Adaptive Cruise Control problems of the 2023 Subaru Forester

While driving on a highway, one lane in each direction, my lane was going to end. In front of me were painted yellow highway lines directing me to head right to the new lane on the right side of the steel railings. My adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assistance still had me heading straight instead of to the right. I had to strongly turn my steering wheel to the right to avoid hitting the railing. Also I was following a car into a rotary with my adaptive cruise control on. Thankfully I wasn't going fast and the car started to speed up a little as the car in front of me turned around the rotary. I was able to steer it in the right direction. My point is, some of the new technology is showing commercials with drivers with their hands off the steering wheel, relying on the technology. I was glad I had complete control of the car, but these features aren't perfect.

We were traveling on a limited access highway at approximately 65 miles an hour. Both the adaptive cruise control and the driver assist were engaged. A car approximately four car lengths ahead of us exited the highway into the breakdown lane. My car slammed on its brakes and reduced speed to less than 40 miles an hour with no warning. Had there been a vehicle behind us we certainly would have been hit. This is not the first time we have had difficulty with the adaptive cruise control braking unpredictably , but it’s the first time it endangered our lives.

If you have the adaptive cruise control (or regular cruise if you disable adaptive) and accelerate to pass another vehicle, as soon as you take your foot off the gas to coast back down to the cruise setting the car slams on the brakes to bring the vehicle back to the set speed. I have almost been rear ended several times when this happens. This has occurred since I purchased the vehicle. The dealership says this is a design feature and not a defect. It doesn't matter what speed the cruise is set at. If you are exceeding the set speed, the brakes apply when the accelerator is released.