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2011 Subaru Forester Cruise Control Problems

10 owner-reported cruise control complaints from NHTSA data

10
Complaints
9
Crashes
Feb 2015Nov 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (10)

criticalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Sep 2023

Your car has experienced sudden, unintended backward acceleration without any driver input or warning. This has happened twice—once in a parking lot and once backing onto a major road—causing your car to accelerate rapidly in reverse, cross multiple lanes, and hit property. The issue appears to be a defect in the vehicle speed control system that could cause serious injury or death if another vehicle is in the path.

NHTSA #: 11547379
criticalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Jun 2022

Your car suddenly accelerated to full throttle without any pressure on the gas pedal while driving slowly in city traffic, causing it to collide with the truck in front of you. Even slamming the brakes and pulling the hand brake were not able to stop the unexpected acceleration. This type of sudden unintended acceleration is a serious safety issue that requires immediate diagnosis of the fuel injection system, throttle control, and brake system.

NHTSA #: 11467901
criticalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Feb 2021

While driving uphill with cruise control active, your car's transmission shifts down aggressively, causing the engine to rev high. When this happens, your check engine light, traction control light, and blinking cruise control light come on — and your accelerator stops responding entirely, even when pressed all the way down. This happened twice during mountain driving and created a dangerous situation where the car rapidly decelerated on a steep road. After turning the car off and back on, the issue temporarily stops. A diagnostic scan revealed code P2138, pointing to a throttle pedal position sensor problem. The fix will likely involve inspecting or replacing the throttle pedal position sensor and its associated wiring.

NHTSA #: 11397216
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Sep 2019

WHILE PARKING IN A STORE'S LOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP I ENDED UP CRASHING THROUGH A FENCE AND FALLING DOWN A 10 FOOT EMBANKMENT. *DT *TR

NHTSA #: 11253025
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Feb 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A DEALER, BUT THE REMEDY WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA #: 10681476
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Nov 2014

WHILE BACKING UP (CAR IN REVERSE) AT ABOUT 5 MPH, ACCELERATION OCCURRED MAKING THE CAR GO BACKWARDS VERY FAST. PRESSING THE BRAKE PAD TO THE GROUND HAD NO AFFECT. THE CAR, REVERSING OUT OF CONTROL, SIDE-SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. CAR FINALLY BACKED UP INTO A HUGE FORKLIFT WHICH WENT THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW AND STOPPED THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT THE SUBARU FORESTER WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10652155
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
CrashFiled: Feb 2014

I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, APPLIED MY BRAKES AND WAS ABOUT TO PUT MY 2011 SUBARU FORESTER INTO PARK WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND DROVE INTO A STORE FRONT. THE CAR TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET BEFORE HITTING THE WALL AND PLATE GLASS WINDOW. MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10564680
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Jul 2013

DRIVER (ADULT FEMALE) WAS BACKING UP TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER LIFTED FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND HIT THE BRAKE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED EVEN MORE. CRASHED INTO A GUY WIRE ON AN ELECTRIC POLE, SNAPPING OFF THE TOP OF THE POLE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE SECOND DRIVER (ADULT MALE) WAS BACKING UP IN THE DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. SECOND DRIVER NOW A BELIEVER. *TR

NHTSA #: 10522911
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Oct 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. ON ONE OCCASION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN OCCURRENCE OF ABNORMAL ACCELERATION AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FOUNDATION OF A BUILDING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000.

NHTSA #: 10428425
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: May 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 400.

NHTSA #: 10400001

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