NHTSA Complaint #10104825 — 2000 SUBARU IMPREZA

1. NOT AWARE OF EVENTS LEADING TO THIS DEFECT. DESIGN IS SENSITIVE TO SMALL ADJUSTMENTS AND NOT ROBUST. 2. THROTTLE CABLE DISLODGES FROM GROOVE ON THROTTLE BODY LEVER WHEN ACCELERATOR IS FULLY DEPRESSED, PREVENTING THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE POSITION. THIS CONDITION CAUSES MOTOR TO ACCELERATE AT APROXIMATELY 1/3 TO 1/2 FULL THROTTLE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO SURGEN OF POWER DURING BRAKING. . CABLE END WAS REPOSITIONED AND CABLE SLACK ADJUSTED FROM 10 MILIMETERS TO 2 MILIMETERS. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE PREVENTED RECURANCE. 4.SUGGESTED DESIGN MODIFICATIONS INCLUDE: A. INCREASE GOOVE DEPTH ON THROTTLE LEVER AN ADDITIONAL 6 MI;IMETERS TO LESSEN TENDANCY OF CABLE TO DISLODGE. B. CHANGE SHAPE OF CABLE END TO PREVENT SEVERE TWISTING OF CABLE. CYLINDRICAL END COULD BE CHANGED TO SPHERICAL SHAPE, ALLOWING CABLE TO RELAX AND FIND NATURAL POSITION. THROTTLE LEVER WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE RE-DESIGNE TO ACCEPT THIS NEW CABLE END. A SIMPLE DEALER KIT WITH NEW LEVER COULD BE COULD BE INSTALLED QUICKLY DUE TO EASY ACCESSABILITY. THIS WOULD BE BETTER THAN NOTHING AND PREVENT A DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK