NHTSA Complaint #11355479 — 2016 SUBARU FORESTER

WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR, THE KEY WILL NOT COMPLETELY TURN COUNTERCLOCKWISE BUT WILL GET STUCK AT ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY TOWARDS OFF (NEAR THE "ACC" POINT). CANNOT TAKE THE KEY OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO RELEASE IS TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN. SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES ARE NEEDED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY AND COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THERE IS A NEED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE QUICKLY OR SECURE THE VEHICLE IN A PUBLIC PARKING AREA. LEAVING THE CAR WITH THE BATTERY ENGAGED AND THE KEY STUCK IS NOT AN OPTION. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY STOPPED, IN PARK, AND I AM READY TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROXIMATELY A MONTH (STARTED IN AUG 2020) AND INITIALLY I THOUGHT I WAS NOT PUTTING IT IN PARK, OR THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TURNED OR SOME OTHER ISSUE I COULD CORRECT. SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT GO AWAY. UNFORTUNATELY IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY AND IS DISCONCERTING.