2014 Subaru Forester

I HAD JUST GASSED UP AT BJ'S IN FARMINGDALE AND WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT ADJACENT TO AND FACING THE PUMP AREA I HAD JUST LEFT. SEPARATING MY PARKING SPACE AND THE PUMP I JUST LEFT WAS A CURB AND A SHORT UPHILL EMBANKMENT OF ABOUT 45 DEGREES , AND 20 FEET TO THE ROADWAWAY IN FRONT OF THE PUMP I HAD JUST LEFT. AS I "STOPPED" THE CAR, IT INSTEAD LURCHED FORWARD , UP AND OVER THE EMBANKMENT, RIPPING OUT THE UNDERCARRIAGE PROTECTIVE SHIELD. THIS WAS ALL A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 30 FEET. WITH MY BRAKING IT, THE CAR STOPPED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SAFE AREA AND INSPECT THE DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO LEAKAGE, BUT SCRAPING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRONT BUMPER, AND I THEN REALIZED THE PROTECTIVE PLASTIC SHROUD HAD REMAINED AT THE EMBANKMENT SCENE, SO I RETRIEVED IT. THE SPEED I NOTED IS A GUESS, BUT THE CAR HAD TO CLIMB A HEIGHT OF PERHAPS 8 FEET IN A 20 FOOT DISTANCE! VERY FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT, MY "LANDING SPOT" WAS 20 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR GASSING UP IN THE SPOT I HAD JUST LEFT, ADJACENT TO 6 DOUBLE ROWS OF GAS PUMPS! HAD I SELECTED 1 OR 2 PARKING SPOTS ADJACENT, MY CAR WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO THEM ALL! I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO HICKSVILLE NY SUBURU THIS AM AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, OTHER THAN TO REATTACH THE SHROUD. I AND THEY HAVE NO EXPLANATION, OTHER THAN POSSIBLY THE DRIVER FLOOR MAT, WHICH HAD A RECALL BUT APPEARS TO BE IN ITS PROPER PLACE, AND I HAVE PICTURES OF SAME WHICH I TOOK UPON RETIRING HOME AFTER THE INCIDENT.

I WAS TURNING LEFT ON AN ARROW AND A CAR RAN THE RED LIGHT RESULTING IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ME, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 3MPH AND HE WAS DRIVING 45MPH. HIS CAR WAS TOTALLED, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND ON FIRE. I HAD FRONT END DAMAGE AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT LOCK UP. AS A RESULT I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY KNEE AND MY ANKLE GOT LACERATED AND BLUNT TRAUMA FROM THE BRAKE/ACCELARTATION PEDAL. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2014 FORESTER IN JULY 2013. I LOVE THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THE DESIGN OF THE CLIMATE CONTROL DIALS WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN AT A GLANCE WHAT THE CURRENT SETTING IS FOR EACH FUNCTION (HEAT/AC TEMP, FAN SPEED, FAN DIRECTION.) STARING AT THE DIAL(S) OR REPEATED GLANCES TAKES THE DRIVER'S ATTENTION OFF THE ROAD FOR TOO LONG, AND THEREFORE IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY ISSUE: EACH ROUND DIAL HAS A RUBBER GRIP SURFACE THAT THE USER CONTACTS. ON THE FRONT FACE OF THE DIAL IS A SHINY CHROME BEZEL RING. THIS RING IS QUITE NARROW AND HAS 7 SMALL, EQUIDISTANT INDENTATIONS AROUND THE RADIUS. ONE OF THE INDENTATIONS IS YELLOW PLASTIC, WHICH INDICATES THE SETTING. AT A GLANCE, THE SMALL YELLOW PLASTIC INDICATOR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE AMONG THE OTHER SIX INDENTATIONS. WHAT THE PURPOSE IS OF THE INDENTATIONS IS A MYSTERY (SOME MARKETER WANTED SPARKLE?) AND WHY SUBARU CHOSE PALE YELLOW AGAINST SHINY CHROME MAKES NO SENSE. I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ALTERED MY DIALS BY PUTTING A TINY DROP OF WHITE FINGERNAIL POLISH ON THE BLACK RUBBER GRIP DIRECTLY ABOVE EACH YELLOW PLASTIC INDICATOR. NOW, AT A QUICK GLANCE, I CAN EASILY SEE AT WHAT POSITION EACH FUNCTION DIAL IS SET. IT'S GREAT. I FEEL MUCH SAFER. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL, UNIMPORTANT PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS A HUGE CONCERN TO ME. I HOPE NO FORESTER OWNER IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH BECAUSE HE/SHE TOOK HIS/HER EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR TOO LONG TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ONE OR MORE OF THE CLIMATE CONTROL SETTINGS. THE FORESTER MIGHT BE A "TOP SAFETY PICK" BUT NOT ON THIS. THANK YOU. *TR

I SLOWLY PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT WALMART AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY AND JUMPED THE MEDIAN. THE CAR CRASHED INTO METAL RACKS WITH PLANTS ON THEM. THE CAR WAS SUSPENDED ON THE MEDIAN. WITNESSES SAW THAT THE CAR SURGED FORWARD WHILE MY BRAKES LIGHTS WERE ON AS I SLOWED TO ENTER THE PARKING SPACE. EARLIER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE DAY BEFORE I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HESITATED (CHUGGING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH), BUT THAT STOPPED WHEN I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY. I NOW THINK THIS IS SOMEHOW RELATED TO THE ACCELERATION SURGE. *TR