Automatic Emergency Braking problems of the 2026 Subaru Forester

The pre-collision breaking system activated while I was driving 35mph on a straight road with no cars or obstacles present. There was enough force generated in the abrupt stop that the seatbelt locked and unsecured items were thrown to the floor.

I was pulling into a handicapped parking spot at the grocery store, turning right into it, and was almost stopped, with my right foot on the brake, when the vehicle suddenly accelerated at top speed, surging over the median strip, flattening the "handicapped parking" sign, and racing ahead into the street beyond. I drove forward and turned left back into the parking lot and parked the car. The flattened parking lot sign ripped the front panels off the car. I went into the grocery store and asked if we needed to call the police, and they said no, and that they would replace the sign. The two store managers helped m by putting the ripped off front, plastic panels into the back seat and advised me to take the car to the dealer to address the damage. My foot was on the brake when this unexpected acceleration occurred. I was extremely lucky that this did not happen when I was breaking at a stop light; if it had, I would have soared out into moving traffic and probably been killed.

Mid-afternoon - clear day - dry pavement - cruise control set at 70+ mph on interstate 35. Car suddenly detects obstacle and starts phantom breaking excessively. Causes complete terror that we're about to hit something - only there was no obstacle to be found. Alarm eventually shut off and after a few moments, I was finally able to accelerate again. Luckily, there were no cars directly behind me or that would have been a huge pile up. Reported concern to Subaru dealer - referred to corporate - they have had my car for 25 days. Today I was notified that due to not signing a waiver issued today stating I would turn all eyesight data over to any third party vendor and law enforcement - both now and in the future data - the safety case was at an impasse. No further explanation as to how this concern would be addressed. Corporate has not contacted local dealer with next steps. It is a 2026 Forester with under 15,000 miles on it. No explanation as to why they could not have a form with a reasonable request - I. E. Timeframe, no law enforcement involved, etc. Concern for this is the phantom braking with no explanation as to why and refusal to fix it.

Twice within a month. The eyesight front collision braking system suddenly activated in traffic while passing through a signal light showing green when the car in front made a right turn onto an adjacent street. My vehicle was clear of the car that had turned right and could continue to proceed through the light without incident. The eyesiight system activated and caused a near-miss potential rear end collision situation between my car and the cars following behind me.

[xxx] [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] via certified mail – return receipt requested u. S. Department of transportation national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) vehicle safety compliance division (nvs-210) 1200 new jersey avenue se washington, DC 20590 Wednesday, may 6, 2026 safety defect complaint – 2026 Subaru Forester VIN: [xxx] honorable, eileen sullivan associate administrator, enforcement I am filing this formal safety defect complaint regarding my 2026 Subaru Forester. A pedestrian incident occurred on February 2, 2026, in which the vehicle failed to warn or brake automatically when a pedestrian crossed in front of my car. Additionally, the Subaru eyesight system does not remain enabled between ignition cycles. Every time I start the car, I must manually re-engage the system. Consequently, automatic emergency braking (aeb) is not active by default during ordinary driving and will reverts to off (not remain enable) when I am driving . I believe this poses an unreasonable risk to pedestrian and occupant safety. I am aware of prior investigations (e. G. , NHTSA action number pe23010 and related lawsuits) involving Subaru eyesight failures, including lack of braking for obstacles. Vehicle information: year: 2026 make: Subaru model: Forester VIN: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).