general problems of the 1998 Subaru Legacy

Vehicle was in park and took off without prior warning. Dealership was aware of problem.

On two consecutive days, 4/15 and 4/16, while stopping from a <5 mph speed, the car surged ahead 2-4 feet, stopped, and immediately surged ahead 2-4 feet again, and stopped. The first time it almost put me out in heavy traffic on a 4 laned highway. The second time I was pulling into my daughter's driveway and was stopping when it surged ahead taking out the post supporting their front porch, stopped, then immediately surged ahead taking out the lattice work under their porch. Both times the car was on an uphill incline. Damage to the vehicle included the right front fog light, popped out and put a "wrinkle" in the right front bumped and scratched the hood. The mileage is approximate because the car is still at the dealers. When I called to check on it 4/19 they had not been able to replicate it and stated they had one more test to run and then I could pick it up. That is totally unacceptable!.

While accelerating away from a stop, at low engine rpm and low throttle opening, the car hesitates. If you give it more throttle, it gives a sudden but unpredictable burst of acceleration. It is very difficult to get out of the way if someone happens to be headed toward you. It is also impossible to know when the car will start to accerlerate normally. It is a jerky type of action that does not coincide with the smooth application of the accelerator pedal.