NHTSA Complaint #10916487 — 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK

OCTOBER 1, 2016 11:50AM, 32,00MILES SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA) MY WIFE HAD AN ACCELERATION AND BRAKE MALFUNCTION ON THIS DATE AND TIME.SHE HAD JUST TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE. AS SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE CAR RAN OVER THE YELLOW CEMENT BARRIER AND WAS HEADING FOR A TREE, SHE CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND IT DID NOT RESPOND AS SHE TURNED THE CAR RIGHT TO MISS THE TREE. REALIZING SHE MAY BE HEADING FOR THE STREET SHE TURNED HARD RIGHT, STILL APPLYING PRESSURE TO A UNRESPONSIVE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE CONTINUED TO STEER HARD RIGHT TO MISS A FIRE HYDRANT. SHE LEFT TIRE MARKS IN THE BARK CHIPS NEAR THE HYDRANT. THE BRAKE FINALLY ENGAGED AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CEMENT PARKING BARRIER THAT WAS PERPENDICULAR TO THE STREET. SHE SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE, GATHERING HER THOUGHTS AND TALKING TO HER GRANDCHILD, IN THE BACK SEAT. SHE THEN DROVE SLOWLY OVER THE BARRIER AND PARKED. SHE DROVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT STOPPING AND STARTING BEFORE PROCEEDING HOME, APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES. THIS WAS A SUDDEN AND RANDOM ACCELERATION AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION. WE BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THROTTLE AND THAT IT MALFUNCTIONED. WE DO NOT FEE SAFE IN THIS CAR AND ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS SUA MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. WE ARE ASKING SUBARU TO REPLACE THIS CONTROL COMPUTER. IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON THEIR EVALUATION. WE WANT TO DRIVE AND FEEL SAFE IN OUR 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK! THERE SHOULD BE NO DOUBT OR HESITATION IN KEEPING US SAFE AND ONE INCIDENT OF SUA/BRAKE MALFUNCTION IS ONE TOO MANY. WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE AREA SHOWING THE TREE, FIRE HYDRANT AND BARK CHIPS WITH TIRE MARKS. YOU CAN FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PICTURE.