general problems of the 2002 Subaru Outback

The contact owns a 2002 Subaru Outback. While attempting to shift into park, the vehicle abnormally accelerated without warning, causing the contact to crash into a nearby fence. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for further testing to determine the cause of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 71,000. Updated 07/19/2010. Updated 07/26/jb.

2002 Subaru Outback wagon has 48,000 miles. Car stalls at red lights, sputters and hesitates when trying to accelerate from a stop. Dangerous trying to get on highway. Dealer tested all systems and said nothing was wrong with the car. Independent mechanic tested it and said main computer not working properly. Check engine light never came on. Mechanic reset computer but suggested I get rid of the car ASAP.

The engine began to idle roughly quite a few months prior (dealer unable to detect any problem), subsequently experienced hesitation from stop; progressed to fluctuating idle speed from 750 to 500 rpm with self correction to 750 after car had been driven and fully warmed up which progressed to episode of hesitation while driving up hill with near engine stall. Thereafter had a few episodes of engine surging while stopping in drive, which did not stop when put into either neutral or park (dealer unable to diagnose any problem, did software replaced but problem continued to degenerate). Engine stalled when it came to stop then when restarted continued to have surging as above described. Engine would have hesitation and near stall also during regular operation on highway even at cruising speeds from 20 mph to 65 mph. Dealer currently attempting to diagnose problem again.

The consumer states that while pulling into a parking space, the vehicle went into full throttle resulting in a crash. The cause is unknown.

Engine stalls on acceleration from a stop. At times the engine will die when accelerator is pressed. Dealer was contacted and vehicle taken to dealer. Dealer states that there are numerous vehicles which have the same problem. All of them are 2002 models. Dealer states tha tvehicle cannon be fixed at this time due to a lack of knowledge of what to do. This occured the first week of August 2002. Dealer was contacted on September 5, 2002 and stated that vehicle still could not be repaired due to lack of knowledge. Dealer stated that the engineers in japan were working on the problem but it will be at least two more months before it would be known what if anything could be done.