NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
6 reportsClear category filter173,200 miles · Mar 20, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT NOTICE THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF, BECAUSE OF A MINOR PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER EFFICIENCY. HAD THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME BEEN ANY CLOSER I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. IT TURNS OUT THAT SUBARU HAS PROGRAMED THEIR VEHICLES TO DO THIS. WHY WOULD ANYONE PROGRAM A CAR TO HAVE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER …
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I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT NOTICE THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF, BECAUSE OF A MINOR PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER EFFICIENCY. HAD THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME BEEN ANY CLOSER I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. IT TURNS OUT THAT SUBARU HAS PROGRAMED THEIR VEHICLES TO DO THIS. WHY WOULD ANYONE PROGRAM A CAR TO HAVE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER OVER SUCH A MINOR ISSUE.RECALLS FOR "KEYS TURNING OFF" HAVE HAPPENED, AND THE MANUFACTURERS KNEW ABOUT IT. SUBARU KNOWS THIS HAPPENS AND I HOPE THERE WILL BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HOPE THIS IS BOUGHT TO THE HIGHEST OFFICIALS AT NHTSA AND IS ADDRESS PROPERLY. I HOPE NO ONE GETS KILLED BEFORE THIS IS ADDRESSED.
NHTSA ODI #10967192
36,580 miles · Jan 16, 2016
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TWICE IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS, WHILE MY CAR WAS STOPPED BUT IN DRIVE, WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR HAS REVVED UP AND SURGED FORWARD OF ITS OWN ACCORD. BRAKING DID NOTHING TO STOP THE CAR EITHER TIME. ON AUGUST 3, 2015 AT @ 8:30 A.M., I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE DIRECTLY FACING A BUILDING AND STOPPED. AS…
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TWICE IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS, WHILE MY CAR WAS STOPPED BUT IN DRIVE, WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR HAS REVVED UP AND SURGED FORWARD OF ITS OWN ACCORD. BRAKING DID NOTHING TO STOP THE CAR EITHER TIME. ON AUGUST 3, 2015 AT @ 8:30 A.M., I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE DIRECTLY FACING A BUILDING AND STOPPED. AS I WAS GETTING READY TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD, ACROSS A SIDEWALK, AND INTO/THROUGH THE WALL/WINDOWS OF A BUSINESS. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY KNEW OF NO SIMILAR ISSUES LOCALLY OR NATIONALLY. I LEFT MY CAR WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK SO THEY COULD INSPECT IT. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN UNDER 30 MILES AND THE ISSUE DID NOT ARISE, SO THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME. I ASKED THAT THEY NOTIFY SUBARU NATIONALLY AND THE NHTSA OF THE INCIDENT, AND ONLY LEARNED LATER THAT THEY DID NEITHER. ON DECEMBER 19, 2015, I WAS ON A CITY STREET (WET, BUT NOT ICY) @ BLOCK BACK FROM A RED LIGHT COMPLETELY STOPPED IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS AT LEAST 4-6' BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, AND MY CAR AGAIN SURGED FORWARD, DESPITE ALL MY EFFORTS TO CONTROL IT, AND SLAMMED INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, AND ONLY AFTER TWO VISITS WAS A RECORD MADE OF THE 12/19/2015 INCIDENT AND I WAS GIVEN THE NUMBER FOR NATIONAL SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAVE REQUESTED A FORM TO ALLOW AN INSPECTOR TO DOWNLOAD INFORMATION FROM THE EVENT DATA RECORDER FOR REVIEW WHEN HE INSPECTS THE CAR IN TWO WEEKS. I USE ONLY MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL. I HAVE FACTORY FLOOR MATS WHICH ARE PINNED DOWN AND DO NOT MOVE. I WEAR FLAT SHOES.
NHTSA ODI #10820652
22,807 miles · Jun 8, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE WILL LOOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX (6) TIMES. WHEN THIS OCCURS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED IMMEDIATELY DROPS TO ABOUT 5 MPH. THE "ENGINE" AND "CRUISE" LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THE TACHOMETER CONTINUALLY FLUCTUATES BETWEEN 2500AND 3000 RPM DURING THIS TIME, . ONE MUST PU…
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VEHICLE WILL LOOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX (6) TIMES. WHEN THIS OCCURS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED IMMEDIATELY DROPS TO ABOUT 5 MPH. THE "ENGINE" AND "CRUISE" LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THE TACHOMETER CONTINUALLY FLUCTUATES BETWEEN 2500AND 3000 RPM DURING THIS TIME, . ONE MUST PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE, LET IT SET FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTART THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO RESET THE ACCELERATION SYSTEM. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS AS DRIVERS BEHIND OUR VEHICLE NEEDED TO SWERVE AWAY FROM OUR VEHICLE AS IT LOST ACCELERATION. SUBARU PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING. 1. FLASHED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CODE TWICE. 2. REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLE TWICE 3. REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ONCE 4. REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) ONCE. I HAVE THREE (3) SERVICES CASES RECORDED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA). THE CASE NUMBERS ARE AS LISTED. > 1-2810691799 FILED ON DECEMBER 17, 2012 > 1-2888482660 FILED ON DECEMBER 26, 2012 > 1-4032748404 FILED ON MAY 21, 2013 THE ECM WAS REPLACED ON MAY 29, 2013 AND WE HOPE THIS WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER DURING THIS TEN (10) MONTH PERIOD OF TIME SOA ALWAYS PROMISED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM YET DID SO RELUCTANTLY. AS THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WENT FROM 3 TO 6 SOA CUSTOMER SERVICES WAS NOT AT ALL CUSTOMER ORIENTATED. THESE FAILURES ARE A SAFETY ISSUE. ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN THE END RESULT OF ANY OF THESE INCIDENTS. WE HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY BUT HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10515795
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER REGARDING SUBURU PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY HE SCRAPED A GUARDRAIL, WHICH RESULTED IN OVER $5,000 IN BODY DAMAGE TO HIS VEHICLE. HE STATED EVERY TIME…
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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER REGARDING SUBURU PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY HE SCRAPED A GUARDRAIL, WHICH RESULTED IN OVER $5,000 IN BODY DAMAGE TO HIS VEHICLE. HE STATED EVERY TIME HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10328527
19,000 miles · Dec 12, 2009
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
MY WIFE HAD AN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION EVENT IN HER 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK WHEN SHE WAS TRYING TO PARK BEHIND ANOTHER CAR. SHE DIDN'T THINK THE FLOOR MAT WAS INVOLVED. SHE HAD WINTER BOOTS ON AND THOUGHT SHE WAS ONLY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. HER FRONT LICENSE PLATE WAS TORN AND SHE DID ABOUT $700 OF DAMAGE TO THE OTHER CAR'S REA…
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MY WIFE HAD AN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION EVENT IN HER 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK WHEN SHE WAS TRYING TO PARK BEHIND ANOTHER CAR. SHE DIDN'T THINK THE FLOOR MAT WAS INVOLVED. SHE HAD WINTER BOOTS ON AND THOUGHT SHE WAS ONLY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. HER FRONT LICENSE PLATE WAS TORN AND SHE DID ABOUT $700 OF DAMAGE TO THE OTHER CAR'S REAR BUMPER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10295462
10,000 miles · Mar 30, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control
SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. EVEN PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENGINE REVS UP OR SAME PROBLEM WHILE SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT. IT'S AS THOUGH THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO STOP. AT TIMES IF YOU SHIFT DOWN AND LET OFF ON THE GAS THE CAR GOES FOR A SHORT STRETCH WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10222714
Official recalls
8Jan 2, 2020
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
Jan 2, 2020
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
Jan 2, 2020
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
Apr 11, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
Oct 13, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.
May 28, 2015
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.
Jun 10, 2014
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.
Mar 27, 2013
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected area will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQG-43.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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