NHTSA Complaint #10456350 — 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK

I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY (RELATIVELY LEVEL) AND PARKED MY CAR. AS I EXITED THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THAT MY CAR WAS ROLLING FORWARD (I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AND ATTEMPTED TO SET THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE BY PUSHING REPEATEDLY ON THE BUTTON TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT SET AND MY CAR GAINED SPEED AND CONTINUED DOWNHILL INTO THE WOODS BEHIND MY HOME. I AM NOT SURE IF I WAS DRAGGED OR PARTIALLY IN THE CAR, BUT WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT HIT A FENCE, A TREE AND EVENTUALLY COME TO A STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN MY GARAGE ONCE AND AT A GAS STATION, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY HITTING THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON. I DO NOT KNOW IF I AM NOT SETTING THE BRAKE BEFORE EXITING OR AM NOT DEPRESSING IT FULLY BEFORE EXITING OR WHY IT DID NOT STOP WHEN I HIT IT REPEATEDLY. I TYPICALLY SET THE CAR IN GEAR, BUT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT DO THIS ON THESE OCCASIONS. *TR