What 403 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Subaru Forester Wilderness

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would independently accelerate without warning. Due to the failure, the contact stated that they had hit a building while attempting to park in a parking space. The air bag did not deploy during the accident and the contact suffered stiffness to the left side of their neck. The contact was given a ticket by the police as a result of the incident; however, a police report was not filed. Due to the crash, a window was shattered and a few bricks fell off from the building. The contact also mentioned that while attempting to park the vehicle in their driveway, the vehicle jolted forward while the brake pedal was depressed and hit a stone wall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was given a case number. The contact was then referred to a local dealer who gave the contact an estimate for a diagnostic. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11673628

Basically, as I was driving on the freeway with my son and his brother, I got 5 lights flashing on dashboard. Abs at temp check engine cruise control hill assist vss etc.. the code were for cut but before I could check them everything shut down. Car went dark, no brakes and burning smell as well as burns oil. Front end damage on car with passenger side damage. Car started back up next day called Subaru and because it’s 2014 forester, may not qualify but it only has 126k on the dash. Well maintained and had no issues besides the oil consumption.

NHTSA ODI 11595987

My wife, [XXX] , shifted into reverse to back up a steep driveway. It was difficult to put the transmission lever into reverse. After backing up several feet, the car made a strange noise and ran forward over a steep bank, resulting in a compression fracture in her spine. I have photo and text documents to provide, but I haven't been able to upload them in this web page. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11564235

On Friday, 12-3-21 I was in an accident in my local Costco parking lot while backing out of my spot. While backing out of the spot slowly with the wheel turned, my 2014 Subaru Forester had a sudden and extreme acceleration in reverse doing a reverse u-turn into a parked car causing considerable damage to the rear end of both cars. I am certain that I did not to press the gas pedal as this is a busy parking lot and I always back out very slowly just covering the brake. There is some kind of mechanical issue with my car that caused this malfunction. I was evaluated by paramedics and taken to the local emergency room with a significant bump on the back right side of my head. My car is currently available for inspection. I am in the process of reporting this to Subaru of America to see if they can inspect/evaluate the car.

NHTSA ODI 11442727

Went through automated car wash. Proceeded to lane for towel drying. Car suddenly unintentionally accelerated. Hit rear passenger side of parked car and also collided with the fence that ultimately stopped my forward motion. The car passed across two side walks and one side street during this event. No pedestrians or cross traffic was present or this would have been catastrophic. There were no previous warning signs of this event. My insurance company was notified and inspected the vehicle. A formal complaint was filed with Subaru of America and we are still waiting for them to inspect the vehicle. They have authorized repair of the vehicle prior to them seeing it.

NHTSA ODI 11434125

AT/ABOUT 1230 CENTRAL TIME ON 31 OCT 2019, MY WIFE [XXX] EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION EVENT IN OUR 2014 SUBARU FORESTER AND NARROWLY ESCAPED BEING KILLED. CONTEXT: MY WIFE WAS TAKING THE CAR THROUGH AN AUTOMATED CARWASH AT THE CASEYS GAS STATION AT 9911 S. 71ST ST IN PAPILLION NE. WHEN SHE REACHED THE END OF THE CONVEYOR BELT AND WHEN SIGNALLED BY THE ATTENDANT TO MOVE FORWARD, SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM N (NEUTRAL) TO D (DRIVE). SHE ENCOUNTERED RESISTANCE MOVING THE GEAR LEVER BUT WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT TO D. UPON DOING SO, THE CAR ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD DESPITE HER FOOT REMAINING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND TORE THROUGH THE CLOSED GARAGE DOOR AT THE END OF THE CARWASH AND CONTINUED OUTSIDE, ACROSS AN ACCESS ROAD AND UP A SMALL HILL, BEFORE LOSING POWER AND ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL TO STOP IN THE ACCESS ROAD. NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PERSONS WERE INVOLVED OR INJURED. MY WIFE WAS UNINJURED OTHER THAN BEING SPRAYED BY GLASS FRAGMENTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD AS IT WAS PUNCTURED BY THE GARAGE DOOR AS THE CAR TORE THROUGH IT. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY (USAA) DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I HAD EVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS INCIDENT BEFORE; WE BOTH HAVE EXCELLENT DRIVING RECORDS. WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT WAS CLEAR, DRY AND SUNNY. THE CAR TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE WAS IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION. THE PAPILLION NE POLICE DEPT RESPONDED AND FILED A REPORT, AND WE FILED A DRIVERS MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT REPORT. BOTH ARE ON FILE WITH THE PAPILLION NE POLICE DEPT. THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL WITNESSES TO THIS INCIDENT PER THE POLICE REPORT. *LN*JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11280696

I SLOWLY PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT WALMART AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY AND JUMPED THE MEDIAN. THE CAR CRASHED INTO METAL RACKS WITH PLANTS ON THEM. THE CAR WAS SUSPENDED ON THE MEDIAN. WITNESSES SAW THAT THE CAR SURGED FORWARD WHILE MY BRAKES LIGHTS WERE ON AS I SLOWED TO ENTER THE PARKING SPACE. EARLIER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE DAY BEFORE I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HESITATED (CHUGGING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH), BUT THAT STOPPED WHEN I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY. I NOW THINK THIS IS SOMEHOW RELATED TO THE ACCELERATION SURGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10596806