99 of the
404 complaints about the 2006 Subaru Outback are about the
throttle and cruise control — 25% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
98,052 miles.
C
99
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
9494.9%
Accelerator Pedal
55.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Subaru Outback year
The engine will randomly loose power. This has happened three times now. You must coast to a stop, turn the key off and try to restart the car. Sometime it will take several tries to restart. I see this as a real safety concern in heavy traffic. Especially so if heavy traffic makes it impossible to reach the side of the road safely. The service code points to the throttle peddle position sensor. Reading some of the internet forums it seems to be a fairly common issue. Of course internet forums must be considered carefully. However with the above said I see this issue as a real safety concern. Not only for my safety but those around me if this happens in heavy traffic. Thank you
NHTSA complaint #11460840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deerfield, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The accelerator pedal position sensor is faulty. It is prone to wear in these vehicles based on my research. This caused my car to go into limp-mode on the highway, rapidly cutting my speed in half. The accelerator provides no response until vehicle was restarted. The ECU put out the code P2138 for loss of voltage in throttle system.
NHTSA complaint #11445826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesPleasant Grove, UT
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I EXPERIENCED MY GAS PEDAL NO LONGER WORKING WHILE DRIVING, CAR WAS DRIVING WELL, ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET GOING ABOUT 25 MPH, THEN THERE WAS SUDDENLY NO GAS/ACCELERATION, HAD TO COAST TO A STOP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLASHING. ABOUT 2 HOURS LATER THE CAR WAS RUNNING NORMAL AGAIN. THE DIAGNOSIS CODE GIVEN WAS P2138 THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH D/E VOLTAGE CORRELATION. IT IS VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE TO SUDDENLY NOT HAVE POWER WHILE DRIVING, WILL BE DRIVING ON THE OUTSIDE LANE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED TO I CAN GET OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY.
NHTSA complaint #11398751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 146,000 milesAnchorage, AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 50-60 MPH AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY THROTTLE PEDDLE FAILED TO WORK. MY CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN TO A CRAWL AND I HAD TO QUICKLY FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER ON A ROAD WITH BARELY ANY SHOULDER. LUCKILY NOT MANY CARS WERE ON THE ROAD SO I DID NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A PILE-UP ACCIDENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND WAITING A FEW MINUTES I DECIDED TO TRY AND DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN SINCE I WAS IN AN AREA WITH NO SERVICE AND IT WAS BELOW FREEZING OUTSIDE. THE CAR STARTED AND I COULD USE THE THROTTLE PEDDLE AND THE CAR DROVE WITH NO PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 5 MILES BEFORE THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED. LUCKILY SOMEONE DROVE BY AND I WAS ABLE TO CATCH A RIDE WITH THEM TO GET SERVICE AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. THIS ISSUE CAME OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO PRIOR ISSUES TO THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN NOT ONLY AN ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THE RAPID SPEED DECREASE BUT ALSO RISKS LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED LIKE I WAS.
NHTSA complaint #11396516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesHauser, ID
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HOWEVER, THE PEDAL REMAINED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO LIMP MODE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #11386706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 156,000 milesSouthington, CT
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SOLID WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BLINKING. THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY INPUTS FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE. UPON STOPPING AND SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL THE CAR HELD ITSELF AROUND 2800RPM WITH NO ACCELERATOR INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. AFTER READING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE, THE CAR GAVE A P2138 INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #11376455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 190,000 milesClinton, UT
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
GAS PEDAL QUITS WORKING LEAVING MY DAUGHTER STRANDED, MUST BE IN THE DRIVE BY WIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LOOKING AT FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11329180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,300 milesProspect, KY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THREE TIMES THE ENGINE RPM'S SPEED UP AND THE THROTTLE PEDDLE FAILS TO WORK, THE ONLY WAY TO RESET THIS IS PULL TO THE SIDE TURN CAR OFF AND IT USUALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS RESETS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND ONCE WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK. LUCKILY I WAS IN A 40 MPH ZONE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT AND IT HAS A ENGINE CODE THAT SAYS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE SYSTEM. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME THAT THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND THROTTLE PEDDLE IS UNRESPONSIVE AND UNABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROADWAY.
NHTSA complaint #11319875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 122,500 milesRiverdale Park, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, RANDOMLY, WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, BOTH ON HIGHWAY AND ON AUXILIARY ROADS AT LOWER SPEEDS. ON 01/20/2020, WHILE DRIVING ~65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, SUDDENLY, THE CAR LOST POWER--ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL, NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE. THE CAR "LOCKED UP," AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE, SINCE NO GAS WAS AVAILABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WITH THE FLASHING CRUISE LIGHT SIMULTANEOUSLY ON. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, AND I RE-STARTED AND DROVE AWAY. WHEN THIS SAME TYPE OF EVENT OCCURRED ANOTHER TIME, ON 02/01/2020, THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON AN AUXILIARY ROAD, ~30 MPH, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE CAR AGAIN LOCKED UP, NO GAS WAS AVAILABLE--THE CAR WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIFT VERY SLOWLY. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A STOP LIGHT, WHICH, LUCKILY, WAS A RED SIGNAL. AT THE STOP, I SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. WHILE IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE REVVED TO ~2500 RPM, EVEN THOUGH NO PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM DIDN'T CLEAR RIGHT AWAY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, IT DID. IN THE SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES WHEN THIS VERY UNSAFE CONDITION OF LOSS OF POWER/ACCELERATION AND REVVING IN NEUTRAL HAS OCCURRED, WHEN THE CAR RESETS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO RESETS, SO THE CODE CANNOT BE READ IN TIME. FOLLOWING THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO READ THE ERROR CODE: P2138 THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH "D"/"E" VOLTAGE CORRELATION. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER REPORTS TO NHTSA AND ON SUBARU ONLINE FORUMS OF THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN CORRECTED ON SUBSEQUENT YEAR MODELS, BUT NOT ON THE 2005 AND 2006, AND DEALERS DON'T FIX. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS, DANGEROUS, LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. SHOULD BE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11307590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesTraverse City, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
P2138 CHECK ENGINE CODE. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH IN 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC. GAS PEDAL DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE WAS RACING. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD WHILE IN DRIVE AND AT A SLOW CRAWL. I WAS ABLE TO GET A LARGE ENOUGH WINDOW TO CRAWL ACROSS THE OTHER 2 LANES AND CRAWL INTO A PARKING LOT. I ENDED UP GETTING TOWED FROM THERE. WHEN CHECKING FOR REPAIRS I HAD A SMALLER 'SUBARU ONLY' REPAIR SHOP TELL ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM LUCKY NO ONE WAS INJURED. THEY SAID THEY REPAIR 1 TO 2 OF THESE EACH MONTH. MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER SAYS THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE ERROR CODE OR MY SPECIFIC PROBLEM. THEY DON'T EVEN STOCK THE PART I NEED. THE INTERNET HAS MANY REPORTS OF MY SPECIFIC SCENARIO. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN TO ME. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE BUT NO BY SEEMS TO BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #11306563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 175,000 milesHudsonville, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ERROR CODE P2138, LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW SUBARU IS NOT FIXING OR CALLING OUT THE DEFECT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. ISSUES WITH CONNECTIONS OF THE PLUG, WATER/DIRT CAUSING CORROSION TO NOT ALLOW IT TO WORK, AND DEALERS NOT FIXING THE REAL ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN AS LIGHT WAS RED BUT THEN IT CHANGED TO GREEN. I PUSHED GAS AND WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. 30 SECONDS LATER PRETTY MUCH ALL OF MY INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. CRUISE LIGHT WAS EVEN BLINKING. VIDEOS I'VE BEEN WATCHING TALK ABOUT FLY BY WIRE PEDALS AND HOW IT PUTS CARS INTO LIMP MODE. WHICH IS WHAT IT WAS DOING WHEN I FIRST TRY TO ACCELERATE. I CLEARED A LOT OF CODES BY DOING THE CRUISE BUTTON RESET WHICH FOR NOW TURNED MOST LIGHTS OFF BUT STILL HAVE LIMP MODE ISSUES WHEN FIRST TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER A COMPLETE STOP.
NHTSA complaint #11180279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 184,000 milesRoseville, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
REPEATED PEDAL SLIP CODES 'P2138' HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A DAY NOW AND HAPPENS FROM STOP TO START POSITIONS AT RANDOM TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #11176387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesRupert, ID
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WILL SUDDENLY GO LIMP. WITH NO WARNING OR ANYTHING THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING BUT THERE IS NO THROTTLE OR THROTTLE PEDAL RESPONSE. YOU CAN FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS. IT HAS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD WHEN THIS LAST HAPPENED. I CAME TO A TURN WHERE YOU EITHER HAVE TO STOP OR MERGE TO THE RIGHT ONTO ANOTHER ROAD. AS I WENT TO ACCERERATE THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE CAR. I LOOKED DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT IS NOW FLASHING. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES. I FINALLY SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR 3-5 MINUTES BEFORE THE THROTTLE WOULD RESPOND. IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE A BUSY FREEWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC, IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS!!
NHTSA complaint #11155536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 183,000 milesKirkland, WA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE IN MOTION, RAPIDLY APPLYING THE BRAKES CAUSES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR FLASHES AND CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL LOST. THE CAR ESSENTIALLY BECOMES LIMP AND IS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THIS TIME. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND LETTING IT SIT FOR 30 SECONDS AND THEN TURNING THE CAR BACK ON RE-PROVIDES CONTROL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AT THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF. MY LOCAL AUTHORIZED SUBARU SHOP TRACED THE ISSUE TO A FAULTY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR. THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR IS OPERATING NOMINALLY. TWO TWO INSTANCES WHERE THIS CAUSED A SERIOUS CONCERN WAS WHEN I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON IT'S BRAKES AND CHOSE TO TURN RIGHT INSTEAD OF THE INTENDED DIRECTION OF TRAVEL STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE SECOND TIME WAS TO AVOID AN ANIMAL RUNNING ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE CAR. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE CAR WAS MOVING AT ROUGHLY 25MPH.
NHTSA complaint #11128588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesWest Hempstead, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CRUISE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS FLASH. CAR LOOSES POWER AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11123453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 94,283 milesCanton, OH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO GAS PEDAL RESPONSE
NHTSA complaint #11065940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,000 milesChesterfield, VA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WILL FLASH. CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND THE ACCELERATOR WILL NOT LONGER RESPOND DROPPING THE CARS SPEED DRASTICALLY. THIS CAN HAPPEN ON ANY ROAD, AT ANY SPEED, AND ANY WEATHER CONDITION. TEMPORARY FIX IS TO STOP AND CYCLE THE CARS POWER THREE OR FOUR TIMES. MORE PERMANENT FIX IS TO REPLACE THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY-ACCELERATOR AT A COST OF $199. HAPPENED A FEW DOZEN TIMES BEFORE I FINALLY GOT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY REPLACED. ISSUED STARTED EARLY 2016, AND REPLACED THE ASSEMBLY IN 2018.
NHTSA complaint #11058469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, DE
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOES LIMP AND UNRESPONSIVE AT RANDOM MOMENTS INCLUDING HIGHWAY DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENS MORE AND MORE OFTEN AND OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE SAID THE SAME. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN THE MOST DURING COLDER WEATHER AND THE CARS GAS PEDAL BECOMES COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE AND REQUIRES THE CAR TO BE PULLED OVER OVER AND TURNED OFF TO SIT FOR A SOME TIME. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK THE RPMS JUMP UP AND REV HIGHER TO AROUND 4000, UNSURE OF WHAT'S CAUSING IT.
NHTSA complaint #11055452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesEAU Claire, WI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE GAS PEDAL QUITS WORKING AND CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE, THIS IS WHERE CAR TRAVELS AT 30 MPH WITH NO CONTROL FROM THE GAS PEDAL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES, THE ONLY WAY TO RESET THE FUEL PEDAL IS TO PULL OVER, SHUT CAR OFF FOR 1 MIN. AND RESTART PEDAL WILL WORK BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WILL FLASH UNTIL ERROR CODE IS RESET. CODE IS P2138 . THIS MAY FIX PEDAL TEMPORARY BUT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WHEN PEDAL QUITS WORKING THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THE CAR AT LEASED 20 TIMES, HAVE NOT FOUND A PERMANENT FIX YET. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED
NHTSA complaint #11052702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,000 milesPlainview, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON STREET, FROM PARK WITH ENGINE IDLING, CAR IN DRIVE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEAD AT FIRST, THEN HIGH RPM 3000+ WITH PEDAL RELEASED. NO CONTROL OF ENGINE RPM. CEL AND CC ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. KILLED IGNITION SWITCH. ENGINE SHUT DOWN. RESTARTED ENGINE AND RPM WAS NORMAL. VERY FRIGHTENING! FOUND DTC P2138 ACC PEDAL SENSOR FAILURE. CALLED SUBARU SUPPORT, NO SUCH RECORD OF FAILURE. CALLED DEALER FROM WHICH CAR WAS PURCHASED, ANSWER WAS BRING CAR IN AND WILL TRY TO REPAIR. THIS IS A SERIOUS FAILURE AND DANGER. PLEASE SEE THIS FAILURE ON GOOGLE. MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. I AM APPREHENSIVE TO PUT THIS CAR ON THE ROAD ESPECIALLY WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN IT. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE PURSUED IN THESE DRIVE BY WIRE VEHICLES AS THIS CAR IS. PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11045117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,000 milesBend, OR
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WENT LIMP AND LOST ALL ACCELERATOR FUNCTION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLASHING.THANKFULLY, WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. DIAGNOSED WITH CODE P2138 AND FAILED PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. BASED ON SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM SEARCHES AND IDENTIFIX DATABASE, THIS ISSUE IS VERY COMMON FOR 2005 AND 2006 MODEL YEAR SUBARUS. THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REDESIGNED IN 2007 BUT IS NOT REVERSE COMPATIBLE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE.
NHTSA complaint #11035124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesDavis, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING EPISODES WHERE IT SUDDENLY STOPS ACCELERATING WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENING BOTH ON CITY STREETS, AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT'S MOSTLY ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER I INITIALLY TURNED THE CAR ON, BUT NOT ALWAYS. I WILL BE DRIVING NORMALLY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THEN THE CAR WILL INSTANTLY STOP ACCELERATING WITH NO ADDITIONAL WARNING. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, MY CAR ACTUALLY SPED UP WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CODE READS P2138. AFTER TURNING MY CAR OFF AND WAITING A FEW MINUTES IT DRIVES FINE (ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON). I HAVE HAD A SUBARU DEALERSHIP CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM AND AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS ISSUE APPEARS SUDDENLY BUT THEN GOES AWAY SO THAT BY THE TIME I CAN GET IT OVER TO A MECHANIC IT IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND I WOULD SAY I'VE EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE ABOUT 6-7 TIMES. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STOPS ACCELERATING.
NHTSA complaint #11024271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,000 milesELM Grove, WI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UPON PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR TO ENTER TRAFFIC, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE THROTTLE. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING AND THE CAR IDLED INTO THE STREET AND DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND COAST TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE AS FAILURE OF THE ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR COMPONENT OF THE THROTTLE BY WIRE SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10993339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesLiberty, MO
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I WAS DRIVING MY OUTBACK, WHEN IT WENT "LIMP". THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. MY CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AT THE SPEED I WAS DRIVING. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE, IT SLOWED BUT, WHEN I LET UP ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND MY CAR CONTINUED IN FORWARD MOTION BEFORE TOTALLY DYING OUT FROM UNDER ME. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ON A SIDE STREET NEAR MY HOUSE. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE ENGINE STOPPED REVVING AND I COASTED TO A STOP. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, I WAS PULLING IN MY DRIVE, AFTER A TWO MILE TRIP, WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE MOTOR CONTINUED REVVING WITH THE CAR MOVING FORWARD AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE, THE CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN BUT IMMEDIATELY PICK UP WHEN I LET UP ON THE BRAKE. I NEARLY HIT A 6' BANK OF FIREWOOD AT THE END OF OUR DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10967898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 137,000 milesNewtown, CT
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON I-95 THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED RESPONDING AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER I PULLED OFF THE NEXT EXIT, I HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO BRING IT TO A STOP. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT. LATER, I CHECKED FOR OBD2 CODES AND CAME UP WITH "P2138". AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS THAT MANY SUBARU OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY THE "PEDAL TRAVEL SENSOR" PART # 36010AG021. THAT PART WAS REDESIGNED AFTER THE 2006 MODEL YEAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS HURT THROUGH THIS PART FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10945561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 145,000 milesTaylors, SC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION BOTH IN PARK, AND IN MOTION, AND WHILE BOTH TURNING AND GOING STRAIGHT, THE THROTTLE INTERMITTENTLY STOPPED RESPONDING TO ALL INPUT, AND THE VEHICLE ONLY RAN THE ENGINE AT OVER IDLE RPMS (ABOUT 2100RPM IN NEUTRAL). THE PROBLEM WOULD USUALLY PERSIST THROUGH SEVERAL RESTARTS. EVENTUALLY THE CAR WOULD RESTART AT NORMAL IDLE, AND THE THROTTLE WOULD BE RESPONDING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE CODE INDICATED TO MY MECHANIC THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED REPLACED, HOWEVER AFTER REPLACING IT, THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND ANY ISSUE REGARDING VEHICLE ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS PROBLEM. SUBARU NEEDS TO ISSUE A RESPONSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10945040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 107,866 milesDenver, CO
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR IN THE MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO WHEN MY CAR'S ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING. I WAS ON A SHARP DOWNHILL CURVE WHEN I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO ACCELERATE MY CAR TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE CARS BEHIND ME. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10937682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,341 milesGrand Haven, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,341.
NHTSA complaint #10937255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 186,000 milesSeverna Park, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
JUST RECEIVED "TAKATA RECALL" LETTER STATING THERE ARE NOW SUFFICIENT PARTS AVAILABLE. AT THE SAME TIME MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CRUISE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL WORK AND TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED OUT. I GOOGLED THIS AND FOUND THAT A CODE P2138 IS FOUND WITH THIS OCCURRENCE AND IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES. MY WIFE CALLED ME ON HER WAY HOME FROM WORK AND SAID THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SHE PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY INTO A PARKING LOT. I DROVE TO HER LOCATION. SHE STARTED THE CAR AND GAS PEDAL SEEMED TO BE OPERATING AS IT SHOULD. I FOLLOWED HER HOME AND WAS THANKFUL THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS GETTING BACK. I WILL DETERMINE WHETHER TO DRIVE VEHICLE OR HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER FOR SCHEDULED APPT. NEXT WED.KIND OF MAKES SENSE NOW BECAUSE WHEN I DROVE THE CAR THE DAY BEFORE TO GET GAS, THERE WAS HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING, WHICH I FOUND UNUSUAL, AS THE CAR RUNS GREAT WITH PLENTY OF POWER.
NHTSA complaint #10933812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 77,000 milesBrandy, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO FLASH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR AND THE EPM WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
NHTSA complaint #10928560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.