I backed out of a parking spot, stopped and, with my foot on the brake, shifted to drive to pull forward. The car surged forward rapidly. I stood on the brakes, the surge continued very briefly and then the car finally stopped. This was the first incident of this kind in the three years I have owned the car.

- Rochester, NY, USA

When I turned the car in the afternoon the cruise control was flashing, check engine light on and E-brake on. I looked online Subaru forums and their is a lot of chatter for the gas cap having issues. I checked my gas cap and noticed the rubber gasket was broken. I purchased a new one from the dealership, drove the car and the lights are now off and working normal..we'll see when I take a 6hr trip in a few days..

- Montpelier, VT, USA

1st incident 1/10/2014- leaving a stop light car would not accelerate and vdc, cel and brake light flashing. Sat on the side of the road for about 1/2 hour. Husband came to pick us up and tried starting the car. The car started and was able to drive w/O further issue. Check codes and had misfire cyc 1,2,3,4. local mechanic could find nothing wrong cleared codes. Husband noticed both drl lights were blown. Replaced both and when the key was turned on (not started) heard a loud squealing electrical noise from the area of the alternator/power steering pump where the electrical harness is bolted to the top of the engine. Started the car and it drove fine for about 2 weeks. 2nd incident 1/14/2014 - pulling away from a friends house vdc and cel lights come on. Turn off car and sit for about 20 minutes. Start car all warning lights gone and car drove fine. Husband checked codes and found misfire cyc 1,2 only 3rd incident 1/30/2014 - leaving stop light and vdc light comes on and car will only go about 3 miles per hour enough to get it off road and engine stalls. No cel this time. Sit for about five minutes start car and it drives fine and all lights gone. Replaced the battery and had mechanic clean out the ABS brake sensors. Subaru America and our dealership where we bought the car are aware and can find nothing wrong.

- Laurel, MD, USA

During the 2 years since I purchased my 2011 Outback 2.5I (cvt), there have been about 15 occasions where I was going downhill, using engine braking, with my foot off the accelerator, cruise control not engaged, but gas was fed to the engine, resulting in speeds of 45 to 50 mph (4500 RPM) in 2nd gear. One indicator that gas is being fed to the engine is the fuel economy gauge shows poor gas mileage. This definitely does not feel like engine braking when the engine is screaming as you are speeding downhill. Usually when I drive the same stretch of road using engine braking my speed is 30 to 35 mph in 2nd gear and the fuel economy gauge shows no fuel is being consumed. Subaru refuses to comment on this problem since I cannot reproduce it for them. I asked the service manager about the similar but less severe, repeatable behavior, of cycling between accelerating to over 2000 RPM and decelerating to about 1200 RPM. He said this is done to meet emission standards.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA