2019 Subaru Outback: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Dec 19, 2025 · Acceleration · FL

I was driving on I-95 South in Georgia on Thursday, 18 December at approximately 9:00 pm in my 2019 Subaru Outback (6 cylinder engine). There was good visiblity and dry road conditions. I did not have the cruise control on. I was traveling at 75 mph and wanted to pass a truck. As I increased my speed to 78 mph to pass the truck, the Subaru began to accelerate to 85 mph and my rpms went up to 4000. The car continued to accelerate. I checked the cruise control and it was in fact off. I felt with my foot to make sure the accelerator was not stuck and it was not. I pushed hard on the brakes to counter the acceleration and after about 1 minute the car became controllable again. I drove the rest of my trip going 70 mph and did not have a further incident that evening. Because of the traffic ahead of me, this acceleration caused me great concern for myself and the passenger in the car. I have not had this problem before and have not reported it to my Subaru dealer yet. No one else has examined the car since this incident yesterday. I did not receive any warning lights or dashboard messages prior to the incident.

Filed Sep 16, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · TX

Parasitic drain cause by the CAN system, which causes the battery to randomly die, batter has been replaced, alternator and starter have been tested. When the battery has low voltage this also shuts down the cars safety features like forward Collision and cruise control. The head unit in the car is also malfunctioning, causing it randomly turn on and off while driving, button s being pressed on their own which is a huge distraction while driving. Subaru has not been willing to assist.

Filed Aug 11, 2024 · Driver assistance · OR

While driving in the fast lane on Interstate 5 at a speed of approximately 70MPH, with cruise control on, during clear dry conditions, my automatic emergency brake system engaged and made my vehicle come to an abrupt and complete stop in the fast lane. I lost complete control of my vehicle. I was unable to steer or accelerate. Once I stopped, I was able to use my accelerator, but very quickly my vehicle abruptly stopped again and I could not steer it. After I stopped for the second time, I was then able to then accelerate slowly and pull off the freeway into the wide left shoulder. When I turned the car off and then back on again to get out of danger, I disengaged the cruise control, and I was able to get back on the freeway and out of the fast lane. It was a clear day, no clouds, no shadows, no birds, no vehicles right in front of me or next to me. There was NO warning lamp or alarms prior to the braking. There was no debris or excessive dirt on my windshield. My husband and I were certainly in danger of being rear ended at a high speed, but miraculously, the vehicles behind us were able to stop and/or pull into the left shoulder to avoid a collision. Not only were we at risk of serious injury or death, but there very easily could have been a multi-car pile up on the freeway with many people at risk of injury. My car is currently at my local Subaru dealership and they are investigating the problem. They have not been able to reproduce the issue yet, but are bringing in another specialist tomorrow. I felt this issue absolutely needed to be reported as it is a very serious safety issue. I do not trust my vehicle any more.

Filed Oct 10, 2023 · Driver assistance · OH

This is known issue with the electrical system that is associated with the touch screen controls. Without any driver input, the EyeSight driver assist system was shutoff. That system controls adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and lane departure features. Rebooting the Starlink touch screen restored those functions. The safety issue is that no audible warning gave indication that the safety features were disabled. Two icons appeared on the dash. There appears to be a class action suit that applies to the Starlink system for my model year. It is important to understand that this more than merely a problem with the entertainment features.

Filed Jun 18, 2022 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · TX

I had a driver-side mirror damaged in a small crash. The wiring harness for the mirror was pulled from its location. The mirror was replaced, and the wiring harness was not to my knowledge. Since that repair, the vehicled dynamic cruise control, called Eyesight has failed more than 50 times. I have had the vehicle at the dealer 2 times. They concluded yesterday the unit checked out. I drove it for 5 minutes, and it failed again. I believe it could be related to them not replacing the wiring harness. They believe it may be related to a new windshield, which I find it hard to believe. They recalibrated the Eyesight with the non-OEM windshield. Subaru technicians believe it is related to the non-OEM windshield, and I am having a brand new windshield replaced with the OEM windshield. Which I also believe is inferior because of cracks in my orginal windshield.

Filed Jun 16, 2022 · Transmission · WA

Travelling on the freeway and tapped brakes to disengage the adaptive cruise control due to slowing traffic ahead. The anti-lock brakes came on and the car came to a complete stop even though I had only tapped the brake and taken my foot off the brake. After coming to a stop the car was still running, but the transmission was completely out and the car wouldn't move. Was disabled on freeway until the Highway Patrol came and pushed me off the road.

Filed Oct 14, 2021 · Acceleration, Brakes · 24,000 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at a slow rate of speed and parking the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration causing the driver to lose control and crash into a brick wall. During the incident, the brake pedal was pressed but the vehicle did not stop. The driver sustained a left shoulder injury. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was not yet towed. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that previously the vehicle had experienced unintended acceleration problems while driving at highway speeds with and without cruise control activated. In addition on several occasions, the collision avoidance system had erroneously activated while driving at highway speeds. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failures and no service was performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 24,000.

Filed Jun 7, 2021 · Driver assistance · 5,794 miles · WA · crash · 1 injury

Drove into the Walgreen's parking lot, made several low speed turns to arrive at the west side of the building. Pulled into an empty parking space. Entered parking space at very low rate of speed and proceeded to brake to a full stop. Moved shift lever with the intent to move transmission from Drive to Park and despite my foot still being on the brake, the car suddenly lurched forward, drove over the curb and sidewalk, crossed sidewalk and hit the side of the store (a brick wall). Car bounced back to a midpoint of the sidewalk. Engine was still running but car came to a full stop. I turned off the engine. Two Walgreen employees came out to see if I was OK (they heard the impact). I told them I was but later my chest hurt and I found a bruise suggesting impact with the steering wheel. Entire front of car is damaged. There were no warning notifications from the car (no parking or forward collision warnings). My right foot never left the brake pedal. The "unexpected acceleration" lunge forward occurred with the attempted shift of the transmission from Drive to Park. The transmission ended up being in Neutral when the car finally stopped moving. Floor mat was in the normal position, secured by the built-in pins, had not shifted and was not near the brake or accelerator (gas) pedal. Cruise control was not turned on. This was a routine trip to a local store.

Filed Apr 1, 2020 · Acceleration · WI

I believe the problem is with the eyesight driver assist if this is associated with the cruise control. I have the car set at 3 car lengths & use cruise always. On the highway when cruise is set to 70 - with or without following another car - I will look down and I find myself going 85 miles an hour. This happens every time I drive on the highway. Other problem is the safety feature of staying in one's lane. I have never had to hold onto a steering wheel to keep control over the vehicle like I do now. It over-corrects and I have actually been thrown into another lane. This is most dangerous on the highway. I have had this problem since getting the car and have reported it and have been blown off by subaru dealership where I bought the car as well as a local subaru repair shop

Filed Oct 28, 2019 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · TX · crash

2019 subaru outback. Consumer writes in regard to design or malfunctioning of technology. The adaptive cruise control failed to maintain adjusted speed. *as the consumer stated while driving the cruise control was set to 45mph at which point, the vehicle speed up and crashed into the car ahead. The pre-collision brake system did not activate.

Filed Jul 25, 2019 · Engine, Steering · 500 miles · MN

Engine does not brake when going downhill as the manual says it should. My previous outbacks (2006, 2011, 2017) did have engine braking. Regional service office suggested I place the car in cruise control in order to control the speed. Car picks up speed quickly, so using the brake pedal is the best option. However, the problem is no engine braking when there should be at least some. This is dangerous on any hill. Second, steering is problematic. First, there is to much play in the steering wheel. Second, when in cruise control, the steering wheel seems to have a mind of its own, especially on curves. I am constantly having to work at controlling the steering wheel. It's very tiring. The third issue is in regard to the navigation system showing inaccurate speed limits. I noticed this problem had been reported as early as february 2019. I have had this vehicle since may 31, 2019.

Filed Jun 21, 2019 · Acceleration, Electrical · 3,225 miles · MN

Recently purchased 2019 subaru from a similar 2017. Cruise control speed settings have changed which now require you to take your eyes off the road to watch for speed settings to change. On the 2017 and all other vehicles I have owned, to increase your speed setting by one MPH, you push once and release. To increase by 5 MPH, push and hold until it senses the increase. Now.... A quick push of the button results in a 5 MPH increase while you have to hold the button and watch the dashboard indicator as it slowly increases your setting 1 MPH at a time. This is dangerous since your eyes are no longer on the road but on the dash area. Everything else I own, thermostats, keyboards, tv remotes....all move up or down one degreee or channel at a time unless you hold the key press longer, then you get a faster repeat. I feel that taking my eyes off the road to watch my speed selection change is akin to texting. Downright dangerous. The dealer from whom I purchased the new vehicle responds by saying.... "things change, get used to it". I find this situatiion unacceptable!