NHTSA Complaint #11290875 — 2019 SUBARU FORESTER

THE HOMELINK GARAGE DOOR OPENER DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE IGNITION IS OFF. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A WOMAN, DRIVING INTO HER GARAGE, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, THEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK TO THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE WHERE THE WALL BUTTON IS LOCATED. THE DRIVER, KNOWING THAT THE OPENER IS INOPERATIVE WITHOUT THE IGNITION ON, CAN HIT THE HOMELINK BUTTON WHILE THE CAR IS STILL ON. HOWEVER, WHAT IF THE DRIVER IS DISTRACTED BEFORE SHUTTING THE CAR OFF BY SOME OTHER FACTOR, LIKE THE PHONE RINGING OR A FIRE TRUCK GOING BY? THE DRIVER NEGLECTS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GOES INTO THE HOUSE, WITH POSSIBLE DISASTROUS RESULTS. WITH EVERY OTHER CAR (AND OTHER SUBARU MODELS AS WELL) THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER IS ALWAYS POWERED, AND YOU PULL INTO THE GARAGE, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THEN CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR. THE FORESTER HAS IT ASS-BACKWARDS.