New-to-me 2019 Forester seems to apply brakes while driving.....

[DonaldFlanky]

Forgive me in advance. I'm asking a question with a poor description of what happened...
I bought this 2019 Forester Touring two weeks ago. It has 71k (one previous owner).
I was on a regular road. About 2 blocks ahead was the entrance ramp to the highway I intended to get on.
And the car did something.
What it did was frightening and shocking.
It seemed to put on the brakes.
Instead of getting on the highway, I pulled over to the side - It seemed like the "brakiing epidode" was over - but I was afraid to get on the highway, thinking it could be a GIANT problem if it reoccured on a highway.
On the side, I saw a message about Users. I should have written the message down.
I believe it had a Yes/No question about registering a new user. If it did, I think I pressed Y to establish a new user.------------------------------------------------------------
I guess now is the time to say this: The car, since buying it, had mentioned "users" before. I hadn't set up a new user (for me).
-------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not saying that THIS is what's going on but it behaved AS IF this was what was happening:
It was AS IF the Subaru thought I was stealing the car or was demised and it temporarily put on the brakes (powerfully) and then the episode was over.
As I said, I pulled over and looked at the screen. The screen definitely said something about Users.
After calming down I got on the highway and drove home.
Everything was fine.
Once home, I did "officially" set up a user account for me. I hope I set it up correctly.
I'm about to take the car on a long 5 hours (each way) drive (from PA to NY).
---------------------------------------------------------------
So I guess my question is: What might the car have done - and why?
Thanks

 

[Grumpy1950]

I am assuming since you have the top trim level, you have the memory option to remember seat and mirror settings. The car can also recognize users (up to 5) if it has the driver monitoring enabled. Since you bought used, your car may have another driver registered and may not have recognized the change in users. This would seem to indicate the "Register New User Yes/No" message you saw. The procedures to enter, change or delete users are a bit too complex to go into here. You will need your owners manual to properly reset the driver monitor. If you do not have the manual, you can download it from Subaru at https://www.subaru.com/owners/vehicle-resources.html. You will need your vin number or year, model and trim to select and download the manual.

Basically, if the car couldn't recognize you, it thought you were distracted and applied the brakes to get your attention and potentially avoid a collision.

 

[sfhess]

It won't apply the brakes "to get your attention" if it thinks you are distracted. In that case an alarm will sound and the display will basically tell you to pay attention. Maybe the eyesight detected something in your path and applied the brakes before you could react.

 

[DonaldFlanky]

I'm now guessing: This is the Eyesight feature.

 

[Grumpy1950]

Eyesight CAN (and will) apply the brakes if you ignore the warning. It can even bring the car to a complete stop up to about 30 mph. As the car was bought used, if the driver recognition wasn't updated before the incident, the failure of the face recognition could have been construed as an ignored warning. The Eyesight can be disabled via the infotainment system all or in part. Again the owner's manual will have details. There is so much technology to assist the driver and keep you safe in these newer vehicles. Problem is you need to consult the manual constantly to understand all that the vehicle is capable of and how to best tailor it to your personal preferences. A computer programming or engineering degree is almost necessary to drive a car these days.

Some dealers have a product specialist on staff just to teach a new car customer how to set up the various features. I don't know if this applies to used car buyers as well. Search for "Alex Prestigiacomo" on You Tube. He is a Subaru salesman who has many short how-to videos on setting up and understanding the features a modern Subaru has.

P.S Where in PA are you Don? I'm from the Allentown area.

 

[sfhess]

I doubt that the car would apply the brakes for no reason if it didn't "recognize" the driver.

Mine never has.

 

[DonaldFlanky]

I am assuming since you have the top trim level, you have the memory option to remember seat and mirror settings. The car can also recognize users (up to 5) if it has the driver monitoring enabled. Since you bought used, your car may have another driver registered and may not have recognized the change in users. This would seem to indicate the "Register New User Yes/No" message you saw. The procedures to enter, change or delete users are a bit too complex to go into here. You will need your owners manual to properly reset the driver monitor. If you do not have the manual, you can download it from Subaru at https://www.subaru.com/owners/vehicle-resources.html. You will need your vin number or year, model and trim to select and download the manual.

Basically, if the car couldn't recognize you, it thought you were distracted and applied the brakes to get your attention and potentially avoid a collision.

< I have the manuals - I can research Users, myself. Yes - top trim - Thanks >
Thank you. Your comment is very helpful.
It is true that the prior owner, Barbara's, profile was not removed when I got the car.
And, as you say, the EyeSight system didn't see Barbara, and interpreted that as "Barbara not paying attention" and applied the brakes.
What gives me pause is that I had driven the car for almost 100 miles before this happened. But I suppose that's possible.
Also, there was, to my knowledge, nothing happening that looked like an imminent accident. But so be it.
No matter what, I'll certainly need to enter my profile.
--------------------------------------------------

 

[Grumpy1950]

This MAY be possible if a given driver has never been programmed into the system before. You are storing an image of your face in the system IF your car even has the feature. The forward collision warning system is standard on all models at least as of 2024. Besides braking, it can also reduce throttle input, but I digress. The point here is the Eyesight system gains functionality as the trim levels get more advanced.

If you don't have the camera on the top of the dash, it won't use driver identification to monitor your alertness no matter what. You program the system and it monitors where your eyes are looking. If it doesn't recognize your face, it can't tell where you're looking. And if you HAVE entered a profile, it should not have a problem recognizing you. At any rate you need the dash mounted camera in order to use driver recognition.

 

[DonaldFlanky]

I doubt that the car would apply the brakes for no reason if it didn't "recognize" the driver.

Mine never has.

No braking due to non-recognition sounds right to me.
So what I'm left with is:
1) System applied the brakes. At least I THINK that's what the strange behavior of the car was. That strange behavior was temporary. It did it, and then, perhaps 5 seconds later, the car was normal. It was a "big" event. At first I thought it might have been a -blowout.

2) When I pulled onto the shoulder (hoping for a clue), the screen was displaying some User message and I pressed Yes.

3) I did not notice an imminent collision such as a car stopping in front of me or somebody cutting me off, etc.
THANK YOU !!!

 

[DonaldFlanky]

This MAY be possible if a given driver has never been programmed into the system before. You are storing an image of your face in the system IF your car even has the feature. The forward collision warning system is standard on all models at least as of 2024. Besides braking, it can also reduce throttle input, but I digress. The point here is the Eyesight system gains functionality as the trim levels get more advanced.

If you don't have the camera on the top of the dash, it won't use driver identification to monitor your alertness no matter what. You program the system and it monitors where your eyes are looking. If it doesn't recognize your face, it can't tell where you're looking. And if you HAVE entered a profile, it should not have a problem recognizing you. At any rate you need the dash mounted camera in order to use driver recognition.

1) I had not entered myself as a user before this happened.
2) As I mentioned, I had already driven about 100 miles before this braking incident. During those 100 miles, I HAD seen "Keep your eyes on the road" warnings before.
Still, truth be told, I haven't seen a camera. I don't know what to look for. I'll have to find out what it would look like and search for it.

 

[bmart]

If I coudl interject...the car slowed quickly, right? Actual braking is a guess.

 

[DonaldFlanky]

If I coudl interject...the car slowed quickly, right? Actual braking is a guess.

I'm so sorry. I can't say if it slowed quickly. It seemed to almost shake-I was totally surprised, I thought something was seriously wrong, like an axle lockup, or who-knows-what! And then it was soon normal again. But I chose to stop, which I did.

 

[Raymond3006]

Forgive me in advance. I'm asking a question with a poor description of what happened...
I bought this 2019 Forester Touring two weeks ago. It has 71k (one previous owner).
I was on a regular road. About 2 blocks ahead was the entrance ramp to the highway I intended to get on.
And the car did something.
What it did was frightening and shocking.
It seemed to put on the brakes.
Instead of getting on the highway, I pulled over to the side - It seemed like the "brakiing epidode" was over - but I was afraid to get on the highway, thinking it could be a GIANT problem if it reoccured on a highway.
On the side, I saw a message about Users. I should have written the message down.
I believe it had a Yes/No question about registering a new user. If it did, I think I pressed Y to establish a new user.------------------------------------------------------------
I guess now is the time to say this: The car, since buying it, had mentioned "users" before. I hadn't set up a new user (for me).
-------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not saying that THIS is what's going on but it behaved AS IF this was what was happening:
It was AS IF the Subaru thought I was stealing the car or was demised and it temporarily put on the brakes (powerfully) and then the episode was over.
As I said, I pulled over and looked at the screen. The screen definitely said something about Users.
After calming down I got on the highway and drove home.
Everything was fine.
Once home, I did "officially" set up a user account for me. I hope I set it up correctly.
I'm about to take the car on a long 5 hours (each way) drive (from PA to NY).
---------------------------------------------------------------
So I guess my question is: What might the car have done - and why?
Thanks

Sounds LIKE the Collision-Avoidance System/Adjustments need ATTENTION !
Could have just been some flying road debris (paper, etc) flue up (by/from another vehicle in front of you) and activated this Safety System ....

 

[DonaldFlanky]

UPDATE:
I asked my longtime mechanic (Randy), to do a "full check" of my new-to-me 2019 Forester Touring-trim.
I wanted this check for 2 reasons:
1) I wanted to know about any problems.
2) I plan to drive 500 miles starting tomorrow.
Yesterday Randy found 5 ODBII fault-codes.
Could these codes explain the event this post is about?
..............
Here are the OBDII codes Randy found:
Air Conditioning:
B14A1 | Sunload Sensor Circuit Open
Electric Power Steering:
C2545 | Eyesight System
Infotainment System:
B2244 | Amplifier Communication -- History Fault.
Reverse Automatic Braking:
B2C22 | Eyesight System -- History Fault
Telematics:
B2A15 | VIN Data Response -- History Fault
................
Thank you

 

[bmart]

Did Randy think so?

 

[DonaldFlanky]

Randy didn’t say. Ho ver I looks like several of bese codes cam up because the battery was replaced about 3 weeks ago.

 

[Grumpy1950]

Just saw an update on this issue. Subaru was involved in a class action lawsuit alleging this issue. You will need to go to the Subaru website http://www.subaru.com/owners.html Select the vehicle recall option. Enter your vin number and you will get information on any recalls for your car.

 

[Cardinal24]

Randy didn’t say. However I looks like several of these codes came up because the battery was replaced about 3 weeks ago.

 

[Raymond3006]

Just saw an update on this issue. Subaru was involved in a class action lawsuit alleging this issue. You will need to go to the Subaru website http://www.subaru.com/owners.html Select the vehicle recall option. Enter your vin number and you will get information on any recalls for your car.

I VOTE for the "FLYING DEBRIS" answer .... because that actually happened to me TWICE , while following a ReCycle Garbage truck on an interstate ......... !
The First time , I had NO_Clue ... Just "what the HAY !" ! So I just kept going, than a large bunch of paper flew out of the Truck (at 70-MPH !) , and the whole thing repeated , EL-GRANDE .... ! I slowed down an let that POS Truck go his way, and I limped to nearest McD's for a "comfort-stop" .... !!!!!