NHTSA Complaint #10494780 — 2011 SUBARU FORESTER

I HAD PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER IN AUGUST OF 2011 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS. IT WAS A BIG INVESTMENT FOR ME AND I HAD HOPED TO DRIVE MY NEW SUBARU FORESTER 2011 FOR SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, I NOTICED THE BRAKES TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY FASHION OR QUICKLY ENOUGH. MY WIFE, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO DRIVE MY CAR, ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT ITS BRAKES. I HAD MY VEHICLE REGULARLY SERVICED AS PER THE COMPANIES WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS AND AT ONLY AUTHORIZED SUBARU SERVICE & DEALERSHIP CENTERS. I BROUGHT THE DEFECTIVE BRAKES TO THEIR ATTENTION BUT THEY SAID THAT- 'THAT WAS THE WAY THE FORESTER'S BRAKES WERE AND THAT I HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL HARD TO THE FLOOR(PUMP THE BRAKES) TO STOP IT QUICKLY ENOUGH.' I WAS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR RESPONSE TO MY CONCERNS AND AS A PRECAUTION I BEGAN TO KEEP AN EVEN GREATER DISTANCE FROM ALL OF THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. RECENTLY, I WAS ENTERING A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 10-15MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME. I PUSHED THE BRAKES BUT MY VEHICLE JUST WOULD NOT STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH. IF I WOULD LET GO OF THE BRAKE AND THEN PUSH IT AGAIN HARDER AND FASTER TO THE FLOOR( PUMP THE BRAKE) AS THE SERVICE CENTRE HAD PREVIOUSLY ADVISED ME THEN I WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SO I SWAYED MY CARS STEERING WHEEL AND AVOIDED MEETING WITH AN ACCIDENT BUT MY VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT TOUCHED THE RAILING AT ABOUT 5MPH ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT MY FRONT BUMPER NOW HAD A HUGE CRACK IN IT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A VEHICLE WHOSE BRAKES ARE SO BAD THAT IT WILL NOT STOP THE VEHICLE QUICKLY ENOUGH AND NEEDS TO BE PUMPED TO STOP IT SOONER(WHICH MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE ONE ABOVE) , HAS DEFECTIVE BUMPERS AND ALSO HAS A REAR CENTER CHILD SAFETY SEAT SEATBELT WITH A RECALL ON IT .PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE BRAKES AT THE VERY LEAST. *TR