NHTSA Complaint #10899454 — 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK

SUBARU MARKETS THEIR HIGH BEAM ASSIST (HBA) FEATURE AS WORKING 'IN CONJUNCTION WITH EYESIGHT TO AUTOMATICALLY SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS BETWEEN THE HIGH AND LOW SETTINGS WHEN AN ONCOMING VEHICLE IS DETECTED.' THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY TRUE AND THAT'S WHERE THE SAFETY ISSUE COMES INTO PLAY. THE HBA FEATURE TURNS OFF HIGH BEAMS AT LOWER SPEEDS NO MATTER IF AN ONCOMING CAR IS PRESENT AND ABSOLUTELY TURNS THEM OFF AT A STOP SIGN. THIS MAKES FOR TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS IN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES DANGEROUS. IN OUR COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S VERY HILLY AND CURVY WITH A LOT OF WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE WHO WALK/JOG SO SPEEDS ARE OFTEN BELOW 20 MPH, THE SPEED AT WHICH SUBARU'S MANUAL SAYS THIS FEATURE WORKS. IF ANYTHING, WHEN THERE IS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES HIGH BEAMS SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON AT NIGHT. THIS ALLOWS FOR THE EARLIER DETECTION OF PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. IN TALKING TO SUBARU THEY REALLY DIDN'T CARE AT ALL THAT THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND OFFERED TO TELL THEIR ENGINEERS. OF COURSE, THIS CAN BE TURNED OFF, BUT ONLY BY VISITING A DEALER AND PAYING THEM TO FIX SUBARU'S DESIGN FLAW. NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE SUBARU TO 1) FIX THIS FEATURE SO THAT IT ONLY DIMS HIGH BEAMS WHEN THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC; AND 2) REQUIRE SUBARU OFFER TO DISABLE THE FEATURE FREE OF CHARGE AT ANY AUTHORIZED DEALER UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED.