This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Intermittently unable to remove the keys from ignition after placing the car into Park and shutting off the engine. (Instances where keys remain stuck/locked in the ignition requiring someone to 'muscle' them out of there). I believe this is linked to a faulty sensor not allowing the keys to be released. Second complaint: The headset unit on the car, (starlink), has a touchscreen that no longer responds to touch and I believe is slowly draining the battery from the car. Subaru is unwilling to service the vehicle for either problem without a service fee.
Recently, when trying to park and turn off the vehicle, the key gets stuck in the battery position. The engine will turn off, but the car doesn't fully turn off so you can remove the key. The shifter is in park and there is no steering wheel lock or anything else that might ordinarily prevent the vehicle from being turned off. This process is no different from every other time I've turned the vehicle off previously. To finally retrieve the key, the car needs to be restarted numerous times (often 1-3 more times) while trying a combination of moving the steering wheel, putting the shifter into drive and back into park, and/or releasing the brake pedal and reapplying it firmly. My car is only lightly used and judging by internet research, this is a common issue with Subaru vehicles around this age due to a faulty part, not normal wear and tear.
After turning off the engine in Park, the keys are not being released from the ACC position of the ignition in my 2016 Subaru Impreza, which has 32,000 miles. I must repeatedly depress the shift lever and/or shift gears back and forth and/or restart and turn off the car in order to get the key out. This has been going on for two months now for at least half the time although not every time I turn off the car. There are no warning messages or diagnostic lights, just the malfunction itself. The issue has been documented in TSB 16-112-18 in numerous models of Subaru. My spouse and I have contacted Subaru of America and a local Subaru dealer, who have disclaimed responsibility for the problem, but did admit that this was a known issue. The dealer also insinuated that the fault could be the customers' by spilling beverages or something into the shifter linkage. As indicated in the YouTube printout I have attached (Yakfish Taco 2014 - 2018 Subaru Forester Key Stuck in Ignition - Quick fix solution), many people are working around this problem by disabling the key removal safety feature in the wiring of the steering column. This allows the key to be removed from the ignition at any time, such as when the vehicle is driving or stopped but not in Park. It is my belief that people are going to die from this. Subaru should be forced to issue a recall.
There seems to be an issue with keys getting stuck in the ignition on a lot of various years and makes of Subaru's. So much so, that Subaru put out a service bulletin (Bulletin Number: 16-112-18R) to remedy this. Unfortunately, those who are out of the warranty time frame, are no longer eligible for a replacement without charge. This is not a safety issue per-say, but rather an issue of the car possibly getting stole due to Subaru's unwillingness to make this a recall issue and making it free to current owners regardless of the warranty status. What I would like for you folks to do is push subaru's hand into making this a recall issue and fixing the issue free of charge even if the vehicle is outside of the warranty time period. Thank you for taking the time to read my concern. PS: I got the recall serviced on this vehicle on 09/17/2021
- West Covina, CA, USA
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For the past few months, whenever I reach my destination, my key has been getting stuck in the ignition when I'm trying to park the car. This happens intermittently although it's becoming more frequent. I park the car, shift into "P", turn the key and it only turns partially. I have to keep shifting in & out of "P" until it finally turns the rest of the way and comes out. I've started to carry a second key with me. I have an appointment with a dealer next week.
Driving and hit a small pothole and the entire passenger front headlight fell out of the car. It was not dark out. The car was fine prior to today. I was on a city street just after a snowstorm and roads were plowed.
When my car is parked I cannot remove my key from the ignition. I have to take it out of park put it back in park press park all the way forward jiggle my key move my steering wheel and then take my key out. Sometimes it still will not remove and it will take me a very long time to remove it. Other times I have to reverse my car and drive forward and park to try and take it out.
Key on the Subaru Impreza would not turn to the off position. Difficult to get key out of the ignition. Took car to napleton's Subaru in palatine and mechanic tech replaced park switch. I believe mechanic stated the key would have fallen out of the ignition if this was not fixed. My Impreza has 28,289 miles and is in great condition. Why did this happen? car has key ignition and would not go to final position.
Key ignition requires multiple tries to remove key from ignition lock. This happens each time I drive the car. It is impossible to remove the key from the ignition without restarting the car and compressing the brakes over and over.
When the car is stopped and turned off, the key gets stuck in the ignition and can't be removed without turning the car back on and shifting from park back to drive and then back to park again. Have to do this twice to be able to remove the key from the ignition.
After stopping the vehicle and when trying to take key out, key gets stuck in the key slot - cannot take out. Complained to dealer and dealer immediately said it is is a brake shift lock problem and will cost $700 to fix - so Subaru knows of the problem. Car is only 24K miles old. Many people are reporting it online. Dealer says if I do not fix it, you will get stuck outside without being able to take key out at a super market, for example
The key routinely gets stuck in the ignition, requiring me to sometimes restart the car multiple times in order rip remove it. I have seen posts on the internet suggesting a sensor does not tell the car that it is in park and gove directions to disconnect it.
There is a common known issue with Subaru's that when put into park and turned off, the key cannot be removed. This causes the car to be turned on and off, while putting into drive, moving and then back into park. With children around, this is very dangerous and an unnecessary risk. Currenty this is only covered under standard warranty and dissuading people from repairing. Subaru's answer to our inquiries at the shop and online is that it is not covered by warranty. The shop said they see this commonly. Https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/F88/cannot-remove-key-698170/ Subaru needs to be held accountable for this design flaw before it causes someone harm.
Intermittently unable to remove key from ignition after placing car in park. Upon restarting vehicle and turning it back off, key is able to be removed.
The bluetooth has a connectivity issue. It happens when I'm driving, when I hit the brakes, when I put the car in gear, when I'm stationary. There is really no telling when it will skip, but it happens one to two times every hour. It is a safety hazard because it causes my heart to race and sometimes I feel I'm having a panic attack. I bought the car brand new, the dealership and the manufacturer know about the problem. The manufacturer said the problem is not the car, it's not the phone, but it's the way it connects, and they have no solution. I previously owned a 2013 Subaru Impreza and it did not have this problem. They replaced the radio unit, made sure the car's operating system is up to date, and basically told me it's just the way it is and there's nothing they can do about it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Littleton, CO, USA