1998 Subaru Outback Cruise Control Problems

FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: I OWN A 1993 SUBARU IMPREZA L, AND I OWN A 1998 IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT. BOTH THESE CARS HAVE A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THERE ARE TWO TSB'S ON HESITATION ISSUES FOR ALL SUBARU'S CONCERNING THIS. THIS IS A HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN NEED FOR ACCELERAION IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES ARE: 1. AMBULANCE COMING TO INTERSECTION BEHIND ME WITH NO ROOM FOR ME TO PULL OVER DUE TO PARKED CARS, AND I ATTEMPTED TO MOVEOUT OF HIS WAY PUSHING DOWN ON THE THROTTLE, AND THE CAR COMPLETELY SPUTTERING AND BARELY MOVING. THE AMBULANCE IS STUCK BEHIND ME WHILE I AM ATTEMPTING TOMOVE OUT OF IT'S WAY. 2. THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AT AN INTERSECTION, BUT SOMEONE FAILS TO STOP TO THEIR RED LIGHT, AND NEARLY GET T-BONED, THANKS TO CADILLAC'S STRONG BRAKING POWER, BECAUSE MY CAR SPUTTERS, AND MOVES LIKE A TURTLE WHEN I NEED TO SAFELY MOVE OUT OF THE WAY FOR SAFETY. I HAVE A FAMILY, AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSES WITH A PROFESSIONAL MANNER. WITH THE ENGINEERING GOING INTO CARS THESE DAYS, AND ALL OFF THESE HIGH-PAID ENGINEERS, AND ALL PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS, THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE PROBLEM TO BE PUT ASIDE. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE, PLEASE DO SO. AND IN THE FUTURE IF IT IS DONE, MY PERSONAL REGARDS AND THANKS TO ALL THE INITIATIVE, AND COURAGE FOR THOSE THAT STOOD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MAX . *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING AT A LOW SPEED ENGINE REVVED TO 4 RMPS AND JERKED INTO SECOND GEAR. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO NO REMEDY WAS FOUND.*AK

DRIVING ALONG BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH SLOWED THE CAR DOWN BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE MILD PANIC SET IN. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND INSTEAD ACCIDENTLY PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. THIS DID STOP THE CAR, BUT AS YOU WOULD EXPECT. I HAVE INCURRED AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. ALTHOUGH I DON'T EXPECT ANY SYMPATHY BECAUSE OF MY AWKWARD HANDELING OF THE SHIFTER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IF ANYTHING SUBARU INTENDS TO ABOUT THIS VERY DANGEROUS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION PROBLEM. YOUR COMPLAINT SITE HAS SIMILAR SUCH COMPLAINTS ON RECORD. MINE WILL BE THE NINTH. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE PROBABLY EXPERIENCED. THE SAME PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT BOTHERED TO FORMALLY COMPLAIN, IT WOULD SEEM THAT A REAL PROBLEM DOES EXIST. THANK YOU. DT

WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH TOOK FEET OFF GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE ACCLERATED TO 40MPH WITHOUT GAS BEING APPLIED. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

VEHICLE WILL REV /ACCELERATE WHEN CONSUMER TURNS AIR CONDITIONER( A/C) ON. PROBLEM USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN A/C IS ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD. THE RPMS WOULD BE REVVING. WOULD PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. ONLY USED VEHICLE IN NY. *AK

THERE HAVE BEEN THREE EPISODES IN WHICH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND DRAMATICALLY REVVED AND CAR SURGED, ONCE WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, TWICE WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR APPROACHING A CURVE. I HAD TO TURN CAR OFF, AND IN SEVERAL INSTANCES, WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED THE RPM WENT UP TO OVER 7000.

THERE HAVE BEEN THREE EPISODES IN WHICH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND DRAMATICALLY REVVED AND CAR SURGED, ONCE WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, TWICE WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR APPROACHING A CURVE. I HAD TO TURN CAR OFF, AND IN SEVERAL INSTANCES, WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED THE RPM WENT UP TO OVER 7000.