NHTSA Complaint #10862438 — 2016 SUBARU LEGACY

3.6 LITER 6-CYL ENGINE SURGES AFTER A COLD START. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, THE IDLE SPEED IS HIGH. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO GEAR, AS THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED AND THE CAR BEGINS TO MOVE, THE IDLE SPEED DROPS. IF THE CAR IS BROUGHT TO A STOP OR A VERY LOW (CREEPING) SPEED, THE IDLE SPEED INCREASES, CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH. FOOT NEVER TOUCHES ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT ALL. THIS BEHAVIOR CAUSES THE CAR TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER IT IS BROUGHT TO A STOP BY THE BRAKES. IT ALSO MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE CAR AT CREEPING SPEED - EASING OFF THE BRAKES, AS THE CAR STARTS TO MOVE, THE IDLE SPEED DROPS, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR. AFTER A SECOND, AS THE CAR COMES TO A STOP, THE ENGINE SPEED KICKS UP AGAIN. THIS MAKES THE CAR LURCH INTO MOTION AGAIN. OPERATOR MUST QUICKLY INCREASE BRAKE PRESSURE, BUT SIMULTANEOUSLY THE ENGINE IDLE SPEED DROPS DUE TO THE INCREASED SPEED. THEREFORE THE CAR SLOWS AGAIN AND THE CYCLE REPEATS. THE DESCRIBED BEHAVIOR HAPPENS EQUALLY IN FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR. THE DESCRIBED BEHAVIOR IS ONLY AN ISSUE ON A COLD START. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH A WARM ENGINE. I EXPERIENCE THIS ON A DAILY BASIS. IT HAS AFFECTED CONTROL OF MY CAR IN THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS: BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY; ENTERING AN INTERSECTION; IN A PARKING LOT.