NHTSA Complaint #11174656 — 2018 SUBARU IMPREZA

THE CAR WAS DESIGNED SO THAT THE RADIO TURNS ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED & THE ENGINE IS STARTED. THAT FEATURE IS DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DRIVER MUST REMEMBER TO TURN THE RADIO VOLUME COMPLETELY DOWN BEFORE TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. OTHERWISE, WHEN THE DRIVER TURNS THE ENGINE BACK ON AGAIN, THE RADIO NOISE IS AUDIBLE & CAN SOMETIMES BE STARTLING. THE DRIVER MUST THEN EITHER TURN THE VOLUME COMPLETELY DOWN OR TURN OFF THE RADIO; THERE IS ALWAYS A SHORT DELAY BEFORE THE RADIO SHUTS OFF. HAVING TO FOCUS ON ELIMINATING RADIO NOISE DISTRACTS THE DRIVER FROM FOCUSING ON ESSENTIAL TASKS, SUCH AS PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR & CHECKING THE SURROUNDINGS BEFORE PARKING OR MOVING THE CAR.