NHTSA Complaint #10123745 — 2002 SUBARU FORESTER

I WAS BACKING MY 2002 SUBARU FORESTER OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING IT TO CROSS THE ROAD HEADING FOR MY NEIGHBORS' HOUSE. FLOORING THE BRAKE DID NOT HELP BUT I MANAGED TO TURN THE CAR SLIGHTLY, HITTING A TREE, WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP. THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME TWICE BEFORE IN THIS CAR, AND ONCE TO ANOTHER REGULAR DRIVER OF THIS CAR. ALL INCIDENTS WERE WHEN MANEUVERING SLOWLY, BUT SOME WERE WHILE IN REVERSE AND OTHERS WHILE MOVING FORWARD. IN ALL THE EARLIER INCIDENTS, WE WERE SOMEHOW ABLE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND TO A STOP BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO A FRIEND WHO OWNS A 2002 FORESTER. NONE OF US HAVE EVER HAD IT HAPPEN IN ANY OTHER CAR, AND WE HAVE ALL BEEN DRIVING REGULARLY FOR 35 YEARS.