NHTSA Complaint #11318118 — 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK

DELAYED GAS PEDAL RESPONSE=HESITATION TO ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL ENGAGED FROM A STATIONARY STOP. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE FROM A STOPPED POSITION IN EXCESS OF 25 TIMES OVER A MORE THAN 5 YEAR PERIOD. THE SUBARU IS NOT MINE BUT A RELATIVES CAR. IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2019, I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. TRAFFIC COMING AT ME WAS UP A HILL WITH A GRADE OF 6% OR MORE WHICH LIMITED THE LINE OF SIGHT FOR SOMEONE WANTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AT THAT INTERSECTION. AS I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO MAKE THE TURN THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE CAR. THE CAR COMING UP THE HILL WAS UPON ME. I PUMPED THE GAS SEVERAL TIMES AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. MY WIFE AND I WERE INCHES AWAY FROM BEING WACKED BY THE OTHER CAR. THE CAR APPROACHING HAS A SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MPH BUT WAS MOST LIKELY TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH. ONCE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, WE PULLED TO THE CURB TO GATHER OURSELVES. THAT'S WHEN I SAID ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND SENT TWO LETTERS TO TOM DOLL OF SUBARU. ONE IN FEBRUARY & APRIL 2019. HE OF COURSE PASS IT ON TO CSERVICE. THE INDIVIDUAL WROTE BACK SAYING NOTHING IS WRONG. I AM A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER AND HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. I POINTED OUT ALL ENGINEERS INCLUDING AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS MUST ADHERE TO A CODE OF ETHICS & ADHERE TO THE ''HIGHEST STANDARDS OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY, AND MUST BE DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE AND MUST ADHERE TO THE HIGHEST PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT.'' THAT MEANT NOTHING TO SUBARU. CLEARLY FROM MY EXPERIENCE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK AND IT'S RANDOM FAILURE TO ACCELERATE DUE TO A DELAYED GAS PEDAL RESPONSE.