NHTSA Complaint #11299188 — 2019 SUBARU FORESTER

WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM ENGAGES IN A WAY THAT AFTER LEAVING AND COMING BACK TO VEHICLE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RELEASE TO START THE CAR BACK UP AGAIN. MY WIFE HAS BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES WHERE I HAD TO COME AND ASSIST IN RELEASING THE STEERING WHEEL BY ADDING THE FORCE AND WEIGHT OF MY BODY TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER TO RELEASE IT AND BE ABLE TO START THE CAR UP. THE DEALER(800 455 0701) PROMISED TO CONTACT SUBARU AND GET A RESPONSE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE. NO RESPONSE. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER NOTED THAT THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF CALLS PER YEAR ON THIS ISSUE. THE POTENTIAL OF GETTING STUCK IN A UNSAFE AREA ( EMERGENCY NEED TO TRAVEL, STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY, SNOW STORM REQUIRES TEMPORARY STOP, LATE EVENING PARKING AREA, REMOTE COUNTY PARK OR STATE PARK OR FEDERAL PARK) ARE ALL POSSIBLE AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.