NHTSA Complaint #10195139 — 2003 SUBARU FORESTER

LATCHES ON THE FORRESTER CANNOT BE OPENED UNLESS YOU HAVE A KEY FOB. THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCESS THE TAILGATE WITHOUT THE BATTERY OPERATED FOB. IF YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT GETS INTO THE CAR WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE, OR IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE SIDE. HOW WILL YOU GET OUT THE BACK--THERE IS NO WAY TO EVEN ACCESS WITH A KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE. IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT AND YOU LOOSE TRACK OF YOUR FOB TOO BAD, YOU CAN'T GET OUT FROM THE BACK. I MYSELF CARRY DOGS IN CRATES IN THE BACK OF THE FORRESTER. HAD I REALIZED THAT WHEN I HAVE CRATES, OR ANY OTHER LARGE ITEM IN BACK YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE BACK, I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED HOW TO OPEN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO REMOVE A PANEL. IF YOU ARE ON FIRE--YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO GET THE PANEL OFF TO GET THE DOOR OPEN, BUT IF YOU CAN'T GET TO THE BACK BECAUSE OF DOG CRATES, BABY CARRIAGES, CRIBS, PLAYPENS ETC. HOW WOULD YOU GET OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A WRITTEN HARD COPY REPORT. 2. SUBARU KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADGASKET? MANIFOLD GASKET THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. WHEN IT GOES BAD, YOU MAKE THE FIX IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN--WHY DOES THE OWNER HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL WHEN I WAS TOLD, BY THE MECHANIC, THAT IN FACT SUBARU KNOWS THIS AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE GASKET WILL GO, BUT ONCE YOU MAKE THE CORRECTION IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR