Car Accelerates On Its Own problems of the 2019 Subaru Forester

Unintended acceleration when slowly pulling into aparking spot. Car ran over and dislodged a parking curb. The car ended up resting against a fence. A tow truck had to pull the car backwards to get the car over the curb. The dealer had the car inspected by a third party who found nothing wrong with the car. Damage was estimated to be $1000.

Base model Subaru Forester 2019, driver experienced unintended acceleration when starting to drive following a green light in an interception. Driver had to use an evasive maneuver (veer to the left) to avoid hitting a vehicle in the front of it. The vehicle continued to accelerate without driver engaging the gas paddle. Vehicle continued to unintentionally accelerate, and driver had to use the break paddle to control the speed. The unintended acceleration lasted for about 20 seconds. After breaking to a zero speed at a red light the unintended acceleration returned for about two minutes especially following breaking. Unintended/sudden acceleration started after 5 minutes of driving at 7:15am, outside temp of 36f, hvac on, while driving a flat road. Total trip time: about 15 minutes. About six months prior to this unintended acceleration event, the same driver experienced the same situation with that same vehicle. The driver brought the vehicle to the dealership the same day and reported to Subaru about the unintended acceleration. The service team at the dealership informed the vehicle owner that the problem could not be replicated and thus there is no problem with the vehicle. There should be a log entry in Subaru database about this service visit.

I was parking at a busy ski center, car in drive as I was slowly pulling into an open space, car in first row of vehicles facing a small road. The road connects the parking lot with the ski shop . 5 mph would be normal speed on this road, where pedestrian skiers walk from the lot to the ski shop. Before I could stop to turn off the car, the engine started revving crazily, the car lurched forward and accelerated on its own. Brakes would not respond. I was able to steer onto the road, car accelerating faster and faster, no brakes, no control. There was a small car driving slowly some distance ahead, and I was gaining on it fast, a split second away from crushing it, so I deliberately swerved into a snowbank, hit some trees, and that finally stopped my car. I was unhurt. Extensive front end damage and passenger door damage front and back, and roof rack damage. Police came to the scene, car was towed by flatbed back to the dealer. Insurance paid for the repairs. Manufacturer will examine the vehicle thoroughly, will remove the "black box" to find what was the cause of unintended acceleration and loss of brakes. This examination may take 4-6 weeks. So fortunate that no one was injured or killed. I cannot estimate what speed the car reached on its own.