly surged forward and accelerated without my input to the gas pedal. The brakes did not work, and there was no resistance from the brake pedal when I repeated to push it. The car continued to accelerate for about 80 ft as I focused on steering to avoid hitting other cars parked in the lot. The car ran over a curb, up a grassy area, and crashed into a row of trees. The airbag did not deploy. I sustained neck muscle strain/whiplash, and bruises to my chest and right knee. My safety was at risk, as well as anyone or anything that was in the car's path since I had no control over the acceleration or the brakes. The car is a 2020 Subaru Outback with about 44000 miles. It is in a body shop and they have not yet determined if it is safe to work on. So far, they have observed the engine race when the car was turned on. There were no warning signs prior to the acceleration. When I called the Subaru dealer service department, I was told that they never heard of this before and it had to have been my fault. They said I could bring it in after the body damage is repaired, and that I can pay for a diagnotic report. However, they expect that the report will not show anything.
On November 21th, 2023, we were driving on a 30 mph street at 8:00 pm with no traffic and our automatic emergency braking system deployed on our 2020 Outback, we jolted to a stop for no apparent reason. This could have been dangerous if a car was behind us. Just had our oil changed with free inspection at Miller Hill Subaru 1 week prior. First incident. Will have the dealership inspect ASAP. The "Auto Start /Stop No Activity Detected" indicator message light came on afterward.
I had a fault/issue with the Electronic Parking Brake on my 2020 Subaru Outback that resulted in a vehicle fire. I had set the electronic parking brake, and received a warning light. I retracted the electronic parking brake and the warning light disappeared. I did this twice. The warning light stayed off. I drove the car and the passenger rear brakes caught on fire, damaging the brakes, the electronic parking brake motor, the brake caliper, the wheel bearing, the ABS sensor and all wiring to that wheel. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer had the vehicle for over 2 months. In that time, my insurance inspected the vehicle. The dealer inspected the vehicle. The dealer had a Subaru (Subaru of America) factory tech visit and inspect. Subaru factory sent out a second tech (from quality control) to inspect the vehicle. The dealer tech and both Subaru factory techs could not determine the root cause of the failure. Subaru replaced all components damaged in the fire (at my cost) and sent me on my way without a determination of what caused the issue. Issue was well documented here... https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/parking-brake-fault-caught-on-fire.551030/ I have attached a scan of the Subaru Dealer repair order.
the car brake, with the foot on the gas all the lights came on and it stopped on the street (traffic being stuck) it's a car safety problem it can cause a serious accident if I end up on I-95, if something happens to me they will be responsible for it I have everything the records and photos of everything that happened to the car Check. what happens to that car with the same failures over and over again in 2 months 3 time on the dealer with the same problem I buy this car on October 2022 and over and over again the same problem
2020 Subaru Outback. Consumer writes in regards to unintended braking. The consumer purchased a 1up bike rack for the vehicle, but it interfered with the rear sonar sensors. The consumer requested that the vehicle manufacturer and bike rack manufacturer work together to determine a fix.
- Bellingham, WA, USA
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On April 13th 2022, me and my wife were returning home. We were at a complete stop on a left only turn intersection red light (Spring-Cypress Rd & Telge Rd in Cypress, TX. Coordinates: 29.985660988461188, -95.65465736615674). There was a vehicle ahead of us and also behind us at the light. It was raining lightly and the roads were wet. When the light turned green we started slowly accelerating making our left turn and as we were doing so, the vehicle skid causing uncontrolled acceleration, non-responsive braking and non responsive steering. I tried my very best to save us from running over the curb into the ditch ahead and succeeded to do so resulting in the vehicle hitting the curb at probably 15-20 mph. The steering and brakes were non-responsive and it took a lot of effort on my part to save us from running over the curb into the ditch ahead. This accident resulted in the right front passenger wheel, suspension, axle etc. to break. No other vehicle was involved in the accident. No warning or safety lights were displayed to the best of my knowledge. The vehicle was disabled and could not run, it was blocking the intersection and traffic. I called the police who then arrived to redirect traffic and also help with the tow. Currently, my car is being repaired through my insurance. My vehicle was purchased in Jan 2020 and has approx. 9500 miles on it. The reason i brought a Subaru was because of its capability to handle most weather conditions and also its great safety ratings. This unfortunately wasn't the case for me and wife and we were left stranded in the road because of some safety feature/software/mechanical malfunction of the vehicle. I request the NHTSA administration to look into this issue with Subaru and help me reach closure on the safety of this vehicle. Thank you.
On Tuesday 9 February, 2021 I was returning home from picking my two children up from school (age 4 and 6). As I approached the drive way the brakes functioned properly to allow me to turn into the driveway, but suddenly the brakes stopped functioning and the car accelerated driving straight through my closed garage door. I was able to control steering but regardless of my foot pressing firmly on the brake pedal, the car continued to accelerate. Thankfully, installed in the cement was a rogue R3 weight rack that was bolted into the cement at four locations. The car proceeded forward until colliding with the weight rack, a mere 3 feet from our HVAC system and the home structure. I immediately turned the vehicle off. If the weight rack did not stop the vehicle myself and my two children could have been significantly injured, not to mention, if my husband or two small children were in the garage at the time, this could have potentially resulted in death. My air bogs did not deploy, the auto collision safety mechanism failed. This is a very dangerous situation. We bought this vehicle with extended warranty in hopes to keep this as a family vehicle for many years to come, primary reason for purchase was safety. This vehicle is not safe and I am afraid to drive it. My vehicle was immediately towed to RPM performance in burlington Washington for inspection. Later, brought to dwayne lanes Subaru (purchase location) for inspection. Findings were that the vehicle operated as designed and driver is at fault. This vehicle is defective. Dangerously unsafe and this must be made highest priority to prevent future accidents and potential deaths.
Car windshield had ice obscuring part of the eyesight system on startup. Warning indicators lit up informing me that the eyesight system was disabled. Concurrent with this fault, the failure of the eyesight system would not allow me to release the electronic parking brake leaving me stranded in the snow.
Was driving Subaru Outback, came to a red light and car stopped as it's designed to do. When light turned green, car stalled and never started again leaving me on a 3 lane highway called route 19 in hudson Florida.
While traveling at about 35 to 40mph approaching a stopped intersection (red light) I tried to slow the vehicle by braking and could not locate the brake petal. I put my foot on the accelerator and moved it to the left at the same level in an effort to find the brake petal. My foot did not hit the petal. I again moved my foot from right to left higher than lower and still did not find a brake petal. I could not stop the vehicle from moving forward. While I was approaching the stopped lines of traffic the vehicles' (eye-sight) feature failed to operate and warn me or start braking the vehicle as I swerved around them to avoid a collision. Having avoided an accident, I immediately pushed the vehicles' (starter push button) to such off the vehicle. The vehicle shut off and coasted to the side of the road and came to a stop. I noted immediately that the brake petal had reappeared. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership. The vehicle had 1860 mi of use at the time. The (active curse) was set for 40mph, but not engaged. The (auto start/stop) function was turned off. The (auto vehicle hold) function was turned on. After a review of the black box data and the physical vehicle, the dealership and Subaru America investigations, they determined nothing was wrong with the vehicle. They could not account for the missing brake petal or why the (eye-sight function) did not engage and warn me to brake or start applying the brakes itself.
When going over small bumps there is a cracking sound in the front and rear suspension or brake area, it does not happen when going at high speeds just small bumps and braking.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. While the vehicle was at an intersection, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the electronic emergency brake engaged without warning. As a result, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to Subaru of bend (2060 ne hwy 20, bend, or 97701, (541) 389-3031) where it was currently being diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact's insurance company began an investigation. The failure mileage was approximately 520.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Elgin, IL, USA