NHTSA Complaint #11154699 — 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK

ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 I WAS DRIVING MY SUBARU OUTBACK THROUGH BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK. I WAS LEAVING THE CHISOS MOUNTAINS BASIN WITHIN THE PARK WHEN IT BEGAN LIGHTLY RAINING. I PRESSED THE X-MODE BUTTON HOPING IT WOULD INCREASE MY TRACTION ON THE WINDING ROADS. AS THE CAR WAS COMING DOWN FAIRLY STEEP DECLINE, I NOTICED THAT I WAS GAINING SPEED AND X-MODE HAD TURNED ITSELF OFF. I CAME AROUND A CURVE A LITTLE FAST AND FELT THAT IT TOOK MORE EFFORT THAN I'D EXPECTED TO SLOW THE CAR. AT THAT POINT, THE ROAD LEVELED OUT AND THE RAIN HAD STOPPED, BUT MY SPEED WAS STILL ACCELERATING. I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED. I DECIDED TO PULL OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION IN HOPES THAT WOULD RESET THE ENGINE. AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO, I STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN, PUT IT INTO DRIVE, AND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. AFTER IT REACHED APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH (WHICH WAS THE SPEED LIMIT) ON ITS OWN I PULLED OVER AGAIN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MY FIANCE SUGGESTED PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THINKING THAT COULD RESET WHATEVER MALFUNCTION THERE WAS IN DRIVE. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND AGAIN, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. IT WENT FROM 0 MPH TO 40 MPH IN NEUTRAL. IT GAINED SPEED IN A STEADY AND CONSISTENT PACE, ABOUT 1 MPH EVERY 1.5 SECONDS. MY FIANCE CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA, HOPING THEY COULD TELL US ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY RECOMMENDED WE GET IT CHECKED OUT AT A DEALERSHIP AND THAT THE CLOSEST SUBARU DEALERSHIP WAS MORE THAN 200 MILES AWAY. WHILE HE WAS ON THE PHONE, THE CAR BEGAN DECELERATING WITHOUT HAVING TOUCHED THE GAS OR BRAKE PEDALS. AFTER THAT, IT BEGAN DRIVING NORMALLY AND I DIDN'T EXPERIENCE ANY FURTHER ISSUES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION.