NHTSA Complaint #10543369 — 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK

DURING THE 2 YEARS SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2011 OUTBACK 2.5I (CVT), THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 15 OCCASIONS WHERE I WAS GOING DOWNHILL, USING ENGINE BRAKING, WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, CRUISE CONTROL NOT ENGAGED, BUT GAS WAS FED TO THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN SPEEDS OF 45 TO 50 MPH (4500 RPM) IN 2ND GEAR. ONE INDICATOR THAT GAS IS BEING FED TO THE ENGINE IS THE FUEL ECONOMY GAUGE SHOWS POOR GAS MILEAGE. THIS DEFINITELY DOES NOT FEEL LIKE ENGINE BRAKING WHEN THE ENGINE IS SCREAMING AS YOU ARE SPEEDING DOWNHILL. USUALLY WHEN I DRIVE THE SAME STRETCH OF ROAD USING ENGINE BRAKING MY SPEED IS 30 TO 35 MPH IN 2ND GEAR AND THE FUEL ECONOMY GAUGE SHOWS NO FUEL IS BEING CONSUMED. SUBARU REFUSES TO COMMENT ON THIS PROBLEM SINCE I CANNOT REPRODUCE IT FOR THEM. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE SIMILAR BUT LESS SEVERE, REPEATABLE BEHAVIOR, OF CYCLING BETWEEN ACCELERATING TO OVER 2000 RPM AND DECELERATING TO ABOUT 1200 RPM. HE SAID THIS IS DONE TO MEET EMISSION STANDARDS. *TR