Sep 22, 2025Speed controlBrakesEngineCrash
I was within the town limits so I was driving slowly. When I approached the first stop light in town I saw that it was red. There were of three or four vehicles stopped at that light. At that point I was probably only going 5mph. I took my foot off of the gas pedal and put my foot on the brake to make a slow stop. Instead, the car accelerated rather quickly. I continued to brake but the car seemed to speed up. I was able to avoid hitting the truck in front of me by going around it. No vehicles were coming towards me but there were some stopped at the other side of the light. I drove up on the sidewalk to avoid hitting anyone. At that point the front passenger side of the car hit & snapped a pole. The car did not stop immediately upon impact. It stopped acclerating and came to a stop about 10 feet past the pole. I am not sure how fast the car was moving when it hit the pole but I was only going about 5 mph when I put my foot on the break. I would estimate the distance my car traveled from the moment I put my foot on the break until the car stopped was approximately 100-120 feet. It felt like the car went into the cruise resume mode and was trying to accelerate to a predetermined speed. I had not been using the cruise control that day but that is exactly what it felt like. There was one other time this year that the car lunged forward without using the gas pedal. It stopped quickly for me and I just assumed that I had hit the cruise resume button, although I also hadn't been using the cruise that day. The insurance company took the car to an impound lot two hours away. I am sure there has been no inspection and my insurance has not informed me of the status of having my car totaled or repaired. Because of the age of the car, and damage, they think it will be totaled. Yes, my safety and the safety of anyone near me was at risk. The car malfunctioned and the fact no one was hurt was miraculous. There were no warning messages before this accident.
NHTSA ODI 11689049
Sep 10, 2022AirbagsEngineFuel systemCrash
Entering a residential garage to park; experienced sudden acceleration while braking. Vehicle went through drywall/wall about 2 feet. Placed vehicle in park to stop vehicle. No airbags went off. Driving vehicle to repair shop later; experienced same rapid unexpected acceleration with different driver. No issue with floor mats. OEM mats. Service center cannot provide any insight or reproduction of event.
NHTSA ODI 11483793
Jun 1, 2022EngineFire1 injury
The contact owned a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, he was alerted by another driver that the vehicle was smoking and flames were coming from under the vehicle. The contact stated that warning lights flashed off and on. The contact stated that he pulled over, exited the vehicle, and saw flames coming from underneath the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames and exploded. The contact stated that he sustained minor burns on his hands from the steering wheel however, medical attention was not required. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard as it was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a field technician was sent to retrieve information from the EDR. The contact was not aware of the diagnosis. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
NHTSA ODI 11467050
Nov 16, 2018Engine1 injury
EXHAUST SYSTEM ISSUE. EXHAUST MAINFOLD LEAK AT CATALYST CONVERTER. FOR OUR OUTBACK WE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF EXHAUST FUMES IN PASSENGER CABIN. THEY WERE NO INDICATION OF FAILURE OF EXHAUST SYSTEM OR CATALYST CONVERTER ON THE CAR. BUT WE ARE GETTING SOME MUCH FUMES SMELL WHEN WE STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL OR PARKING LOT. IT ALL MOST MADE US SICK. LUCKILY I GOT IT CHECKED AT THE SERVICE CENTER AND THEY FIND THE LEAK. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY RISKY THING FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T NOTICE THE SMELL MIGHT GET SLOW POISONED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE OR OTHER ELEMENTS IN EXHAUST FUMES. THERE MAY BE DIRECT INJURY FROM THIS ISSUE BUT AS I SAID I WAS ALMOST GOT SICK BECAUSE OF FUMES. FOR PEOPLE WITH PZEV VEHICLE, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE BRING THIS ISSUE WITH MANUFACTURING. FOR PEOPLE OUT THERE IF YOU NOTICE A LOUD EXHAUST NOTE AT START OF YOUR VEHICLE OR SMALL RATTLING NOISE WHEN WE YOU ACCELERATE AFTER A COMPLETE STOP, IT MIGHT BE YOUR EXHAUST SYSTEM, PLEASE GET IT CHECKED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PS ATTACHED IS THE DIAGNOSIS REPORT FROM DEALER SERVICE CENTER BE SAFE OUT THERE !! THANK YOU.
NHTSA ODI 11152117
Oct 9, 2015Body & structureEngineFire
THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2015 WAS PARKED IN A LOT AFTER A 12 MINUTE DRIVE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. IT WAS PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY 2015 AND WAS NOT YET DUE FOR SERVICING WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENED. THE SUBARU OUTBACK MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 3RD-27TH 2015 HAS BEEN RECALLED DUE TO "POSSIBILITY OF FIRE DUE TO A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK". I BELIEVE THE SAME THING OCCURRED WITH MY CAR AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE MODEL IS NOT RECALLED SOMEONE WILL GET BADLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO FIRE.
NHTSA ODI 10780961