NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
70 reportsClear category filter57 miles · Oct 10, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
CAR WAS DRIVEN OUT OF NEW CAR DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT BY DRIVER WITH 50 PLUS YEARS EXPERIENCE. APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MILES INTO TRIP CAR EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER GOING THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CAR PROCEEDED INTO WOODED AREA AND HIT TREE CAUSING LOWER LEG INJURIES TO DRIVER AND MODERATE TO SEVERE DA…
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CAR WAS DRIVEN OUT OF NEW CAR DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT BY DRIVER WITH 50 PLUS YEARS EXPERIENCE. APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MILES INTO TRIP CAR EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER GOING THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CAR PROCEEDED INTO WOODED AREA AND HIT TREE CAUSING LOWER LEG INJURIES TO DRIVER AND MODERATE TO SEVERE DAMAGE TO CAR. DRIVER WAS NOT ENTRAPPED UPON EMT ARRIVAL. ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED. DRIVER IS CONFIDENT CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND /OR ENGINE COMPUTER. CAR TRAVELED AT OVER 40 MPH DURING INCIDENT AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED THROUGH NORMAL BRAKING ACTION.
NHTSA ODI #10781256
24,000 miles · Aug 21, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
I'M HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2015 FORESTER 2.5I CVT THAT HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE TODAY I WAS DISMISSED WITHOUT BEING HELPED. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 24,700 MILES ON IT, SO IT'S THOROUGHLY BROKEN IN AND I'M USED TO THE WAY THE CVT WORKS. IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO, I'VE NOTICED BUCKING, SHUDDERING, …
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I'M HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2015 FORESTER 2.5I CVT THAT HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE TODAY I WAS DISMISSED WITHOUT BEING HELPED. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 24,700 MILES ON IT, SO IT'S THOROUGHLY BROKEN IN AND I'M USED TO THE WAY THE CVT WORKS. IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO, I'VE NOTICED BUCKING, SHUDDERING, AND POWER LOSS DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. SOMETIMES THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BUMPING, BUT OTHER TIMES IT'S A NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, LONG ENOUGH TO BE VERY DANGEROUS WHILE ACCELERATING OR ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, THE ADVISOR THERE STARTED TO TELL ME THAT THE BEHAVIOR IS NORMAL EVEN BEFORE ANYONE HAD STARTED TO LOOK AT THE CAR. AFTER A TECH TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, THE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT MY CONCERNS "DESCRIBE A PERFECT CVT" AND HE DOESN'T SEE A PROBLEM, AND THAT IT'S EXPECTED BEHAVIOR TO HAVE DANGEROUS POWER LOSS LIKE THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY PROBLEM IS NOT A PROBLEM AND SENT AWAY. POWER LOSS LIKE THIS DURING ACCELERATION IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM, DESPITE THE CLAIMS OF THE SUBARU EMPLOYEES, AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR. SUBARU REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SUGGESTED THAT I AVOID ACCELERATING OR TURNING ANY TIME POWER LOSS WOULD BE A DANGER OR ISSUE - THIS IS CLEARLY NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION.
NHTSA ODI #10750259
3,277 miles · Aug 19, 2015
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,277. ...UPDATED 10-13-15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 10/15/15*JB
NHTSA ODI #10749912
1,200 miles · Aug 14, 2015
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DURING THE DAYTIME AT 25 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT AS VISIBLE AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TO TAKEN THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS STANDARD FOR THOSE MODELS OF VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DURING THE DAYTIME AT 25 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT AS VISIBLE AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TO TAKEN THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS STANDARD FOR THOSE MODELS OF VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.
NHTSA ODI #10748656
4,829 miles · Jul 8, 2015
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION: THE VEHICLE VIGOROUSLY ACCELERATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE ~8 FEET AWAY, PUSHED OVER 2 EIGHT FOOT TREES BEHIND THE FENCE THEN BECAME HIGH CENTERED ON A 30" "RETAINING ~5 FEET BEYOND THE FENCE. THE VEH…
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SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION: THE VEHICLE VIGOROUSLY ACCELERATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE ~8 FEET AWAY, PUSHED OVER 2 EIGHT FOOT TREES BEHIND THE FENCE THEN BECAME HIGH CENTERED ON A 30" "RETAINING ~5 FEET BEYOND THE FENCE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN SPITE OF FULL APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ANY MORE AFTER IT WAS HIGH CENTERED ON THE RETAINING WALL BUT THE ENGINE SPEED REMAINED AT A HIGH RPM. THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN ONLY WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF.
NHTSA ODI #10732748
11,265 miles · Jun 17, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
FROM A FULL STOP, A/C ON, I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT A GREEN LIGHT. CAR STOPPED ACCELERATION AT APROX. 2 MILES PER HOUR AND COASTED THRU LARGE INTERSECTION BEFORE ACCELERATING AGAIN. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS OFF. I TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID NO "ERROR CODE" IS AVAILABLE THAT WO…
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FROM A FULL STOP, A/C ON, I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT A GREEN LIGHT. CAR STOPPED ACCELERATION AT APROX. 2 MILES PER HOUR AND COASTED THRU LARGE INTERSECTION BEFORE ACCELERATING AGAIN. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS OFF. I TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID NO "ERROR CODE" IS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD INDICATE A PROBLEM AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE ANOTHER DRIVER MADE THIS SAME REPORT. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE 1) WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CAR FAILS AGAIN WHEN I PULL INTO TRAFFIC WITH MY KID IN THE CAR? AND 2) I BOUGHT A SUBARU BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE. I'M SERIOUSLY RECONSIDERING MY DECISION NOW.
NHTSA ODI #10725836
3,000 miles · Jan 23, 2015
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CERVICAL NERVE DAMAGE THAT RE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CERVICAL NERVE DAMAGE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
NHTSA ODI #10678454
2,400 miles · Jan 21, 2015
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE, FOOT ON BRAKE. SUDDEN ACCELERATION, COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. IT DROVE DOWN A HILL, FINALLY STOPPING WITH BRAKE PEDAL AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FULLY ACTIVATED. TWO FLAT TIRES ON DRIVER SIDE OF CAR FROM RUNNING OVER AN ELEVATED SIDEWALK PAD. DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10677046
12,400 miles · Jan 15, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE THROTTLE RESPONSE WAS DELAYED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,400. UPDATED 0…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE THROTTLE RESPONSE WAS DELAYED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,400. UPDATED 03/10/15*LJ UPDATED 9/18/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10672763
2,500 miles · Dec 8, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
I WAS TURNING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT MY CONDO, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CAR STOP AND THE SIDEWALK AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT A WALL AND PALM TREE. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP. I KEPT THINKING "WHY ISN'T IT STOPPING". I KNOW I WAS GOING SLOW BECAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE A TURN TO GO IN…
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I WAS TURNING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT MY CONDO, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CAR STOP AND THE SIDEWALK AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT A WALL AND PALM TREE. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP. I KEPT THINKING "WHY ISN'T IT STOPPING". I KNOW I WAS GOING SLOW BECAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE A TURN TO GO INTO MY SPACE, AND AS MY NEIGHBORS SAID, I NEVER DRIVE FAST COMING INTO THE PARKING LOT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10662955
Official recalls
3Oct 3, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Feb 28, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Mar 21, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗