2016 Subaru Impreza

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH and while attempting to avoid a collision with a second vehicle, the contact lost control of the steering and crashed into a tree. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was damaged but no air bags were deployed. The contact sustained facial and dental injuries along with injuries to the left knee, left arm, and chest which required medical treatment. The vehicle was not towed. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not yet notified. The failure mileage was 46,000.

WHILE CAR WAS SLOWING IN A PARKING LOT AREA, TURNING AND BRAKING (HAVE WITNESS TO ATTEST TO THIS), IT HAD SUA (SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) AS I WAS ABOUT TO PARK AND THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND THROUGH A BUILDING WALL IN LESS THAN 10 SECONDS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS CAR ALSO HAD A RECENT RECALL INVOLVING THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS/SENSORS. THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL, PILLS OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT INVOLVED AND NOR WAS A CELL PHONE IN PLAY AND NO DISTRACTIONS. THE CAR WAS BEING PARKED, AS IS THE CASE EVERYDAY AND THERE WAS A JOLT OF ACCELERATION AS I WAS DOING SO, WHICH IN TURN CAUSED CONFUSION AND PANIC. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATION AS THIS HAPPENED. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. ALTHOUGH, SEEING HOW I HAVE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK BEFORE, THIS HAS ALL BEEN VERY TRAUMATIC. (DRIVING FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS) I HAVE NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE AND SUBARU ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. HOPEFULLY THEY CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE SITUATION SO IT WON'T HAPPEN TO ANYWAY ONE ELSE. THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO, UPON RESEARCH, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM.

IF THE TWO FRONT SEATS ARE MILDLY WET, THEN THE FRONT AIR BAGS WILL TURN OFF. THIS MEANS THAT IF YOU SPILLED A DRINK, HAVE BLADDER PROBLEMS, WENT SWIMMING OR SNOWBOARDING, OR HAVE WET VACUUMED YOUR SEATS THEN THE AIRBAGS WILL TURN OFF. THEY ARE OFF UNTIL THE SEAT COMPLETELY DRIES WETHER YOU ARE MOVING OR NOT. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE SEAT GETS WET.

THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR HAS BEEN GOING OFF WHEN NOTHING IS IN THE SEAT. BECAUSE THE SENSOR THINKS SOMETHING IS IN THE SEAT THE AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE IS TURNED ON. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP, QUIRK SUBARU, IN BANGOR MAINE, THEY TOLD ME MY CELL PHONE WAS SETTING OFF THE SENSOR. THEIR RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, "DON'T BRING YOUR CELL PHONE INTO THE CAR." THE CAR CAN BE MOVING OR STATIONARY AND WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON. IT'S GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE LAST YEAR HAPPENING ABOUT 4 TIMES SINCE AUGUST OF 2018. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO HANDLE THE MATTER. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS POSES A RISK TO OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHICH MAY LED TO AN UNWANTED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

THE AIRBAGS TURN OFF WHEN IT IS RAINING OR HUMID OUTSIDE. PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS TURNED OFF WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT; DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS ALSO TURNED OFF DURING RAINING/HUMID CONDITIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH ON A CIITY STREET WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF HER. SHE SWERVED TO MISS THE DEER, LEAVING THE ROAD AND ENTERING A HEAVELY WOODED LOT. SHE CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET OFF THE ROAD STOPPED BY A TREE DEAD CENTER IN THE FRONT BUMPER. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, NEVER LOCKED UP THE BRAKES, AND HER REAR PUMPER WAS ONLY SIX FEET OFF THE ROAD, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

WHEN MY WIFE SITS ON A 3 INCH FOAM CUSHION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE PASSENGER SIDE TO SIT MORE COMFORTABLY (SHE IS 4'11' AND HAS HIP PROBLEMS); THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ONLY GOES INTO ON MODE INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAPPEN WHEN ENTERING THE CAR AND CONTINUES WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT, IF NOT NOTICE BE THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER. CORRECTIVE ACTION BELIEVE IT OR NOT INVOLVE.S BOUNCING UP AND DOWN ON THE SEAT. A SIDE EFFECT SEEMS TO BE, THAT WHEN THE SIGN IS IN OFF POSITION, THE SEAT BELTS LOCKUP AND CONSTRICT THE PASSENGER.