NHTSA Complaint #10521269 — 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A FULL STOP OR FROM A SLOW SPEED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITHIN FIRST MINUTE OR SO AFTER STARTING THE CAR WHEN ENGINE IS COLD (E.G. FIRST THING IN THE MORNING). FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, I WILL BEGIN DRIVING THE CAR WITHIN 10-15 SECONDS OF FIRST STARTING THE ENGINE. I DRIVE 2 BLOCKS WHERE I COME TO A STOP SIGN. FROM A FULL STOP I MUST WAIT FOR A BREAK IN TRAFFIC TRAVELING 30-35 MPH. AS I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR, ENGINE NOISE WILL INCREASE AND RPMS INCREASE AS EXPECTED; BUT CAR REACTS AS IF TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 4TH GEAR DIRECTLY (PREVENTING THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING SAFELY.) MORE THAN ONCE, CARS OVERTAKING ME FROM BEHIND HAD TO SLOW OR TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID REAR-ENDING ME. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. ONCE ENGINE WARMS, CAR WILL ACCELERATE FROM A DEAD STOP WITHOUT PROBLEM. *TR