| Issue ID | 645411 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10203724 |
| Manufacurer | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. |
| Brand | SUBARU |
| Model | OUTBACK |
| Model Year | 2007 |
| File date | 20/09/07 |
| Component | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MO |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | The latest incident date is shown below, the first time of the incident was in feb 07. There have been four occurrences. In each event the automobile was in heavy traffic and had been decelerating for a period of time prior to an immediate need to accelerate to avoid a rapidly approaching vehicle while either making an evasive maneuver due to road obstacles or while merging in congested high speed traffic. Upon depressing the accelerator, the engine speeds up to near "red line" with no accompanying acceleration or engagement of the transmission. After a period of time in excess of one full second to an estimated three seconds the transmission engages and the vehicle begins to accelerate. In each instance, there was a great deal of concern on the part of the drivers (three different ones) that a "near accident" occurred. When the service department was first notified at the dealership, an explanation of the latest "drive by wire" transmissions with "fuzzy logic", anticipating computer programming was offered. Though plausible, it did not seem a very likely "normal" expectation. The manufacturer was contacted and declared that only the local service department should be trouble shooting the systems. I was assured that they had the ability to work through the manufacturing technical departments, and i had no need to contact them. The service department thoroughly tested the systems, drove it at length, and again assured me that this was a known condition and we should be careful to avoid any situation where any unanticipated rapid changes from deceleration to acceleration would be needed. |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 2200 |
| Number of Occurences | 4 |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | CINCINNATI, OH |
| VIN pattern | 4S4BP61C867XXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | |
| No. of fatalities | |
| Date of purchase | 31/01/07 |
| Was original owner? | Y |
| Anti-lock brakes | Y |
| Cruise control | Y |
| Number of cylinders | 4 |
| Drive train type | 4WD |
| Transmission type | AUTO |
| Vehicle speed | 30 |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | SUBARU OF BEECHMONT |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | |
| Dealer's state code | |
| Dealer's ZIP code |