NHTSA Complaint #11010388 — 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK

FIRST BRAKING ISSUE (ALSO POWER TRAIN): THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ONLY SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE GAS PEDAL. CONSEQUENTLY, SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING, MY RIGHT FOOT HAS HIT BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL SIMULTANEOUSLY, ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. IN SUCH INSTANCE, THE RESULT IS A POWER SURGE WHILE BRAKING, POTENTIALLY EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE CAR. OTHER CARS (NON-SUBARU) HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL HIGHER, SO THIS SIMULTANEOUS APPLICATION OF BRAKES AND POWER IS LESS LIKELY TO HAPPEN. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THE HEIGHT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT ADJUSTABLE, AND REFERS OWNERS TO SUBARU'S CUSTOMER RETAIL SERVICES. SUBARU'S CUSTOMER RETAIL SERVICES CLAIMS THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE HEIGHT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM. SECOND BRAKING ISSUE: UNLIKE OTHER CARS, THERE IS NO EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE OR FOOT BRAKE ON THE SUBARU, SO THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT IS HIGH IF THE REGULAR BRAKES FAIL. THE BRAKES HAVE NOT YET FAILED, BUT THERE SHOULD BE REDUNDANCY FOR THIS CRITICAL BRAKING FUNCTION.