2024 Subaru Ascent

THIS VEHICLE WAS REVERSING, DETECTED AN OBSTACLE AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING, IT ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND THEN CAUSED ME TO TRAVELTHROUGH THE FRONT YARD OF MY HOUSE. EVEN THOUGH THE REVERSE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM DETECTED THE OBJECT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE SO IT WOULDN'T HIT ANYONE ON THE STREET OR MY HOUSE. THIS DID CAUSE A COLLISION IN MY FRONT YARD WITH A GAS LAMP POST AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT MY HOUSE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE RAB DETECTING SYSTEM THAT FAILED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.

When driving below 5 mph—forward or reverse—with the rear passenger door fully open, the only alert is a small “door ajar” icon on the dash. This icon is the same drawing, whether the door is completely open or semi-latched, so the driver has no way to know the extent of the hazard. Without an additional warning, an fully open door can strike pedestrians, poles, garage, or other vehicles, and any passenger seated beside it is needlessly exposed to injury.

The 360 surround view camera system on my Subaru Ascent consistently displays a misaligned, distorted, and altered image of the vehicle's surroundings. Objects in proximity to the vehicle, including nearby cars, curbs, and obstacles, appear shifted from their actual positions, creating a false sense of clearance. This misrepresentation of the vehicle's environment makes it extremely easy to run into objects or curbs that are shown incorrectly in the camera feed. The distortion in the 360 camera’s view compromises the accuracy of its intended purpose, which is to aid in parking and close-quarters maneuvering safely. I have already experienced multiple close calls due to this issue and believe it poses a significant safety risk, especially in tight parking spaces, low visibility conditions, or when relying on the camera for backing up. The feature is marketed as a safety tool, yet its inaccurate display creates a hazard rather than preventing one. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this problem, as it compromises driver safety and can lead to property damage or accidents due to incorrect visual information provided by the vehicle's system. Attempts to Resolve: I have brought this issue to the attention of the Subaru dealership, but they have not provided a solution. The camera system remains misaligned and unreliable. Safety Concerns: The misleading camera display creates a high risk of collisions with objects or pedestrians, especially when backing up or parking in areas with limited space. This poses a serious safety hazard, particularly when drivers rely on the system's accuracy to avoid obstacles.