NHTSA complaint #11350471

Owner complaint summary

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 TO 40MPH APPROACHING A STOPPED INTERSECTION (RED LIGHT) I TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BY BRAKING AND COULD NOT LOCATE THE BRAKE PETAL. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND MOVED IT TO THE LEFT AT THE SAME LEVEL IN AN EFFORT TO FIND THE BRAKE PETAL. MY FOOT DID NOT HIT THE PETAL. I AGAIN MOVED MY FOOT FROM RIGHT TO LEFT HIGHER THAN LOWER AND STILL DID NOT FIND A BRAKE PETAL. I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. WHILE I WAS APPROACHING THE STOPPED LINES OF TRAFFIC THE VEHICLES' (EYE-SIGHT) FEATURE FAILED TO OPERATE AND WARN ME OR START BRAKING THE VEHICLE AS I SWERVED AROUND THEM TO AVOID A COLLISION. HAVING AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT, I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED THE VEHICLES' (STARTER PUSH BUTTON) TO SUCH OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP. I NOTED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE BRAKE PETAL HAD REAPPEARED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD 1860 MI OF USE AT THE TIME. THE (ACTIVE CURSE) WAS SET FOR 40MPH, BUT NOT ENGAGED. THE (AUTO START/STOP) FUNCTION WAS TURNED OFF. THE (AUTO VEHICLE HOLD) FUNCTION WAS TURNED ON. AFTER A REVIEW OF THE BLACK BOX DATA AND THE PHYSICAL VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU AMERICA INVESTIGATIONS, THEY DETERMINED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY COULD NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE MISSING BRAKE PETAL OR WHY THE (EYE-SIGHT FUNCTION) DID NOT ENGAGE AND WARN ME TO BRAKE OR START APPLYING THE BRAKES ITSELF.