2006 Subaru Outback Cruise Control Problems

Your engine randomly loses power and shuts down while driving, forcing you to coast to a stop, turn off the ignition, and restart—sometimes taking multiple attempts. This has happened three times and poses a serious safety risk, especially in heavy traffic where you may not be able to safely pull over. The diagnostic code points to a faulty throttle pedal position sensor, which the owner notes appears to be a known issue in online forums. The fix will likely involve replacing the throttle pedal position sensor.

Your throttle pedal suddenly stopped responding while driving on the highway at 50-60 mph, causing your car to slow down dramatically. The check engine light came on and your cruise control light began flashing. After restarting the car, the throttle worked again for about 5 miles before the same problem happened a second time. This issue appears to be intermittent and could involve the throttle control system, electronic sensors, or related wiring that may need diagnosis and repair.

Your gas pedal stopped responding, leaving you unable to accelerate your vehicle. This appears to be related to the drive-by-wire electrical system that controls fuel delivery. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the electronic throttle control system and replacing the faulty sensor or wiring.

Your engine RPM suddenly spins up to three times normal speed and your throttle pedal stops responding. This has happened three times — twice while driving and once while parked. The only way to fix it is to pull over, turn off the car, and restart it, which usually (but not always) works. Your car's diagnostic code indicates a throttle system problem, and you're concerned this could happen while driving on a highway where you couldn't safely pull over.

Your gas pedal suddenly stopped working while you were driving at 25 mph on a residential street, forcing you to coast to a stop. The check engine light came on along with a flashing cruise control light, but after about 2 hours the car returned to normal. Your vehicle's diagnostic code indicates a problem with the throttle/pedal position sensor — the sensor that tells your engine how much power you're asking for may have a voltage problem.

Your accelerator pedal got stuck in the up position while driving at 35 mph, and your car went into limp mode with the check engine light coming on. After pulling over and restarting the vehicle, it drove normally to your home, but the problem happened several more times. The issue started at 160,000 miles and may be related to the throttle control system or engine sensor.

While driving at highway speed, your car suddenly lost power and the check engine light came on solid while the cruise control light blinked. Your accelerator pedal stopped responding and the car began slowing down on its own. When you stopped and shifted to neutral, the engine stayed around 2800 RPM without you pressing the gas pedal. A diagnostic code (P2138) indicated a problem with the accelerator pedal position sensor. The fix will likely involve replacing or recalibrating the throttle position sensor or accelerator pedal assembly.

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.

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.

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.

REPEATED PEDAL SLIP CODES 'P2138' HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A DAY NOW AND HAPPENS FROM STOP TO START POSITIONS AT RANDOM TIMES.

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!!

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.

THE CRUISE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS FLASH. CAR LOOSES POWER AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING.

NO GAS PEDAL RESPONSE

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. *TR

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.

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. *TR

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.

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.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY AND CITY STREET SPEEDS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON/THE CRUISE CONTROL FLASHES AND GAS PEDAL STOPS WORKING. A CODE THAT HAS SHOWN UP IS P2138 "THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH VOLTAGE CORRELATION". VERY DANGEROUS AS I NO LONGER CAN CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

DRIVING IN BUSY TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY, HIGHWAYS, AND STREETS, CRUISE AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON, NO RESPONSE WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL, CAR COASTED INTO SLOW CRUISE, EVENTUALLY DOWN TO ABOUT 15 MPH. AGAIN, NO RESPONSE TO APPLYING GAS PEDAL. THAT HAPPENED SPORADICALLY. HAD NEAR FATAL ACCIDENTS A COUPLE TIMES THEN IT STOPPED AND TWO OR THREE WEEKS LATER THROTTLE TURNED ON REVVING UP TO 500 IN IDLE, OVER 300 WHEN DRIVING. TRYING TO STOP AT INTERSECTIONS, BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED, NEARLY HIT SEVERAL PEOPLE TRYING TO GET HOME. ENGINE RACING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS STOPPED BRIEFLY, DROVE ERRAND, AND WITHNO FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, CAR WAS SPEEDING UP ON HIGHWAY UPHILL AND STILL ACCELERATING AT 78 MPH. BRAKES DID NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY, JUMPED A CURB, WHEN TRYING TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF ENGINE. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. REPAIR OF THROTTLE SENIOR $365 AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN PORTLAND, OR. I ASKED THEM TO REVIEW ALL THE DOCUMENTATION I FOUND HERE AND ELSEWHERE SHOWING THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THEY IGNORED ME ENTIRELY. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. I FEEL SUBARU SHOULD PAY THIS REPAIR. IT EASILY COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND OTHERS HERE, AND OTHERS IN THE FUTURE. PARK YOUR SUBARU IF THIS HAPPENS AND YOU CANNOT AFFORD REPAIR. FILE A COMPLAINT WITH SUBARU. DON'T DO WHAT I DID OUT OF DESPERATION AND DRIVE IT, BECAUSE IT COULD REALLY COULD KILL YOU. FIND ANOTHER WAY TO GET TO WORK. TRUCKS ON ROADWAYS CANNOT AVOID YOU IF NO ENGINE POWER WITH NO NOTICE AND NOWHERE SAFE TO PULL OFF, WHICH HAPPENED TO ME.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY AND CITY STREET SPEEDS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON/THE CRUISE CONTROL FLASHES AND CAR GOES LIMP, GAS PEDAL STOPS WORKING. A CODE THAT HAS SHOWN UP IS P2138.VERY DANGEROUS. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE REVS TO A CONSTANT 3,000 RPM. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON 3 OCCASIONS.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AS WELL AS A BLINKING CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TOPRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I COASTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY AND WENT STRAIGHT TO MY MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TROUBLE CODE P2138 FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IN THE GAS PEDAL LEADING TO NO ACCELERATION. THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED.

ON THREE OCCASIONS WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ON THESE OCCASIONS I WAS STARTING FROM A RED LIGHT OR JUST AFTER I HAD BRAKED FOR SOMETHING, DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE SPEED DID NOT CHANGE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHED AND THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I LIMPED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. ON THE FIRST TRY TO RESTART THE CAR IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING AND TRYING AGAIN THE CAR TURNED OVER AND THE GAS PEDAL WOULD WORK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE FLASHING CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT REMAINED ON AND WENT OFF AFTER STARTING THE CAR A COUPLE/FEW TIMES. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK THE CAR AND HE FOUND P2138 THREE TIMES IN THE HISTORY. THIS HAPPENED ONCE WHEN ENTERING A TRAFFIC CIRCLE AND TWICE WHILE CROSSING INTERSECTIONS, VERY DANGEROUS! INFO ON THIS SITE AND A SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM SHOWS THIS TO BE A PROBLEM MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT. LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAR STARTED FASTER THAN NORMAL WITH NO PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL REPEATEDLY BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. I PULLED OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE STARTED REVING HIGH LIGHT THE PEDAL WAS STUCK. I TRIED PRESSING THE CANCEL BUTTON ON THE CRUISE CONTROL, THINKING THAT IT MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN STUCK BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK SO I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON ONCE AND IT DIDN'T TURN OVER. TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT TURNED ON, BUT THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR WAS BLINKING. COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF THIS WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT GOT STUCK AT A HIGH SPEED, OR IF I WAS TRYING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY ROAD AND COULDN'T ACCELERATE.

THROTTLE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE COMPLETELY FAILS. NO ACCELERATION, CAR WILL ONLY MOVE AT AUTOMATIC IDLE SPEED. CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS -- VERY LUCKY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN AN INTERSECTION OR WHILE PASSING ANOTHER CAR. TURNS OUT TO BE COMMON FOR THIS MODEL -- AND MINE HAS ONLY 93,000 MILES. I AM ATTACHING A SAMPLE FROM AN ONLINE COMPLAINT SITE. THIS REQUIRES A RECALL.

ACCELERATOR RANDOMLY STOPS WORKING. ONCE YOU STOP THE VEHICLE AND WAIT ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS THEN RESTART I SEEMS TO WORK FINE. ALSO CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE LIGHTS FLASH WHEN THIS OCCURS. SO FAR THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WHILE LEAVING A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT SO AT SLOW SPEEDS. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A 6 LANE FREEWAY SYSTEM, IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!!!

LOSS OF POWER, NO ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TROUBLE CODE P2138 FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IN THE GAS PEDAL LEADING TO NO ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70 MPH OR SO). SUDDENLY THERE WAS NO POWER WHEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AND WE HAD TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER ON A BUSY FREEWAY WITH NO ACCELERATION WHAT SO EVER. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! PEOPLE CAN DIE WITH LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION ON THE FREEWAY, OR BEING STUCK ON A BLIND CURVE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THIS SYSTEM!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY SUBARU YESTERDAY, I SUDDENLY LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR SPEED DROPPED TO 10 MPH. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED CAR TWICE. BARELY ENOUGH ACCELERATION TO GET CAR TO 18 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND THE CRUISE LIGHT BLINKED CONTINOUSLY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER TODAY. ERROR CODE IS P2138. DEALER CANNOT FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH CAR. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT GOING ONTO HIGHWAYS AND HAVING THIS HAPPEN.

I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD MORE THAN A FEW MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS FLASHING. THANKFULLY I WAS ONLY DOING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR IN TOWN. I PULLED OVER, TURNED MY CAR OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WOULDN'T START. I STARTED IT FOR A 2ND TIME AND IT STARTED AND I DROVE HOME. I TOOK IT TO MY SUBARUS ONLY MECHANIC OF 17 YEARS (I'M ON MY 4TH SUBIE) WHO THOUGHT THE ERROR CODE OF P2138 WAS ODD. HE TOLD ME TO LET HIM KNOW IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN....AND IT DID A FEW DAYS LATER SO I TOOK IT BACK IN. MY MECHANIC CALLED SUBARU AND FOUND OUT THIS WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. I'VE ONLY HAD IT BACK A DAY SO I'M NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. I CERTAINLY HOPE IT HAS AS I'M TERRIFIED OF THE THOUGHT OF THIS HAPPENING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 70 MPH ON MY WAY TO WORK IN HORRIBLE TRAFFIC. AFTER GETTING ON THE INTERNET, THIS LONG-TIME SUBARU LOVER IS SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT SUBARU HASN'T DONE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 10 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DECCELERATE. I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND GOT NO RESPONSE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING AT THIS TIME AS WELL. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A RURAL ROAD (SPEED LIMIT 40 MPH) AND WAS ABLE TO LIMP ALONG TO A PULL OFF. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR 5 MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I INITIALLY STARTED THE CAR BUT TURNED OFF WHEN I BEGAN DRIVING AGAIN. THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED 4 DAYS LATER WHEN I WAS TAKING MY 4 YEAR OLD TO PRESCHOOL. I TURNED OFF A 25 MPH STREET INTO HIS SCHOOL WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GAS PEDAL QUIT WORKING. I SHOULD NOTE THAT WHEN THE GAS PEDAL "QUITS WORKING" THE CAR WILL NOT LET ME GO ABOVE 15 MPH. ONCE AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THE GAS PEDAL WORKED AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SENSOR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON RURAL ROADS WHEN BOTH OF THESE EVENTS HAPPENED, BUT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIFYING IF I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD OR FREEWAY, ESPECIALLY WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND WHEN I GOT ONTO THE EXIT RAMP, THE VEHICLE GAS PEDAL STOPPED WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH FLASHING CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT. I COASTED INTO A DEALERSHIP WITH HAZARD LIGHTS ON AT ABOUT 10MPH. DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAULTY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR STILL ON THE INTERSTATE. CAR ONLY HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT.

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55, MILES PER HOUR THE ENG WENT TO IDE SPEED, THE CHECK ENG LIGHT CAME ON. I DRIFTED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE THROTTLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE. READ THE CODE OUT AND IT WAS FOR THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE, THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF IN MAJOR TRAFFIC SUCH AS ON A FREEWAY. IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH SUBARU, I HAVE RESEARCHED IT AND MANY PEOPLE REPORT THIS IN FORUMS ON THE INTERNET.

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75MPH THE ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ACCELERATOR BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR IT WORKED FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 TIMES SO FAR AND AFTER READING MANY POSTS ON OUTBACK FORUMS IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIGURED OUT BY SUBARU.

I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED I ATTEMPTED TO GIVE THE CAR GAS TO BEGIN MOVING AND THERE WAS NO POWER IN THE PEDAL. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE ON AND THE RADIO WAS PLAYING. I HAD SOME POWER AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE FLOW OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I PARKED BUT DID NOT TURN THE CAR OFF. I TURNED ON MY HAZARDS AND TRIED THE PEDAL AGAIN. NOTHING! I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. AT THIS POINT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I ATTEMPTED AND THIS TIME THERE WAS POWER IN THE PEDAL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT IS FLASHING. I HAVE DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT MY MECHANIC. THIS WAS SCARY WITH TRAFFIC BEARING DOWN ON ME AT RUSH HOUR AND NO WHERE TO GO INITIALLY. I AM JUST VERY THANKFUL I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING ON A 3-LANE HIGHWAY AT THE POSTED MILEAGE (60 MPH). SIMULTANEOUSLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GAS PEDAL LOST ALL POWER. THE CRUISE LIGHT WAS ALSO FLASHING. I TRIED FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER AND THE SPEED RAPIDLY DECREASED TO LESS THAN 20 MPH. THIS HAPPENED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AND NO TIME TO GET OFF A BUSY THOROUGHFARE. THIS OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 PM, SO FORTUNATELY THE TRAFFIC WAS NOT EXTREMELY HEAVY. I WAS ABLE TO CUT ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC THAT WAS GOING 60 MPH +, EXIT ON AN OFF-RAMP, AND GET TO A SAFE LOCATION TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE OUTCOME WAS CODE P2138 (ACCELERATOR SENSOR). THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $340. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2006, AND HAVE KEPT IT WELL MAINTAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP PER THEIR SERVICE SCHEDULE. HOWEVER, UNTIL THIS PROBLEM OCCURS, THERE?S NO DOUBT IT WOULD HAVE EVER BEEN CAUGHT BY THE DEALER TO REPAIR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY TO ME AND OTHER DRIVERS. IF IT HAD BEEN AT ANOTHER TIME, I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED BY DRIVERS GOING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. *TR

VEHICLE IS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK SEDAN 'LL BEAN EDITION. UPON TRAVELING TO WORK AT 5:30AM, GOING UP HILL AT 40 MPG, THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED WORKING BUT THE ENGINE WAS AT HIGH RPM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON STEADY WITH CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHING. HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF, PUT ON HAZARD LIGHTS AS THIS WAS A DARK ROAD. TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TWICE TO GET THE CAR TO START. ON THE THIRD TRY IT STARTED AND PEDAL DID WORK BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON WITH THE CRUISE LIGHT FLASHING. DROVE SLOWLY TO WORK WHICH WAS A MILE AWAY AND THE SAFEST PLACE TO PARK THE CAR. UPON GETTING IT TO MY GARAGE LATER THAT DAY THEY SCANNED THE CODES FROM THE COMPUTER AND IT SHOWED A P2138-THROTTLE /PEDAL POSITIONING SENSOR. HAD TO GET THE COMPLETE GAS PEDAL WITH SENSOR FROM A AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND REPLACE IT. WAS FORTUNATE I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC OR A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! *JS

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, MY 2006 OUTBACK SEDAN LOST ACCELERATION CONTROL AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE IN WHICH IT WAS ONLY IDLING AND HAD NO CONTROL FROM ACCELERATOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF FROM DRIVE, MOVED THE SHIFTER TO PARK AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A MINUTE OR SO. IT STARTED UP FINE BUT SEEMS TO BE IDLING LOW, SPUTTERING AND HESITATING A LITTLE. ESPECIALLY WHEN REVERSING SLOWLY OR PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR VERY LIGHTLY FROM IDLE. A MECHANIC NEARBY SAID THE PROBLEM CODE WAS READING "BAD THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR." I BELIEVE THE ERROR CODE WAS P2138. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE AND AS OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED, THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY A COMMON PROBLEM YET NO REAL REASON FOR THE FAILURE CAN BE IDENTIFIED. SOME HAVE SAID THAT REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH INCLUDES THE AFOREMENTIONED SENSOR HELPED THE SITUATION. OTHER SAID THAT REPLACING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY WHICH INCLUDES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR HAS HELPED. IN A FEW CASES WITH BOTH REPAIRS, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I AM BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO READ THE HISTORY OF FAILURE CODES AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. A NOTE TO FELLOW COMPLAINANTS OUT THERE, PLEASE UPDATE YOUR POST IF YOU HAD A REPAIR DONE WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE AN RECURRENCE IF ANY SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, IT REALLY WOULD HELP THE REST OF US OUT THERE WHO DON'T WANT TO LET THE DEALERSHIPS SCRATCH THEIR HEADS AND CHARGE US FOR UNNECESSARY REPAIRS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO IDLE NORMALLY, BUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR HAD NO AFFECT ON THE ENGINE. SEARCHING FORUMS RETURNS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THE DRIVE-BY-WIRE THROTTLE OF THESE VEHICLES. HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AS OPPOSED TO A 30MPH RESIDENTIAL STREET, IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A FLASHING CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT. WHEN I STARTED UP THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL. MY CAR STARTED TO ROLL AND GOT UP TO 10 MPH ( THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 45 MPH). THE RPM GAUGE STAYED AT 2000 RPMS. I PULLED ON TO A SIDE STREET WITH MY FLASHERS ON AND PARKED. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND STARTED IT. STILL NO RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF A SECOND TIME. THIS TIME THE ENGINE DIDN'T START. I TRIED AGAIN AND IT TAKE A LONG TIME (10 SECONDS) BUT IT FINALLY STARTED. NOW THE GAS PEDAL RESPONDED. I DRIVE MY CAR HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE CRUISE STILL FLASHED. I WENT TO AUTO ZONE WHERE THEY SAID THE CODE WAS P2138. THANK GOODNESS THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I WAS ABLE TO FIND A SIDE STREET. *TR UPDATED 12/21/15 *JS

SLOWING AT INTERSECTION TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WHEN CHECK-ENGINE-LIGHT CAME ON. CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING (VEHICLE WAS NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL AT THE TIME) ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE (COULD GET NO ACCELERATION OUT OF THE CAR WHEN PRESSING THE PEDAL) AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THROUGH INTERSECTION TO TURN. AFTER A MINUTE OR SO WAS ABLE TO GET ENOUGH POWER TO RUN AT ABOUT 10MPH TOPS WITH HAZARDS ON TO GET A LOCATION WHERE I COULD PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC. CAR WOULD NOT START IMMEDIATELY AFTER (THREE CRANKS WITH NO RESPONSE) AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THOUGH, IT RESTARTED AND SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY, NO PROBLEMS WITH SPEED. DIAGNOSTIC CODE WAS P2138 (THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH "A"/"B" VOLTAGE CORRELATION. *TR

VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHEN CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND IGNITION TURNED, THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A HIGH RPM. WHEN PLACED INTO DRIVE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AT 15 MPH, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, AS DID THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT. DEPRESSING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON/OFF BUTTON DID NOT CHANGE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR. TOOK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLEARED THE CODE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME. THE SAME THING OCCURRED SEVERAL DAYS LATER. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THEY CHARGED ME $403.88 AS A REPLACEMENT. I SEE NOW ON THE WEB THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FAIL AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INCIDENT. IT IS ALSO VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE IT ALL OCCURRED WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF HAVING $2400 OF SERVICE ALREADY ON THE VEHICLE (ENGINE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, TIMING BELT, TRANS FLUID FLUSH, TIRE ROTATE), AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES IN ORDER TO GET ISSUES DEALT WITH (TWICE WITH THE ACCELERATOR ISSUE, ONCE BECAUSE THEY HAD FAILED TO PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE POWER STEERING BELT). *TR

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SOON FOLLOWED BY THE FLASHING CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT. AT THE POINT, THE CAR BECAME NO LONGER RESPONSIVE TO THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER BECAUSE AFTER BREAKING, I COULDN'T SPEED BACK UP. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON THE ENGINE REVVED AT A HIGH SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STILL FLASHING. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, SUDDENLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I LOST THRUST EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL TURNING AT 2000 RPM, AND MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. LUCKILY I WAS ALREADY IN THE RIGHT LANE, SO IT WAS EASY TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I WENT TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THEM READ THE CODE. THE CODE WAS P2138 WHICH IS THE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, THROTTLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 SEPARATE TIMES NOW. REPLACED ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY, BUT PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES WITHOUT NOTICE. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TWICE IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. BOTH TIME MY CAR GOES TO LIMO MODE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES. THE PEDAL DOES NOT REV THE ENGINE. AFTER A NUMBER OF TRIES, THE PEDAL WILL BECOME RESPONSIVE AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 3 RESTARTS ONCE THE ENGINE IS REVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE WILL GO OUT AND THE CAR WILL BE NORMAL UNTIL IT DOES IT AGAIN. WHEN I READ THE CODE, IT'S P2138 INDICATING IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE 2 REDUCENT SENSORS ON THE PEDAL DISAGREEING ABOUT WHERE THE PEDAL IS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT! CALL SOA AND ASKED TO TAKE IT TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. BOUGHT THE CAR AT WEST SUBARU HERR BUFFALO,LIVE IN CANADA NOW. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A STEADY RATE OF 50MPH. SUDDENLY THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND BEGAN TO FLASH AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT. THE VEHICLE ALSO BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO THE ACCELERATOR WHEN PRESSED OR DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAINTAIN A SPEED ABOUT 20MPH EVEN AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ENGAGING THE HAZARD LIGHTS, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE RPM GAUGE THEN SKYROCKETS TO 3000-4000 RPM AND THE ENGINE BECOMES REALLY LOUD. I TURN THE KEY OFF AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. NEGLECTING TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES RESULTS IN THE SAME BEHAVIOR. AFTER STARTING THE CAR AGAIN THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT STILL FLASHES AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON. AFTER 3 RESTARTS BOTH INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE OFF AND ALL SEEMS FINE. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT IS A "BAD ACCELERATOR AND IT HAS BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY". THE DEALERSHIP THEN RESET THE CODE. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 10 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ON A RANDOM BASIS. LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL IS UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

VEHICLE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE SUDDENLY. WAS ABLE TO COAST AT ABOUT 20MPH OFF OF AN INTERSTATE TO A SAFE LOCATION CODE CHECK INDICATED P2138 THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAULT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO ERRONEOUSLY DECELERATED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 12/30/13*CN

INCIDENT INITIALLY STARTED IN FEBRUARY, WENT TO ACCELERATE AFTER STARTING CAR IN THE AM, DID NOT RESPOND, CEL AND FLASHING CRUISE BUTTON CAME ON, ENGINE SEEMED TO IDLE AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO TRYING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. TURNED ENGINE OFF, TRIED TO TURN BACK ON, WOULD NOT START. REPEATED PROCESS WITH STARTING 2-3 TIMES UNTIL STARTED AGAIN. CEL AND FLASHING CRUISE REMAINED ON FOR A COUPLE DAYS, TOOK TO REPAIR GARAGE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG ON THE DIAGNOSTIC RUN. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR OFF AND ON FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS WHO COULD NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR OR GET IT TO REPRODUCE WHEN THEY DROVE IT, AND THEN TO DEALER 2 WEEKS AGO, THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY AND DID A FUEL INJECTOR SERVICE. AGAIN, THIS MORNING, ACCELERATING AT 30-40 MPH IN START/STOP TRAFFIC, COULD NOT ACCELERATE AT 30 MPH, ENGINE STARTED TO REV, PULLED OVER TO SIDE, SHUT OFF ENGINE, REPEATED 2 MORE TIMES, AGAIN CEL AND FLASHING CRUISE. THESE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON BUT CAR DROVE NORMALLY. VERY FRUSTRATED AS I CANNOT GET IT TO REPRODUCE FOR SHOP OR FOR DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SO ERRATICALLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HE HAD NO ACCELERATOR CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY.

2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS CAUSE BY VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION . *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A JERKING FEELING AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, WITH THE ENGINE REVVING. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE MORE FIRMLY, THE VEHICLE WENT EVEN FASTER, AND CONSEQUENTLY, SHE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH WAS THEN PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. EARLIER IN THE MONTH, THE CONSUMER AND HER HUSBAND NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK OCCASIONALLY AND THE SHIFTING WAS ERRATIC.

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO INCIDENTS SO FAR. ONE WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH WHEN THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY STOPPED RESPONDING. THE OTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED AT MUCH LOWER SPEEDS WHEN TURNING A CORNER AND THE THROTTLE NO LONGER RESPONDED. IN BOTH CASES THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED. PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT AT ALL. IN BOTH CASES THE CAR WOULD "COAST" ALONG AT WHATEVER SPEED THE ENGINE IDLING WOULD MOVE IT - ROUGHLY 15 MPH. *TR

2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 26, 2012, WHOLE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A PUBLIC GARAGE, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND SMASHED INTO A CONCRETE GARAGE POST AND THEN THE GARAGE WALL. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND TO AREAS IN THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE STARTED TO LEAVE THE PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND HIT A POST. NOT KNOWING WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE IN ORDER TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE POST. THE VEHICLE INSTANTLY ACCELERATED, AND HER EFFORTS TO CONTROL IT THROUGH APPLYING THE BRAKE AND STEERING WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONSUMER SOLD THE VEHICLE TO THE BODY REPAIR SHOP FOR $500 AFTER NO LONGER FEELING COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *JB

I WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED RESPONDING. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED. HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER THRU TRAFFIC. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOW ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE IDLE WAS AT 2,000 RPMS AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STILL NOT RESPONDING. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE ACCELERATOR WAS WORKING BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLASHING. READ OBD CODE P2138, RESET CODE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY SUBARU. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN I BRAKE FOR SLOWING TRAFFIC, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND IT APPEARED THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE WENT INTO IDLE MODE. I WAS LOSING SPEED AND PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I SHUT OFF MY ENGINE AND A FEW MINUTES LATER I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEEMED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY, ALTHOUGH THE TWO WARNING LIGHTS WERE STILL ILLUMINATED. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AND BOTH WARNING LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER LIT. MY CODE READER FOUND AN ERROR CODE OF P2138, (UNRECOGNIZED CODE), THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY UNTIL 12/18/2012. THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM RECURRED AND I AGAIN READ THE ERROR CODE AS P2138. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. ALTHOUGH BOTH TIMES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE, I WAS ON A ROAD WITH VERY FEW CARS AND HAD NO DIFFICULTY GETTING SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN MORE DANGEROUS IF I WAS AT FREEWAY SPEED WITH TRAFFIC AROUND ME. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CRUISE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON FUNCTIONING. SHE WAS ABLE TO COST TO A SAFE PLACE. WHEN I ARRIVED THE CAR WAS RUNNING. THE GAS PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TOOK HER TO WORK. AN HOUR LATER I RETURNED TO THE CAR AND TRIED TO START IT. IT TOOK SEVERAL SECONDS TO START, BUT DID. THE GAS PEDAL WORKED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON STEADY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS FLASHING. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME. TODAY 10/20/12 THE CAR HAS NO SYMPTOMS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SCARY AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE BUSIEST STREET IN MONTANA DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED DESPITE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,052 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,078.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A SENSOR ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AT 55 MPH IN MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND IT APPEARED THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE WENT INTO IDLE MODE. I WAS LOSING SPEED AND DECIDED TO MOVE MY CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I SHUT OFF MY ENGINE AND WAITED A MINUTE OR TWO AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. A FEW MINUTES LATER I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEEMED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY, ALTHOUGH THE TWO WARNING LIGHTS WERE STILL ILLUMINATED. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AND BOTH WARNING LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER LIT. THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK. THIS INDENTICAL PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN ONE WEEK AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. I DROVE MY 2006 OUTBACK TO MY INDEPENDENT SUBARU MECHANIC WHO READ THE ERROR CODE AS P2138. HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL OF HIS CLIENT'S CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM RECENTLY AND RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE MY CAR TO A SUBARU DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. A FEW DAYS LATER I HAD MY OUTBACK SERVICED AT MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR (INTEGRAL TO THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY) AND CONFIRMED THE P2138 ERROR CODE. THE PEDAL SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND (TWO DAYS LATER) THE CAR APPEARS TO BE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AGAIN. THE REPAIR BILL WAS ABOUT $320 FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR. I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. ALTHOUGH BOTH TIMES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE I WAS ON A ROAD WITH VERY FEW CARS AND HAD NO DIFFICULTY GETTING SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN MORE DANGEROUS IF I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE LANES AT HIGH SPEED WITH LOTS OF TRAFFIC AROUND ME. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF MOMENTARILY AND THE FAILURE WOULD RESET ITSELF UNTIL RECURRING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN WHICH A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR HAD FAILED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS REPLACED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED WHICH ALSO INDICATED A FAILURE WITHIN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FURTHER. UPDATED 02/23/11 *BF UPDATED 04/28/11

2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. HI, PROBLEM (1) HEAD REST IS SO BIG THAT BETWEEN THE SEAT BELT STRAP AND THE HEAD REST THERE IS NO VIEW TO SEE VEHICLES ABOUT TO PASS IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. CAN RESULT IN SIDE SWIPING WHEN CHANGING LANES. ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES IN THE WORLD WON'T HELP IF THE END RESULT OF THE FEATURE IS TO CAUSE INJURY OR FATALITY. SAFETY PROBLEM (2) THE SPEEDOMETER. IN ORDER TO MAKE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LOOK "CUTE" YOU HAVE DESTROY THE ABILITY TO SEE WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. NO NEED TO GO TO 140 MPH TO START WITH. THE JUMPS BETWEEN MARKINGS MAKE IT JUST ABOUT IMPOSSIBLE TO QUICKLY DETERMINE THE SPEEDS 50, 60, AND 70 MPH AND FORGET TRYING FOR 55,65,75. WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO ABOUT THESE TWO VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS ON MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK?????? I AM "DEAD" SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AND WILL SEARCH ALL POSSIBILITIES FOR A REMEDY.*AK