Only 600 miles on new MY2018 (automatic) and a couple of times now when I put it in reverse it doesn’t engage and won’t rolll back naturally. I tap the gas and it lurches back with a noise as if I’ve run over something or the reverse gear suddenly engages. Strange. This doesn’t mean my transmission is about to go out, does it? How can that be on a brand new car? Thoughts?

That’s an interesting thought and would make sense the way it sounds and acts. But normally when I shift to reverse the parking brake automatically disengages with me not having to do anything. Is a “sticky” parking brake a known quirk or problem for these cars?

Correct. And to be clear, this has only happened twice and when I have started up the car for the first time in the morning and when I am shifting from Park to Reverse.

Very helpful. Thank you. The other thing that just occurred to me is that I believe both times this happened I had just washed the car and wheels (very thoroughly including the inside of the drums; wheels not removed) the day before. That was certainly the case this morning. I wonder if that has something to do with it.

Great and sound advice. Thank you. That will now be part of my wash regimen!

Again many thanks. Any thoughts about how best to address any rusty rotor issues, although again my car only has 600 miles on it. Can’t imagine it is too bad at this juncture.

You have just identified the problem: a light coating of rust on the brake discs which "freezes" the brake pads to the disc. The car will not move until sufficient force (through the accelerator) is applied. This is perfectly normal, entirely non-harmful and can occur on any car (and does) in such conditions.
and for the record, the parking brake does NOT apply automatically when the P button is pushed. Ithe brake button must be raised manually to apply the parking brake, but it does release automatically when any gear other than N is selected.

It’s interesting, but when I have the Auto Start/Stop feature activated the EPB often does automatically engage when I put it in P.

There is no issue to address; the rust formed when a car gets wet but not used immediately after is perfectly normal and happens with any car. Drive it for 5 minutes, apply the brakes once or twice and the rust is gone.