NHTSA complaint: 2020 SUBARU FORESTER — SERVICE BRAKES
ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 1, 2020, I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF MY GARAGE. I WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT,. THE CAR WAS PARKED FACING THE WALL, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR, AND I HAD TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE INTO MY DRIVEWAY, PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE. I THEN HAD TO TURN RIGHT, INTO MY DRIVEWAY LEADING TO THE STREET. AFTER I SHIFTED THE GEAR FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE, THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD SPONTANEOUSLY, AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT, NOR STEER THE STEERING WHEEL. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT HARD AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN. I FOUND THE CAR GOING FORWARDS TOWARDS THE GARAGE, BUT SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THE OPEN GARAGE DOOR. I WAS ALSO NOT ABLE TO TURN THE CAR WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH WAS ALSO STIFF. I WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND MY INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, WITH THE CAR GOING TOWARDS MY HOUSE, AND THE BRAKE NOT BEING EFFECTIVE. MY WIFE,[XXX]WHO WAS AT THE DOOR, WAS WATCHING AND HELPLESS. THE CAR THEN HIT THE PILLAR/ POST, BETWEEN MY GARAGE DOORS AND STOPPED, HITTING THE RIGHT SIDE, OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE POST. I NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND DROVE THE CAR TO SUBARU'S SERVICE CENTER, AND HAS SINCE LEFT THE CAR THERE. I HAD MET EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR SITUATION ABOUT 2-3 DAYS EARLIER. AT THAT TIME, I DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT. THE CAR IS WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF [XXX], SUBARU DEALER, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER, CAN EXPLAIN THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation