Faulty ABS sensor ; caused me a fender bender; any one appealed surcharge

Second time in quick succession the ABS engaged in hard braking in stop and go traffic on completely dry surface and new tires. I plan to disengage it but has anyone appealed a surcharge due to this problem?

Isn't that what ABS is supposed to do? Keep wheels from locking up when brakes are applied with a lot of force? Surcharge? You get a "discount" for having ABS.

Unfortunately it engages when that is not the danger effectively making your stopping range much longer.

I think you should appeal it but know that your position is basically indefensible. If the car was malfunctioning then the burden is on you as the owner for driving an unsafe vehicle, looking at it from the magistrate's perspective. If the car was not malfunctioning - and indeed it will be impossible for you to prove it was - then they will chalk it up to the speed/distance you were driving.

 

New tires are usually a bit slick due to the mold release compound they use. Also - Boston is a mess right now; what type of tires did you go with?

Thanks. There were three cars. The one in front if me stopped in time, but my ABS went on, in a dry tunnel, until I had to try to negotiate around him without room. It was like air in your brakes. The light signaling a problem with my ABS not on. It literally felt like no brakes and I was not going that fast. I will have to make the case.

How many miles on the tires? New tires can have really poor traction until they're worn down a little.

Yeah about 500 miles or so to burn of whatever it's coated in to not stick to the tire mold. ABS on my other car kicks in if you hit a bump in the road while braking.

It could be that you have a bad wheel bearing, causing the wheel's reluctor wheel to signal a spike which triggers the ABS. Never heard of this in a Subaru, but I've seen it first hand on 4wd Chevy trucks (which have similar hub assembly style wheel bearings).