NHTSA Complaint #10574431 — 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT AN ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR IN MY CAR ON JANUARY 13, 2014 AS THIS IS A SAFETY MATTER. THE ROAD CONDITION WAS DRY AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES. FIRST I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE ONTO THE ROAD, THEN SHIFTED TO THE D POSITION AND DROVE ABOUT HALF A MILE FORWARD. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AS USUAL WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AS I WAS APPROACHING THE FIRST INTERSECTION. I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL MUCH FURTHER THAN USUAL. I DID NOT SLOW DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP, MADE A RIGHT TURN AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. I DECIDED TO PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR DURING THE NEXT BRAKING PERIOD. I DROVE ANOTHER QUARTER MILE AND I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES AGAIN AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AS USUAL AGAIN, SO I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED MOVING I HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE AND THE TACHOMETER ARROW WAS MOVING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 2000 AND 5000 RPM. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE CLUTCH WAS STILL ENGAGED EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING. THIS CONTINUED FOR 5-10 SECONDS UNTIL I SHIFTED INTO THE N POSITION AS I CONTINUED TO HOLD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE SQUEAKING SOUND DISAPPEARED AND THE TACHOMETER ARROW WENT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. I SHIFTED BACK INTO THE D POSITION AGAIN WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT APPEARED SINCE THAT TIME. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A SUBARU SERVICE DEALER AT NORWOOD, MA 02062 ON JAN. 27, 2014, BUT THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG (CUSTOMER #[XXX], INVOICE [XXX], MILES 31340). I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT TO SUBARU WEBSITE ON JANUARY 28, 2014 BUT DID NOT HEAR A WORD FROM THEM SINCE THAT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR